Florizel Lamming (1895-1912)
Florizel was born to Thomas and Catherine Lamming nee Devenporte in Bunbury. Her parents were highly respected residents of the Capel district (reference; reference). Florizel's mother was known in the community as Kate Norrie (reference). Her uncle was William J Norrie, the Town Clerk of Bunbury and Mrs Harry Phillips of Symmonds Street, Bunbury (reference). She had eight siblings, two which she never met due to her early death, James Hallwood (1893-), Reita Alice (1896-1975), Thomas Mervyn (1899-1981), Roy (1901-1902), Mervyn Leslie (1903-1918), Catherine Billie (1908-1998), Clarence (1912-) and Alexander (1916-2000) (reference).
By sixteen, Florizel worked as an assistant in Ferdinand Gutmann's store in Capel (reference). To her friends, Florizel was known as Flo (reference).
Florizel met her death heroically in an attempt to save the life of another. On 19 March 1912, at 9.30 am, at Florizel's employer's property, Mary Ellinor Gutmann was boiling beeswax and turpentine on the kitchen stove. While she was out of the room, it caught fire (reference; reference). While attempting to put the it out, Mary's clothing caught alight (reference). She ran screaming into the yard, where she tried to extinguish her clothing by rolling in the sand (reference). Florizel heard the screams and came to help Mary put the flames out (reference). However, in doing so, her own clothes caught fire (reference). Ferdinand heard his wife's screams and put her clothing out by smothering her with a carpet (reference). When Mary regained consciousness, she said, "don't bother about me, go to poor Flo" who had fallen out of sight behind a bush but was not crying out (reference). She was enveloped in flames when she was found, sitting down, holding her hands above her head, but not crying (reference). Their neighbour, Eliza Harrison, and Ferdinand carried Florizel into the house only to discover she had terrible burns all over her body (reference).
Dr Kearney from Bunbury and Dr Robertson from Busselton were called for immediately to come to Capel (reference). Dr Kearney arrived first, only to find Florizel had been so burnt she would never survive (reference). The doctor provided palliative care to ease her pain before she passed an hour and a half after his arrival (reference). By this time, Dr Robertson and the Reverend Father Reilly had arrived (reference). Today, she might have had a chance to live thanks to the medical advancements made since 1912.
Mrs Gutmann had been severely burnt on one arm while Ferdinand's hands were burnt (reference). Both were terribly shocked after the day's tragic events (reference).
Florizel was remembered as a 'very bright and intelligent girl, and was generally popular throughout the district (reference).'
Florizel's funeral took place on Wednesday, 20 March 1912, with her remains being interred in the Roman Catholic portion of the Capel Cemetery, Row 4, Grave 18 (reference). Her funeral was officiated by Reverend Father Reilly and attended by many, including all children from the Capel School (reference).
An inquest was held to seek answers to her tragic death (reference). The jury ruled that Florizel's passing was accidental, and no blame could be attached to anyone (reference). While this ruling was passed in the state, the Royal Humane Society of Australasia in Melbourne also looked into the accident (reference). The Royal Humane Society then issued a posthumous certificate of merit in recognition of Florizek’s bravery for giving her life in attempting to save Mary Guttman's (reference). After her passing, a subscription was created to raise funds towards her tombstone and railing for her grave (reference; reference). On Thursday, 7 August 1913 at the Capel Hall, there was a ceremony to officially recognise Florizel Lamming's bravery (reference). The certificate and medal were presented to Florizel's parents at this ceremony by William Lambden Owen, Resident Magistrate, on behalf of the Australian Royal Humane Society (reference; reference). "It is a duty that falls on me today, mingled with pleasure on one side, with very sincere and deep regret on the other. With pleasure because in presenting this certificate, it represents recognition of a very heroic act, with regret because of the sad affliction sustained by the parents in the gallant act and self-sacrifice of their daughter in 1912. I think all agree the self-sacrifice of Miss Lamming in rendering assistance in time of great peril in saving the life of a lady citizen is a tribute to the very highest to her parents, and they must feel proud they possessed such a heroic daughter. I am glad to see the boys and girls from the local school in such large numbers and trust what they have today heard will assist them should occasions arise to act with promptitude and courage. One never knew when accidents may happen in our midst, and you boys and girls may be called upon to act. It is satisfactory to see a representative gathering present to do honour to this occasion and none of us I venture to say can show our appreciation too much to the parents of the unfortunate young lady. In presenting this certificate to Mrs lamming, it was a great credit to her and her husband for the excellent bringing up given to her daughter, possessing as she undoubtedly did a noble character (reference)". Mr A G Layman, Justice of the Peace, said that it was an example of heroism as far as Capel was concerned was unparalleled (reference).
The newspapers throughout Western Australia, even as far north as Port Hedland, covered the story of Florizel's heroic death. They called her noble, a heroine and a brave girl (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference; reference).