We've reported already on two work-related deaths and a fatal motor cycle accident. Sadly, there were some more, which we'll get to one-by-one. The first unfortunate encounter with motorised transport or construction equipment happened on 1 December 1947, according to a report in the West Australian newspaper 2 days later. The first day in December was only the third day in Australia.
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Source: West Australian, 3 December 1947
There was no Stanislaus Benzines on the Heintzelman passenger list. The most likely casualty was Stanislavs Berzins, who was aged 29, not 19. Already the Australian press was struggling to cope with the new names, although we know that others from the Baltic States had been living in Australia for decades.
Traffic driving on the other side of the road was the obvious issue as it still is for Australians in Europe and new European arrivals in Australia. Had this issue been included in the English language classes on board the Heintzelman? We know nothing of their content, only that they were conducted by Edna Davis.
"Benzines" was an interesting choice for an alternative name, given that some languages use variations on benzene as their name for petrol (or gas/gasoline for American readers).
