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The Cornwall Coalminers’ Heritage Wall By Jim Haas The original concept to build a monument to recognize the brave men who through sheer guts, determination and brute strength tunneled their way beneath the Mt. Nicholas Range with only a pick, shovel and a stick of dynamite and carved an industry that has been the life blood of the Fingal Valley for one hundred and twenty years, was put forward by our oldest resident, ninety year old, Mrs. Una Camplin of Cornwall. Mrs. Camplin floated the idea for years because she was concerned that there was virtually nothing in Tasmania that identified the heritage of coalmining, of which has played a significant roll in Tasmanian history. However, it was not until 2004 that she was able to get $1650 funding for the project through the Break O’ Day Council Community Funding Grants; and with another $500 already in the kitty, Mrs. Camplin was wrapped. As a result she approached a couple of people, with some community development experience, to help her build a memorial wall big enough to hold some six hundred names. Hence Cornwall Community Development Group Inc. was formed. We were all aware that $2,000 would barely get us past the planning stage. But it was a start and through a great deal of letter writing, filling in fund applications, talking to Pollies and generally promoting the Wall idea in the community, finally, in March 2005 Cornwall Coal Co. came on board and committed to supply and lay the bricks. We were a step closer; then it was the Tasmanian Community Fund, followed by the State Government through Michael Polley MHA and David Llewellyn MHA, who is an old Cornwall Boy, came up with funding, and finally a generous grant came in from the Mineworkers Trust. This Trust was originally formed by the old Miners Federation to operate a coal mine in the Hunter Valley of N.S.W and all profits from the mine are channeled back into Coalmining communities. We were up and running, and to add a number of small donations and fund raising to our major sponsors, we had secured funding of some $20,000; enough to build the wall buy plaques that would hold what had now reached some 12,000 names, and also a number of smaller plaques for history, miners who have been killed at the mines and sponsors etc. As well some money will be used to preserve as much Coalmining Heritage as possible. Finally, early in 2006 the wall and landscaping was completed and we looked forward to the next idea put forward by Mrs. Camplin; a “Back to Cornwall Day” for an opening. Consequently, with the backing of the St.Marys Lions Club, a Back to Cornwall Day was held on the 4th February 2006 and the Wall was opened by the Deputy Premier, David Llewellyn, and Beak O’ Day Mayor, Stephen Salter. The Day was a wonderful success with over one thousand old Cornwallites and coalminers along with their families and friends turning up from all over Australia, not only see their ancestor’s name engraved on the Wall, but view the vast display of memorabilia displayed in the hall and simply have a good old chin wag about old times with friends from as far back as their childhood days and reminisce on what they all called “The Good Old Days”. In conjunction with the Wall we also have a Coalmine Heritage walk that takes in a couple of old disused mining sites, as well, we believe a stroll around the township of Cornwall has good value in as much as all the houses date back to the “Pick and Shovel” days (pre. 1964) all of which portrays the lives of the miners and their families perfectly. The Wall is well worth a look and for the more adventurous a walk around the town, or up into the hills to the old mine sites, can be a worthwhile and rewarding experience.
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