Help needed to realise mine icon’s tributary tome

GOLDEN Square author Desmond Beer is appealing for help from local businesses and individual benefactors with his industrious quest to print and distribute a new book dedicated to his brother, Ray.

The book details the history of the Bendigo goldfields and the Central Deborah Gold Mine, and how in 1978 Ray as mine manager set about revitalising the site and turning it into the tourist attraction it is today.

“Ray always said one day he’d like to get the mine reopened, well before anyone even thought about it, and he said he’d like to take people underground,” Beer said.

“That was his dream.

“At one stage it was going to be sold off, but eventually the council said they really needed somebody to come in and sort it out – that was Ray.

“I’m telling you now, when you read the story you’ll know exactly what he did and particularly how he made the impossible possible, how he nearly single-handedly dug it all out.

“The Mine wouldn’t be here without him – truly, it’s an incredible story.”

The book, which contains over 200 rare photographs, also delves into Bendigo’s path from 1851 to today’s thriving heritage tourism hub, plus the heroes, innovations and community spirit that built our city.

“We rounded up a lot of photographs,” Beer said. “After Ray passed away, three or four boxes were delivered at my place – there were hundreds of photographs of all different things about the mine.

“I had to sift through it and find out what would work out the best because some of them were in poor condition. So, I put it all together.”

Beer, who’s publishing the work – Bendigo’s Golden Legacy: A Story Written in Gold, Ray Beer’s Vision The Central Deborah Gold Mine Story – under his pen name Danial Kenneth Mason, is seeking to raise $30,000 to produce 1000 copies.

Those copies will then be donated to Central Deborah for sale in its gift shop, with additional plans to distribute free editions to all school libraries around the region.

“Apparently they’ve (Central Deborah) been getting phone calls wondering when it’s going to come out, so people are starting to find out about it,” he said.

The project has been endorsed by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards, mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf, local historian James Lerk OAM, the gold mine itself, and Bendigo Heritage.

Beer also acknowledged Fosterville Gold Mine’s financial assistance during the book’s editing process, plus the WIN Network’s promise of advertising airtime in the lead-up to its launch.

“I’ve had a lot of obstacles, I’m a pensioner and I’ve done all this off my own back,” he said.

“But I’ve stuck with it and I thought, no, blow it, it has to be done. It’s Bendigo’s heritage.”

Donations can be made on the Bendigo’s Gold Era mycause page, with all contributors of $150 or more to receive a personally signed first edition copy.