Wednesday, 25th April 2007 (1206 views)

Beaconsfield has remembered the disaster of the gold mine last year where a miner lost his life in a rockfall.

Local people celebrated Anzac Day in the northern Tasmanian town rather than focusing on the events of last year, when miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb were rescued after spending 14 nights trapped underground in nothing but a tiny cage, but their friend Larry Knight tragically died.

However, townsfolk have claimed that some good has come out of the terrible disaster, with tourism doubling and helping to boost the local economy as people pour in to pay their respects.

West Tamar mayor Barry Easther told The Age newspaper: "We are a vibrant community and we have been blessed with large numbers of visitors coming here because of the mine and what happened.

"People from all over the world have been touched by the story that came out of Beaconsfield and they feel a real need to visit the place where it all happened."

He added that the Grub Shaft Gold and Heritage Museum in the town had also benefited from the tragedy, with visitor numbers soaring over the last year.

"It's unbelievable, Mr Easther said. "The mine shut after the accident, but the increased visitor numbers have certainly helped the local economy."

 

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