Trevor Ives, opal lover and book collector from Brisbane, called at the Historical Society's display at the recent Opal Festival.
He had emailed the society in 2001 through the Lightning Ridge website, and communication was ongoing.
At this, the first meeting of 'Opal Friends', Trevor presented the society with a shoebox containing a statue of an old-timer, modelled in clay, complete with wooden walking stick - who could this man be?
‘Unmistakeably Fred Bodel', we all agreed.
You can imagine Trevor's relief that we recognised Fred.
He registered his own surprise to see that we actually were in possession of the walking stick. We are building solid profiles on several of our early opal miners.
Please come into Heritage Cottage to glimpse this new icon of Fred Bodel standing ‘at home' in front of his Three Mile flat hut, a print by Clare Cumming, 1970s, you'll like it.
We are open for inspection on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10am to 4pm.
Email a friend