Don Briggs is a retired Telstra Manager, a past City of Canning Councillor, and a former Rotarian, and he came to our meeting this week to share some of the knowledge that he has gained as a researcher who has a deep interest in history. His topic was Pioneers of the WA Timber Industry, and Don certainly grabbed our attention by telling us about many of the colourful characters who took part in the felling of timber and the exporting of it to various parts of the globe. The trees involved included Jarrah (then called Swan River Mahogany), Karri, Tuart, and Wandoo. One of the individuals mentioned was Captain James Stirling (1791 – 1865) who became a sailor at the age of 12; married Ellen Mangles on her 16th birthday in 1823 (they subsequently had 11 children); explored the Swan River Colony in 1827 as Commander of HMS Success (whilst he was meant to be dropping off supplies at another colony!); and persuaded the British Government to allow him to establish a new settlement! He subsequently became the founding Governor of Western Australia but didn’t relate well to the local indigenous people. Other well-known names included in Don’s talk were Major Lockyer; John Henry Monger; Messrs Bussell and Molloy; John Turner; William Clifton and Henry Yelverton. There are still remnants of various jetties etc visible today!
