Biddy of the Buller -Amazing Woman Miner on the West Coast of NZ in 1860s NZ

[OtepotiLilliane42]

I came upon Bridget Goodwin in the course of researching W.H.S. Hindmarsh, who apparently recorded her reminiscences whilst she was mining on the West Coast of New Zealand during the mid 1860s.

Her story is so inspiring and unusual especially as described in the Grey River Argus that I wanted to share it on this thread. If anyone was doing it for herself, Biddy certainly was!

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19050106.2.40?query=bridget%20goodwin&start_date=1866-01-01&end_date=1920-01-01&snippet=true&title=GRA

teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1g14/goodwin-bridget

teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/42576/bridget-goodwin

I wonder if “Waratah” was Biddy’s lady confessor? The account is so affectionate and respectful, despite Biddy’s unconventional life.

I really enjoyed reading that. Thank you for posting it.

Waratah was actually the pen name of Hindsmith when he wrote for the Grey River Argus DancelikeEmmaGoldman. I'd love to know who the lady confessor was too.

Did you see the wonderful photograph of her, smoking her pipe? Thank heavens images like that have survived the years.

Oops! Hindmarsh, not Hindsmith!

I loved the photo. I felt a bit sorry for second-best Bill.

Fascinating post.

Thank you for sharing

I was idly browsing the internet before going to bed, and found this
musical celebration of the lives of early settler NZ women, including Biddy of the Buller! I had never heard of Rachel Dawick before now, but I shall certainly keep up with her career now. She sounds like a fascinating woman.

www.facebook.com/racheldawick/
racheldawick.bandcamp.com/track/biddy-of-the-buller
racheldawick.bandcamp.com/album/the-boundary-riders

I would love to hear Rachel Dawick sing of Biddy. Her story was so moving and I confess to some warmth for the lady Confessor. That article really brought Biddy and the times to life.

Thanks for sharing that. And yes what a marvellous photo of her!

I admit to getting just a little obsessed with Biddy of the Buller, and on my quest to find more on her I came across these photographs of her headstone. Nice that the 'twins' felt that her gravestone needed more than just the name and date of death to mark her 'colourful ' life.

The famous poem by Hugh Smith about Biddy makes her end sound a bit more gloomy than it was in reality. She did miss her first 'mate' cruelly, but in her later years was well looked by after the Vicar and parishioners of St Stephen's Anglican Church in Reefton. W.S. Hindmarsh who recorded her reminiscences in the local paper under the pen name Waratah was a Warden of the church, and probably had a hand in organising the roster of Biddy's lady visitors.

Biddy's story is heartening because it seems as if she was accepted by her community just as she was, without judgement, and with evident affection.

www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfReefton/photos/ms.c.eJyzMDc0NTIyMbM0tbAwN7fUswDzTQ2NLI2MDA0sAGbUBl4~-.bps.a.871522462922113/871522512922108/?type=3&theater

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.871522462922113&type=3&comment_id=871540069587019&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D

www.facebook.com/TheHistoryOfReefton/photos/a.871522462922113/871522469588779/?type=3&theater

electricscotland.com/poetry/hugh_smith.htm

A wonderful headstone and I understand your desire to know more about Biddy I wish we had a photo of the Vicar.