Biography

The deceased child was one of about six children born to the Boerio couple, who were married in Perth in 1899 (Marriage Reg.No.1167/1899). Sadly, only two children appear to have survived past 19 months of age. A sister of Erna Pearl's, named Annie Christina, died in June of 1906, just five months prior to the death of Erna Pearl. Mr Boerio appears in several newspaper articles for various court appearances and in early 1906 was to be deprived of the mail contract, despite the fact that he had given a punctual and excellent service to the people of the district. Boerio was one of the rival coach proprietors plying between Goongarrie and Davyhurst who had apparently tired of the five shilling fare and began to extract ten shillings a head from the travelling public. About that same time, the Roads Board had found out that he had been driving three abreast (which seemingly is contrary to the Board's by-laws) and dragged him into Menzies where he was fined heavily for the offence. Altogether, it was concluded that Boerio was having quite a bad time of it. The deceased child had been in the coma for three days prior to her death. Hemiplegia is a condition caused by brain damage or spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis on one side of the body. Her death was certified to in writing by H. Eggeling, uncle, of Davyhurst.