As part of the upcoming ‘Words in Winter’ event on Saturday July 25, author Lynne Cooper will speak at Maldon’s Athenaeum Library.
Cooper is the author of The Mystery Medal, which tells the story of her great grandfather, Sergeant Henry Frood of the Victorian Police.
In 1889 a small delegation of Chinese men from the Castlemaine Goldfields knocked on the door of retired police sergeant Henry Frood.
Their gift to him was a solid handcrafted gold medal. On the reverse of the medal was the inscription “he loved the people like his own son”.
What had Henry done to deserve this precious gift? Life was not easy for Chinese people in many goldfield settlements, with public resentment from European miners leading to petitions, speeches, and eventually mob action. In many cases law enforcement acted slowly to prevent or punish the rioters. Policing was not an easy job, made more difficult by laws that unfairly targeted Chinese residents.
A century later, 30 years of research has unravelled the amazing stories of crime and compassion, revealed in The Mystery Medal, uniting the descendants of four families who are deeply connected to the medal, the goldfields and the Chinese community.
Lynne Cooper is a Bendigo resident and keen historian. In the book she brings to life the story of Frood from his birthplace in Middlesex to his arrival in Australia and his 32 years with the Victoria Police Force.
This is a free event but booking is required via email at maldonathenaeumlibrary@gmail.com
The library can be found at 97 High St, Maldon. The talk will begin at 2pm.