Ron Gorman was born in 1916 in the Vale of Clwydd in Redgate Street.
Valley of Clwydd, 1916
Ron married Lily Oakes in 1939. They lived in 37 Saywell Street, now Hartley Valley Road.
Their children - June, Robyn and Ronald Junior - were born at 37 Saywell Street. Lily died at this address in 1956.
Ron later married Pat who lived there as a carer for Robyn and Ronald Junior. Their children were Ross, Ian and Kylie.
"Mary" and Ron Gorman, 1945
Source: Tanya Swan
In 1956, two miners, Ron Gorman and Bill Hogan, opened the Ulan Coal Mine, an underground operation supplying coal to the Ulan Power Station. Their original lease covered 120 acres.
"Mary" the pit pony, Ron Gorman, Lawrence Griffiths, Ron James, Rick Kinsela, Allan Heaslip, Wrecka Reid, Jack McPhail & 2 Surveyors
Pit ponies were once an essential part of the mining workforce. This historic photo features workers with a pit pony named Mary in the early days of what is now known as the Ulan Coal Mine Complex.
Ulan commenced operations in the early 1920s and is one of NSW’s longest-running coal mines.
Source: Glencore
Mary worked in the pits for ten years at Ulan Mine. She pulled skips loaded with 1 ton of coal, averaging 100 tons per day. She could pull up to six skips per haul.
When White Industries took over the Ulan Mine in 1975, four pit horses were in use but all were replaced by machines, except Mary, who kept on until she retired in 1977. When taken back to the pits for the photograph (below) she did not want to leave.
Source: Tanya Swan
Source: Tanya Swan
Ron Gorman and "Mary" pictured underground at Ulan mine.
Source: "Hoofs and Horns" article supplied by Sue Bennett
Ron Gorman and Mary, 1980s. Ulan Coal Mine in background.
In 1967, Fred Wade used to work in the mine at the age of 15. He worked with horses including Mary, a show jumper called Jimmy and later, a big white horse called Big Lloyd.
Ron Gorman, Laurie Griffin, John and Fred Wade worked underground. Dave Tomlinson was the mechanic at the time and Bill Hogan was looking after the top. Ron Macalister was the carrier for the coal.
Source: Fred Wade
