A.B.J. “Pappa” Francis
Albert 'Berlini' Bruno John Francis, with his wife Catherine 'Kitty' (nee Huggard) with their children Archibald 'Jack' John Francis & Carl Thomas 'Bill' William Francis, at Luna Park Sydney 1914.
Albert Bruno John Francis, A.B.J., “Pappa” or “Berlini”, and wife Kitty (nee Huggard) came over from White Cliffs. They got burnt out of their Exchange Hotel in 1909 and brought their two little boys, Jack and Bill, for a new start as opal buyers. Kitty's two opal mining brothers, Dick and Jim, also came across. Kitty was likely the first lady opal buyer at Lightning Ridge.
The “Rainbow Street Hut” in Lightning Ridge, Mary Francis, baby Andrew, Verona Blair, Mrs. Ebbie Duncan, Jennifer Francis and the lady Mayoress of Woolongong.
Pappa was a popular man, in the 1920s he wasconsidered one of the best judges of opal along with George Cowan. Pappa was always willing to take a gamble and was fair when it came to buying opal.
Following the family tradition, the Francis sons later dealt in opal. Bill, a bachelor, lived in South Australia. Jack & Mary married in 1938, and ran the Ridge general store and post office for 10 years.
Pappa Francis passed away 16 July 1930 and was buried at Lightning Ridge Cemetery.
Signature of Pappa Francis from correspondence relating to the relocation of homes and businesses from Old Town and Nettleton to the surveyed town, 8 February 1912.
Article: Research by Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: The Lightning Ridge Book, Stuart Lloyd, 1967, pp. 13-14; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, pp. 25, 29, 34-35; They Struck Opal!, E. F. Murphy, 1948, p. 154; Walgett Spectator, 24 June 1910, 28 October 1910, 10 February 1911, 19 October 1911, 26 March 1914, 28 August 1919, 17 November 1921.