Many readers will remember the accident at Scotia Nickel in 1974 near Broad Arrow which ended the life of Russell (Ross) Howell Gallagher, 49 years ago. When I heard about what happened at the Dugald River Mine, Cloncurry in Queensland last week it brought it vividly to mind as the circumstances were similar. See the article: – https://ab.co/3EiXZJc
The utility driven by Ross fell down into the mine ay Scotia as it did in Queensland, but with two men in the vehicle in this case.They were Dylan Langridge (33) and Trevor Davis (36). However, thankfully the bodies of the men were able to be recovered. Mr. Langridge is also married with two children as was Ross.
Kerry Walsh was working at the Scotia mine when Ross was tragically taken. The mine fell in from the surface and Ross was going to the camp to summon help when he accidentally drove into the subsidence His body has never been recovered.
The Scotia Nickel deposit was discovered around 1968 by John Jones (later to become president of the Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association), self-trained in geology, and a pastoralist from the nearby Hampton Hill Station. He went on to become the general manager of the mine. It was an underground operation that ceases in 1977 after a major underground collapse. During this time it produced 1.4 million tonnes of ore at 2.2% grade Ni. It is a small komatiite-hosted massive sulphide Fe-Ni-Cu deposit 65 kilometers north of Kalgoorlie. It is just north of Broad Arrow, on the eastern side of the Goldfields Highway, and 15 kilometers further north are related to St Patrick’s and St Andrews nickel prospects.
GALLAGHER Russell (Ross) Howell – Age 29yrs, Miner died 9th Jul 1974, at Scotia Nickel Mine, North of Kalgoorlie – Russell was born on 30th Jun 1945 in Newcastle NSW. He was the son of Horace Edwin Gallagher and Rita May nee Howard. He was a married man with two children. https://www.wavmm.com/listing/russell-ross
Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial at the WA Museum in Kalgoorlie WA
At the Scotia mine in July 1974 a large collapse occurred in an open stop and resulted in the formation of a large sinkhole at the surface. A mine employee that witnessed the event tried unsuccessfully to contact company officials and set off to drive to a nearby camp to use the telephone. Tragically the employee inadvertently drove his utility into the sinkhole. The body and the vehicle could not be recovered.
Annual Dept of Mines Report – 1974
