Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
An unknown gold miner, whose remains were discovered buried near Cromwell four decades ago, is to be reburied tomorrow, giving him a final resting place more than 140 years after he died
A funeral organised by Alexandra-based funeral director Lynley Claridge and the team at Affinity Funerals is planned for tomorrow, Saturday, May 14 at 11.30am at Cromwell Cemetery.
Public are welcome to attend the service, which will be livestreamed to the Affinity Funerals website and include a nod to the miner’s era, such as a horse hearse carrying the coffin through Old Cromwell to the cemetery, a bespoke coffin, and Affinity owner and fourth generation funeral director Clark Campbell, of Campbell & Sons in Mosgiel, wearing his great-grandfather’s original morning suit and top hat.
The service will be presided over by Reverend Barry Entwisle, on behalf of the Archdeacon of Central Otago, the Venerable Damon Plimmer, who in unable to attend the service due to being a household contact.
“We’re proud to be able to bring home the gold miner to Central Otago and lay to rest a man who has become a symbol for the community of all the gold miners whose lives were lost during the gold rush period,” says Lynley Claridge.
“This is an important event for all of us who live in Central Otago against the backdrop of the goldfields, with everything they brought and took away from our community. We’ve heard from many locals whose relatives were lost during those hard times, and for whatever reason, didn’t have the burial they deserved. We hope tomorrow’s memorial service for this gold miner can provide a sense of solace and closure for the many families who lost loved ones during that time.”
The body – and boots – of the man were discovered in 1983 during archaeological work ahead of construction of the Clyde Dam and highway, but his remains have been housed at Otago University’s anatomy department ever since.
He is believed to be one of the thousands of men who came to the Central Otago region during the late 1800s gold rush. After decades at Otago University, bio-archaeologist Professor Hallie Buckley, honorary research fellow, Dr Peter Petchey, and Dr Neville Ritchie, who originally discovered the remains, have been researching the history of the man. All three will be pallbearers at tomorrow’s service.
Professor Hallie Buckley says the work has been a team effort from archaeologists here and in the UK.
“This has been a significant multi-national project and, with the advances in bioarchaeolgical and archaeological methodology, a more nuanced and detailed study of the individual became possible. But we’re now at a place where we’ve told as much of his story as we can and we’re very pleased to be able to have him safely reinterred.”
Affinity Funerals is covering the cost of the funeral in Cromwell with Contact Energy paying for a headstone at a later date.
For the livestream, go to: https://www.affinityfunerals.co.nz/live-stream/
