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Vic Fenton, killed in Strongman mine on 6th Sept. 1966. R.I.P.
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PersonVictor FentonEventStrongman Mine Disaster
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Category TagCoal Mining
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Date Created27th June 2019CommentsGraham Little I played football against Vic. I understood he was killed by a runaway on the Strongman incline, but that he was much younger, like almost straight out of school. Is the date correct? Either way, a dreadful tragedy.
Lynne Parkin He was 21
Esther Edwards My brother is married to his sister.
Rob Oakley I remember Vic very well we were good friends the
Carole Beeby Rob Oakley were you once a driver for Jim and Tirzah Munday in Chch?
Rob Oakley Carole Beeby no did my hair dressing app in chch went back to the coast
Carole Beeby Rob Oakley Think they had a driver called Robert Oakley at one stage and thought it might have been you sorry for the mistake
Mary Morgan another blaketown boy Rob
Rob Oakley Mary Morgan. Hi Mary great to hear from you. You always had a beautiful smile please contact me via messenger would love to see you again
Mary Morgan Rob Oakley Just caught up with Victors sister Lynne had a chat with her.
Kath Windley Did they get him out of the mine ,,
Rob Oakley Kath Windley yes I was at the funeral
Helen Maunder So sad my uncle was killed in that mine disaster and was one of the three they couldn't get out straight away my uncle and another man where bought out and one still in there till this day such a tragedy
Anita Hale Helen Maunder this was the previous year. Strongman mine disaster was 19 Jan 1967
Tracy Piner Mahon omg, I was born on 06091966, that poor man died on my birth date, I also lost my uncle in the strongman mine; Tony Zampese. RIP, such great men!
Helen Maunder Tracy Piner Mahon yes they where
Vern Pattinson Is that Lynn
Lynne Parkin Yes it is Vernon
Vern Pattinson Lynne Parkin hi Lynne
John Bryce In the same class at Grey Tech
Val Whittaker Yes such a tragedy we lost so many friends and neighbours We went to the funerals a wet cold day Never to be forgotten on our Coast so
Rob Oakley Val Whittaker I can relate to that as if the coast wept as well
Raewyn Louttit My cousin was in the mine Hector McKENZIE
Beverley Inwood Remember the day clearly . Peter worked with vic and he was also our friend . Very good mates with Archie Maugham , who was killed in Strongman mine disaster
Beverley Inwood It sure was . Archie was our best man at our wedding
Mary Morgan I did know Archie Maughan did not know he was killed as well
Lynne Parkin Hi Mary Archie sadly lost his life in the strongman disaster. He was pallbearer for Victor who also had been best man for Archie when
Mary Morgan Lynne Parkin you would be Victors little sister and Gails as well remember your Dad Victor and Mum Joan Iwas in Christchurch when Victor was killed I came to Sydney in 1966
Lynne Parkin Yes that's right quite an old little sister now Mary. If I remember correctly you two were an item for some time?
Mary Morgan Lynne Parkin I met Gail on one of my trips home and went to see your mother as well Graham was not well at that time I will be in Greymouth later on in the year and will look you up my goodness he was a good looking chap your brother.
Mary Morgan who did Archie marry was she a coaster, how is Gail she would be a tad older than be
Lois Iacoppi the big disaster was 19th january 1967 where 19 men died, Vic was the only one killed in September, Archie Maughn was Vics best friend.
Lynne Parkin Yes it wasnt in the disaster but a runaway truck, human error I believe.
Meg McCarthy Phyl Powell did you know Vic?
Mary Morgan Meg McCarthy yes Meg I see you live in the Gosford area I am often at Terrigal my son lives there
Mary Morgan Yes Meg along with a lot of other girls he was popular with the ladies
Manage
Deborah Marley A friend of my dad's....duddly robinson also died in the strongman mine disaster
Sarah Lowe My grandad Robert Clark survived this. I was too young to know about it when he passed away in the 80s, mum said he never really talked about it. I would be very interested to read more
Bull Haussmann I remember old Vic I used to deliver the Press to them on Reid St.
Jenny Marshall I used call to see both Joan and Vic in Blaketown for a few years. I always loved visiting them. A lovely couple . Vic always made a strong cuppa...could almost stand the spoon up in the tea. Lovely days
Heather Newby Jeanie Nicol yes.. My feeling too.. And not long after that the mines closed down
Archie Maugh spelt wrong
Ronnie Walton all Blaketown boys gone RIP
Sandra Geddes Sonia Dando can see why!very sad!
Jim Webber Best man for my uncle Robert ( Archie ) Maughan , also died in the Strongman disaster . RIP.
Priscilla-Chang Newton I worked down greens at some time I went to Vics funeral I remember it like yesterday cause I got in a bit trouble afterwards. They tried to restage the accident it was in Greens section, the section that 19 miners lost their lives, also Vic lost his, …See More
Lynne Parkin Thankyou for that Chang I have always wanted to know what happened. I was 14 when Vic was killed so didnt really understand from the mine side of things.
Heather Newby Lynne Parkin dad told me what happened. I have a vague recollection of your brother outside your house on the verandah or in front of it with a car... Or a motorbike? Im 66 now... He would have been about 8 years older than me
Lynne Parkin Yep that would be right Heather.
Heather Newby I was thinking about him today at work. I remember your sister Gail.. Was Gail the oldest in the family?
Pauline Walsh Went out with viwent out with Vic Fenton lovely guy died to young
Kylie Parkin Very handsome - my Uncle that I never got to meet- Tarsha Parkin
Heather Newby Kylie Parkin he was handsome. Lived down the road from us. His dad and my dad were mates. I went to school with Lynn.. I remember her. She was never bitchy. Her mum was lovely... And i do remember Gail.. She was such a sweety.
Carol Lamb All these years later from tragic event it's interesting to see names, faces and ages. I was in West Coast (13 years old) team at Secondary School Softball tournament in Chch with Frank Jellyman coach and my mum Irene Rhodes Manager when this sad news…See More
Heather Newby same here.. he lived down the road from us.. tragic/
Lynne Parkin He was 21
Esther Edwards My brother is married to his sister.
Rob Oakley I remember Vic very well we were good friends the
Carole Beeby Rob Oakley were you once a driver for Jim and Tirzah Munday in Chch?
Rob Oakley Carole Beeby no did my hair dressing app in chch went back to the coast
Carole Beeby Rob Oakley Think they had a driver called Robert Oakley at one stage and thought it might have been you sorry for the mistake
Mary Morgan another blaketown boy Rob
Rob Oakley Mary Morgan. Hi Mary great to hear from you. You always had a beautiful smile please contact me via messenger would love to see you again
Mary Morgan Rob Oakley Just caught up with Victors sister Lynne had a chat with her.
Kath Windley Did they get him out of the mine ,,
Rob Oakley Kath Windley yes I was at the funeral
Helen Maunder So sad my uncle was killed in that mine disaster and was one of the three they couldn't get out straight away my uncle and another man where bought out and one still in there till this day such a tragedy
Anita Hale Helen Maunder this was the previous year. Strongman mine disaster was 19 Jan 1967
Tracy Piner Mahon omg, I was born on 06091966, that poor man died on my birth date, I also lost my uncle in the strongman mine; Tony Zampese. RIP, such great men!
Helen Maunder Tracy Piner Mahon yes they where
Vern Pattinson Is that Lynn
Lynne Parkin Yes it is Vernon
Vern Pattinson Lynne Parkin hi Lynne
John Bryce In the same class at Grey Tech
Val Whittaker Yes such a tragedy we lost so many friends and neighbours We went to the funerals a wet cold day Never to be forgotten on our Coast so
Rob Oakley Val Whittaker I can relate to that as if the coast wept as well
Raewyn Louttit My cousin was in the mine Hector McKENZIE
Beverley Inwood Remember the day clearly . Peter worked with vic and he was also our friend . Very good mates with Archie Maugham , who was killed in Strongman mine disaster
Beverley Inwood It sure was . Archie was our best man at our wedding
Mary Morgan I did know Archie Maughan did not know he was killed as well
Lynne Parkin Hi Mary Archie sadly lost his life in the strongman disaster. He was pallbearer for Victor who also had been best man for Archie when
Mary Morgan Lynne Parkin you would be Victors little sister and Gails as well remember your Dad Victor and Mum Joan Iwas in Christchurch when Victor was killed I came to Sydney in 1966
Lynne Parkin Yes that's right quite an old little sister now Mary. If I remember correctly you two were an item for some time?
Mary Morgan Lynne Parkin I met Gail on one of my trips home and went to see your mother as well Graham was not well at that time I will be in Greymouth later on in the year and will look you up my goodness he was a good looking chap your brother.
Mary Morgan who did Archie marry was she a coaster, how is Gail she would be a tad older than be
Lois Iacoppi the big disaster was 19th january 1967 where 19 men died, Vic was the only one killed in September, Archie Maughn was Vics best friend.
Lynne Parkin Yes it wasnt in the disaster but a runaway truck, human error I believe.
Meg McCarthy Phyl Powell did you know Vic?
Mary Morgan Meg McCarthy yes Meg I see you live in the Gosford area I am often at Terrigal my son lives there
Mary Morgan Yes Meg along with a lot of other girls he was popular with the ladies
Manage
Deborah Marley A friend of my dad's....duddly robinson also died in the strongman mine disaster
Sarah Lowe My grandad Robert Clark survived this. I was too young to know about it when he passed away in the 80s, mum said he never really talked about it. I would be very interested to read more
Bull Haussmann I remember old Vic I used to deliver the Press to them on Reid St.
Jenny Marshall I used call to see both Joan and Vic in Blaketown for a few years. I always loved visiting them. A lovely couple . Vic always made a strong cuppa...could almost stand the spoon up in the tea. Lovely days
Heather Newby Jeanie Nicol yes.. My feeling too.. And not long after that the mines closed down
Archie Maugh spelt wrong
Ronnie Walton all Blaketown boys gone RIP
Sandra Geddes Sonia Dando can see why!very sad!
Jim Webber Best man for my uncle Robert ( Archie ) Maughan , also died in the Strongman disaster . RIP.
Priscilla-Chang Newton I worked down greens at some time I went to Vics funeral I remember it like yesterday cause I got in a bit trouble afterwards. They tried to restage the accident it was in Greens section, the section that 19 miners lost their lives, also Vic lost his, …See More
Lynne Parkin Thankyou for that Chang I have always wanted to know what happened. I was 14 when Vic was killed so didnt really understand from the mine side of things.
Heather Newby Lynne Parkin dad told me what happened. I have a vague recollection of your brother outside your house on the verandah or in front of it with a car... Or a motorbike? Im 66 now... He would have been about 8 years older than me
Lynne Parkin Yep that would be right Heather.
Heather Newby I was thinking about him today at work. I remember your sister Gail.. Was Gail the oldest in the family?
Pauline Walsh Went out with viwent out with Vic Fenton lovely guy died to young
Kylie Parkin Very handsome - my Uncle that I never got to meet- Tarsha Parkin
Heather Newby Kylie Parkin he was handsome. Lived down the road from us. His dad and my dad were mates. I went to school with Lynn.. I remember her. She was never bitchy. Her mum was lovely... And i do remember Gail.. She was such a sweety.
Carol Lamb All these years later from tragic event it's interesting to see names, faces and ages. I was in West Coast (13 years old) team at Secondary School Softball tournament in Chch with Frank Jellyman coach and my mum Irene Rhodes Manager when this sad news…See More
Heather Newby same here.. he lived down the road from us.. tragic/
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Dec 2021). Vic Fenton, killed in Strongman mine on 6th Sept. 1966. R.I.P.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 29th Apr 2026 10:52, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25564