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Ernie Junor (1902-), Miner. Recorded 28 December 1985. Part 2/2.

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SummaryErnie Junor
Recorded 28th December 1985
Part 2 of 2

0:05
George Jones – foreman and George Wyle, Superintendent, both at BHP who worked in the Traffic Dept.
At Civic he worked with Les Gardner (previously of Werris Creek). They were working on parts of the wagon like the spindle while someone else was doing another part. Boiler making and blacksmithing was often done by specific depts. “Codger” Hodges was the welding blacksmith and Andy Bull was a shunter. “Wallaby Jacks”.

4:25
Steam was used at Abermain although a little bit of power was produced at Abermain. Big generators and dynamos were steam driven. 7 or 8 boilers were there. They were fired by coal creating steam.
Abermain No 3 and No 2 (Kearsley) – Abermain 1 & 3 were the same pit. He had little to do with No 2.
Ernie left during the Depression.

8:30
The dam which was built for the pit was a good place to swim. He was reared on the bank of the creek but knew nothing of Prof David’s original find of coal thereabouts.

11:34
Boilers at the fan shaft at Abermain No1. They had to cart the coal by horse and dray from Abermain No1 – Kennedy’s son (Gunzer?) used to drive two horses with a big dray carting coal all day from Abermain No1 to the Fan Shaft.

There was another coal mine in the Abermain pit called the Stapples was approached from a tunnel – there were three entrances on top – two ran south towards Mulbring and the third was built for emergencies. The Stapples was a small seam. It was steep and small. You couldn’t stand up. Ernie went down there with the shoer of horses. There were 3 regular carpenters and old Bill Hawthorn was the boss electrician and he had a gang called cable hangers. Bill was well liked and lived in the company houses.

17:05
One of the office fellows used spar with the policeman (Gardner who married Stella Garrett) in the yard with their gloves on.

There were two policemen – one was called “Silent Way” – there are no police on the pits these days. Billy Howell nicknamed “Show Em’ Howell” used to drive “the endless rope” and was involved in The School of Arts. He was an obliging man who may have been in charge of the library at the School of Arts. There was a monument for Clarence “Clarrie” Jeffries a well-liked fellow and recipient of the Victoria Cross. He was a lieutenant who was killed in the war. The Jeffries pit was related to Charley Jeffries (brother of Joshua and John).

23:20
During the Depression he went to Hexham and worked most of the time. Abermain was out for a long while. Then there was the 1929 Lock Out and Ernie was at Greta with Garnet – he was on the pit top. He was put in the Lock Up with Garnet and some others overnight. The Miners Federation bailed them out. He was told to pull up the railway track but was stopped by the police. The police on horseback put them in the Lock Up and they were released the next day. This was on the same day that Norman Brown was shot.

27:12
End of Tape 142 Side B, Part 2 of 2. Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectJunor, Ernest Patrick, 1902- Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Coal mines and mining -- New South Wales -- Hunter River Region -- HistoryPersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorJunor, Ernest Patrick, 1902-Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created28th December 1985Identifier142B Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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