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Post by Thomas Cameron on Nov 17, 2002 22:44:47 GMT -6
As indicated in the title of this board, this section is intended mention of Camerons (and those from Cameron septs of course) from the PAST. I believe that many would be disappointed to see Camerons of the PRESENT included here, no matter how significant their contributions to society have been.
Let us focus on those notable Camerons from yesteryear, especially those whom have somehow fallen through the cracks, so to speak, of history books. They don't have to be famous, or even popular...use your best judgement and let the posting commence!! ;D
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buster
New Member
Vice President Clan Cameron Association NSW, Newsletter Editor for Clan McLennan NSW,
Posts: 4
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Post by buster on Dec 30, 2002 22:15:34 GMT -6
The Golden Horse Shoes.
Donald Cameron was Sue Catterall's Great Great Uncle whose family had come to Australia during the mid 1800's from Morvern, Scotland. Most of Sue's Cameron's have settled in the New England area of NSW around Armidale, Uralla, Wollomombi and Guyra. These are both the "Fassifern" Camerons and "Lochiel" Camerons. There is a published history on some of these families by Betty Cameron of "Fassifern" (nee Gordon).
Donald went to Victoria and became a Police Magistrate and later a member of Parliament being the youngest ever elected into Ovens. He is recorded as having his horses shoes made of gold after being elected to Parliament when he rode up the street of Beechworth, Victoria leading a massive procession. The shoes were removed after the ride. Both my Great Uncle Charlie Cameron and his sister Flora Cameron use to talk about Donald and his exploits at Beechworth as being a great conversational topic. He mined for gold at Beechworth. Great Uncle Charlie said that Donald had Scottish second sight, which quite a few members of this family seem to have. Donald was a bit of a ladies man and was accompanying two ladies to the theatre in Melbourne one night when he stopped at the door and said that he could not go on as something terrible had happened. Actually his father had died. Along with Great Aunty Flo's papers, Hector (Sue's Great Grandfather and Donald's father) had a paper cutting about the horseshoe episode. While Gordon Cameron (Sue's cousin) was stationed at Albury, Val his wife and he visited Beechworth on several occasions. They have a slide of the memorial and a key ring with a replica and a couple of pamplets, one of which says Daniel Cameron but the memorial says Donald Cameron. A couple of details follow:-
Some fabulously rich claims were opened up here. Among those who rose to prominence and wealth from the gold they extracted at this point of the creek were Loonie, Chandler, Johnston and Cameron, the latter becoming the first member of Parliament to represent the miners on the newly discovered Ovens Goldfield.
A parliamentary candidate riding to the poll on a gold shod horse. Donald Cameron's election as the miners' representative for the Ovens Goldfields is a fantastic story. Cameron was sponsored by miners known as 'The Monkeys' who wore black woollen trousers, Napoleon boots, silk sashes and large gaudy coloured handkerchiefs. The candidate was mounted on a horse at the head of a huge procession and runners dispensed free beer as the procession toiled up La Serena Hill. At the Old Vine Hotel, one mile from Beechworth, a blacksmith fitted gold shoes to the horse. The gold was supplied by 'Big' Johnston, leader of the 'Monkeys' and owner of the fields richest claim. The golden horseshoes, said to be lighter by an ounce of gold, were removed when the procession reached town. Thousands of diggers milled around, the free beer continued to flow, and rival brass bands strove to drown each other's noise. Both candidates appeared on the balcony of the Star Hotel and Cameron was declared elected.
The Punchers (those who grubbed gold from the banks and gullies) refused to accept this decision, and on the next day a poll was held in the court house. Cameron was elected again, and Johnston celebrated by treating the crowd to 300 pounds worth of champagne.
The story of the golden horseshoes and the diggers' first election soon became a legend. It is commemorated by monuments around the town, by the frequent use of the Golden Horsehose symbol, and, until recently, by an annual Boxing Day Festival.
People use to call Donald, Dan.
Hector Cameron Snr (Donald's father that Donald had the premonition about) was killed in a tragic manner about 1 mile from his home. Deceased was 76 years old. He had received word from Scotland about an inheritance and was on his way to buy his ticket to Scotland when the tragedy occurred. A witness had an appointment to go to town with Hector that day and had arrived about 5 o'clock the previous day. Deceased had left word to the effect that if he was not home, not to expect him till the next day. Witness started for Armidale that morning to try to catch him, and when about a mile from "Breelong" (Hector's grazing property) saw the overturned buggy and two horses standing close by. Deceased's head was resting on a sharp stone and a quantity of blood issued from the right ear and nose. He procured assistance and then notified the police. Deceased was in good circumstances and on good terms with his neighbours. The horses he was driving were too flighty for an old man, and had on a previous occasion bolted and capsized the buggy. H W Pearson deposed to assisting in the removal of the body to "Breelong". The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death from injuries received by the capsize of a buggy.
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