14 May 2019
Dr Michelle McKeough - Western Australia and the Bubonic Plague
During the final years of the nineteenth century, an international pandemic of Bubonic Plague was carried throughout the British maritime trading world. This pandemic took only a few years to reach every continent, reaching the newly-federated Australia via Sydney in January, 1900 then Western Australia only a few months later. Between 1900 and 1909 there were outbreaks of plague in Perth, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Bunbury in addition to Fremantle’s experience. My paper will discuss the more remarkable aspects of the plague’s various visitations in Western Australia. Interestingly, the plague had a different effect on each town it afflicted, meaning that each place has a unique story to tell.
Michelle received her doctorate titled ‘A Community and its Crises: Challenge & Response in Fremantle during three times of crisis: The Black Plague; The Great War and Depression Era’ in November, 2017. Michelle has been published in various academic journals and collaborations and researched and wrote Rescues, Rogues and Rough Seas 150 years of Water Police in Western Australia, a commissioned history of the W.A Water Police, published in 2001. Michelle is currently conducting her post-doctoral research into the presence of Bubonic Plague in Western Australia, 1900-1909.
Meeting Time: 5pm for 5.30pm start, refreshments will be served prior to the meeting.
Place: Great Southern Room, 4th Floor State Library of Western Australia.
If any members might have difficulty with the stairs from the 3rd to the 4th floor, please see staff at the Battye Library desk for access to the staff lift.
After the meeting, members are welcome to join us for a meal at a nearby Perth restaurant. Bookings will be taken on the night.
9 JULY 2019
Alex Aitken and Trevor Tough - OUTBACK GRAVES
10 SEPTEMBER 2019
Peter Ellery - WA MINING HISTORY
and the AGM
19 NOVEMBER 2019 (3rd Tuesday)
End of Year Function
Speaker TBA
Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the March, May, July, September (A.G.M), November (Christmas Party) (except the November meeting which is held on the third Tuesday).
