Fossicking Afar

<p><span style=color: rgba(34 34 34 1)>A young immigrant from an impoverished village in southern Switzerland finds love in Victoria gold in New Zealand and fulfilment in the goldfields of Western Australia.</span></p><p>This story is based on the life of the author's great grandfather.</p><p>Emigrating to the Victorian goldfields Joseph settles in Stawell becoming an underground miner and prospector. He is befriended by Ellen who he marries some years later.</p><p>Next stop Otago New Zealand but the gold rush is over. His dream does come true when news breaks of a new rush on the west coast where he finds a small but rich gold deposit.</p><p>Returning to Stawell Joseph marries Ellen and they have ten children over 16 years. Only six survive childhood. After trying life as a hotelier and farmer Joseph resumes work in mining.</p><p>Gold fever strikes again. This time it's in Coolgardie Western Australia in the 1890s and Joseph resumes work in mining. A prospecting expedition nearly kills him.</p><p>This is a story of aspiration and fulfilment in which the heroes are the ordinary men and women who found and mined the extraordinary mineral endowment of Australia and New Zealand.</p>