WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 4

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WILUNA GOLDFIELDS

MISSIONER'S WORK

A representative of the Australian Methodist Federal Inland Mission, the Rev. L. Broadbent, who, with Mrs. Broadbent, has been oh a holiday visit to England, arrived yesterday by .the Tainui. Mr. Broadbent is returning to Australia on Friday^

In an interview with a "Post" representative, Mr. Broadbent said that' he was stationed at Wiluria, Western Australia, which'is now the centre of considerable ,gold-mining activity. The Wiluna goldfields, he said, were first opened about ten years ago, and since then the. company conducting operations there had installed, plant and machinery valued at over £1,000,000. About 900 men were employed, working three shifts a day. Low-grade ore only, was obtained, but over 45,000 tons was handled 'eyery month. At one time Wiluna was just, an insignificant inland village, but^iQw, due to the" opening of the goldfields, it was a modern town supporting about 5000 people. It was 710' miles from Perth and the centre of a vast "farming and grazing country., ,

Mr. Broadbent said it,was his job to establish the Methodist Inland Mission in the district. Altogether there, were eight missioners, seven of whom operated over a wide' area. The seven travelling missioners used -utility trucks and travelled from station to station in the hinterland of Western Australia. Also, 'they' visited ■ prospectors' camps. In many cases six months elapsed between the visits of the missioners. . ■

On his return to. Australia Mr; Broadbent will spend eight days in>* Melbourne lecturing on the work" of the mission^ '• '• - .