Goldfields : Women & Children
by Amy
Introduction
In 1854 there were 4023 women at the Ballarat goldfields.There were 208 women who were paid in employment.There were only 5% of women were single and 8% of women were shopkeepers. Others were needlewomen.There were 136 women who mined gold, there were 9135 women altogether by 1853. There were 3000 to 4000 children on the goldfields.
Children moved schools frequently because their parents moved locations in search for gold. Moving to new locations also means that schools were not established. Children had to wait for an education because most parents could not educate their own children when they had to education of their own . Many children did not speak English and could not write. Some children recieved no education, these children have to work on the goldfields panning for gold or performing duties such as cleaning and looking after horses.
Women`s Health
On the Australian goldfields many women `s health were horrible!Usually when women and drink dirty water they get illness such as measles and fevers. Many died from those terrible dieases. Some women died from diarrohea! Women usually died from giving birth to children, because they die from dieases. When women gave birth other women assisted her.Some women died from dysentery which is a terrible diease that is diarrohea with blood.
Children`s Health
Children`s health on the goldfields had a poor life.The conditions were horrible too.Children also died from dysentery which was a blood diarrohea.They also died from cholera which was a bad food diease.Children also died from fevers and water diease.Children also died for measles.
Roles and Reponsibilities of Women
In the gold rush, women had lots of reponsibilities at the goldfields.Some women looked after children while others dance to diggers.Many others had to cook, do washing and ironing.Few others sold fruit and vegetables, while others make bread,butter and also jam.Some otherwomen helped women give birth to babies.Lots of women passed away,because of illiness.