ANOTHER BUSH LEGEND PASSES

Frank and Meg Timewell with the old fridge they used as a mail box after Australia Post refused to deliver mail into Wittenoom townsite. Photo by Hugh Brown.

GEOFF VIVIAN

Another true character of the bush passed away in Roebourne earlier this month.

Along with her husband Frank, Meg Timewell was one of a handful of stalwarts who refused to leave Wittenoom when the State Govenment closed the town due to asbestos contamination.

Longstanding friend Hugh Brown said she passed away from an asbestos-related condition.

“The thing that took Meg away from Wittenoom in the end was her health,” he said. “The one thing I’m really glad of is that she was able to pass her last days in the Pilbara and she didn’t have to go down to Perth. And I think that was a fitting testament to her as well.”

Mr Brown had many colourful tales of Meg and of Frank, who died in 2010.

“He lived in the Pilbara for most of his life,” he said of Frank. “He used to pinch cattle from Lang Hancock and then he would give the cattle away because it was the fun of the chase and the fun of not getting caught more than anything else.”