GL'S+Space

Name: Marissa Bradford Origin: England Personality: Caring, Helpful, Trustworthy Age: 16 Family: Dad, Older brother (Charles) Successful: No
 * __Diary of a Gold Digger__**


 * August 29, 1851**

I sat down by the river while my brother and father tried to find work but there was no luck. My dress was all torn, muddy and sewn with little patches. Not a drip of water or a piece of food we had. I heard loud footsteps coming from behind and there I heard my name shouted out, “Hey, Marissa!” I knew who’s voice it was at once, it was Anya. “Hey, I’ve got some great news! Rumours have been spreading that there’s been gold discovered in Australia!”She shouted to me. This would bring my family a better future. I ran to my father to tell him the news and there I saw my father begging for work while kneeling on the ground. Once I had told him, he had a big smile on his face and he hugged me tightly. We were off to find gold the next morning. Thousands of people in boats rowed with us to Australia. It was going to be a long row for all of us. were trying to save as much as we could.


 * August 30th, 1851**

We were almost there and I could see Australia not far off. I was certain that we would arrive there in a few days. I was worried about my father. He would sleep all day and he was too weak to row so my brother and I had to take turns rowing the boat.


 * September 4th. 1851**

It is almost halfway until we get to Ballarat. I see people bending over boats and vomiting which makes me want to too. We didn’t have many supplies and we were running out. A very close friend to my father’s had offered us some supplies that were at least enough for most of the way and we We had finally arrived in Australia and there we stood in front of the goldfields. W had 8oz left and my brother was the only one who was strong enough to dig. He was our only hope. We paid 7oz for the licence and it lasted for one month. We had to sleep on the floor like most of the people did Other had built u tents and could sleep in beds. I hadn’t slept in one for a long time. I rolled out the blankets and dad laid there wanting some more rest. A man came over and asked whether my father was sick. I nodded. The man offered to treat him for at least 1oz seeing how poor we were. I have him the pound and he said he’ll be better in a few days. H carried him to his tent and laid him in the bed. I went back feeling really worried.


 * September 11th, 1851**

I had a big smile on my face. My father had finally recovered. But there was no luck for my brother. For the past week, we didn't even find a speck of gold. Everyday, he would come home all muddy and dirty with a mournful face. I wandered if we even had a chance finding gold out of these thousands of people. Each of us didn't have good sleeps some nights. Sometimes there would be strong winds and dirt would cover our faces. Sometimes there would be rain and drops of water would pelt down havily into our faces. Not one day was good for us, we needed a shelter


 * September 16th, 1851**

Still no luck for us. I see everybody jumping for joy when they find gold. Some people would give us supplies because they felt sorry for us. I decided to trade the supplies for ounces so I could pay 1 licence for my father to dig as well because he was in good health now. It would be a better chance.


 * September 21st, 1851**

Each day gets worse and worse. We just got fined a couple of hours ago because my brother didn't show up his licence. Unfortunately, he lost it. It must've fell out of his pocket. Now we're only left with one.


 * October 19th, 1851**

On the daily newspaper, the biggest gold nugget was found to date and was named, 'The Welcome Stranger'. It weighs about 70kg and is worth hundreds of ounces. Only a bit of luck for us today, my father finds tiny specks of gold that are worth 2oz. From the 2oz I got as uch mutton and bread as I could, also clean water. These past days all we have been drinking is brown, dirty water from the river.


 * October 30th, 1851**

A good friend of my father's passed away just yesterday. He leaves us a will of 12oz. Someone had told us that he had been shot in a robbery and his wife had serious injuries.


 * November 2nd, 1851**

Some things are different in Australia than the things that are back in England. The food, temperature, environment and the lifestyle are different. Sometimes people from Australia tease about other people's accent or skin colour. It's overwhelmingly hot here and it's different different to the temperature back in England. Sometimes, people who came from other countriee, speak another language and I don't understand one word they're saying.Sometimes I dream about being a teacher and teaching people how to speak English but I know it's never going to come true. I so miss my friends back in England, especially Anya. I wonder what she was doing back in England. I hope nothing had gone wrong. More and more people are coming from different countriesto dig for gold. Evertime people come, that takes my chance of us finding gold.


 * Novcember 9th, 1851**

I've been helping other people washing and cleaning for some pounds. So far I'm doing well. I had learnt all of this from my mother. She was a maid when she was in her 20's. Unfortunately. my mother passed away when a I was seven.


 * November 15th, 1851**

My brother had been in a mine collapse and he's got a few major injuries. He has to quit digging in the gold mines. The good news is that my father found a medium sized piece of gold which I think is at least worth 15oz.