Family History Association of North Queensland Inc. Townsville
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ISSN 0818-1063
Townsville
Family History Association of North Queensland Inc.
Townsville
Joyce Patricia Gleeson
(1925-2012)
Reg. By Australia Post Vol. 31 No.3
Publication No QGB 4354 November 2012
FAMILY HISTORY ASSOCIATION OF NORTH QUEENSLAND INC.
5 Baker Street, Hermit Park, Townsville 4812. Telephone (07) 4728 2833
Secretary, PO Box 3659, Hermit Park, Townsville, Queensland 4812.
E-mail: fhanq@fhanq.org
Website: www.fhanq.org
Patron: John F Gleeson AM KSG KCHS
Life Members: Jan Kersnovske, Judi Hinspeter, Prof. George Kearney AM KCSJ RFD, Dorothy
Abel, Lyall Frazer, Laura Scott, Majorie Wall, Margaret Millar, Camille McEwen, John Weir,
Lawrence Neilson. Wayne Ann Moody and Paul Brown.
2012 Management Committee
President Kathy Laverack 0422 045 219 klav69237@bigpond.com
Vice President John Johnson 0409 642 123 jjohnno@dnho.org
Secretary Gaydon Mathews 07 4775 6615 gaydon.mathews@bigpond.com
Treasurer Laraine Pearce 07 4728 3223 peafamhistory@gmail.com
Board Member Marilyn Grogan 07 4775 5607 marilyn.grogan7@bigpond.com
Board Member Christine Ross 07 4772 6972 cpross@bigpond.com
Voluntary Positions
Archivist Camille McEwen 07 4771 2672 cmewen@bigpond.com
Fundraiser Vacant
Librarian Christine Ross 07 4772 6972 cpross@bigpond.com
Computer Support Paul Brown 07 4779 0995 pjb@dnho.org
Magazine Editor Vacant
Membership Sec. Wayne Ann Moody 07 4779 5647 moody76@bigpond.net.au
Publicity Vacant
Research John Weir 07 4779 6080 fhanq@fhanq.org
MAILING LISTS: AUS-NQ-L & FHANQ-L admin: John Johnson
email: jjohnno@dnho.org
MEMBERSHIP: Applications for FHANQ Inc. membership can be obtained by contacting the
Secretary or calling in at our Library. Joining fee is $15. Annual membership fee is $42 for
individual membership and $50 for family membership and associate membership.
The visitor fee is $10. A person who applies for membership within 14 days of paying their $10
visitor’s fee will have the same amount credited towards the fees for joining and membership.
COVER: With thanks to Denyse Bonney and Margaret “Peg” Millar for the basic
design layout.
Photo: Provided by J F Gleeson
Relatively Speaking Page 3 November 2012
CONTENTS
Page 4 President’s Report
5 FHANQ Think Tank Session
5 New Members
6 Courage Toil and Devotion:
Pietro and Isetta Conte
10 Did you know you can add your own images to Trove?
11 Australian Federated Butchers Employees’ Union
12 From London to North Queensland:
The endeavours of John Lambert (1846-1923)
16 The Townsville RSL Library
18 Joyce Patricia Gleeson (1925-2012)
22 Australian bush poetry: Torrens Creek Washaway
23 John Heenan and the Bridge
24 The Boy Who Would Fly and the Sea:
Charles Nevil Ker Bell
30 Unregistered Queensland deaths:
Dick Sheppard Bampton
31 Research Tips
32 Useful websites
34 It’s not all on Trove: FHANQ resources
Research Fee: Fees for research are $15 + large SAE. Research involving travel to other
repositories will incur additional fee of $15. Difficult or lengthy investigations by negotiation.
FHANQ Inc. does not guarantee that research results will always meet requester’s expectations.
Library Hours: Open every day 10 am to 2 pm, except Friday when we are closed.
Wheelchair Access: The FHANQ library is wheelchair accessible with assistance via the front
door, and volunteers are happy to assist in finding material that may be out of your reach. However,
the toilet is not wheelchair accessible.
Disclaimer: The Family History Association of North Queensland Inc. does not hold itself
responsible for statements made, or opinions expressed by contributors to Relatively Speaking.
Copyright © 2003 Relatively Speaking Magazine.
All rights reserved. Material may not be copied from this publication without the consent of the
publisher. Personal views expressed in articles and letters are those of the contributor and not
necessarily those of the publisher. Whilst we do not knowingly include erroneous information, the
responsibility for accuracy lies with those who submitted the material. We reserve the right to delete
from any article, material which we consider may lead to a breach of the law of libel.
Membership Renewal Due 1st January 2013
(Must be paid no later than 28 February 2013)
Renewal Form, Page 35
Relatively Speaking Page 4 November 2012
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Christmas is coming, the ducks are getting fat, in our case the turkeys
next door to us (two of them) who are earmarked for Christmas lunch
and Christmas dinner. It’s time to start planning for the big event.
Our classes held at FHANQ library were well attended, some so popular they
continued the following week. We achieved our goal of getting members back into
the rooms and showing off recent additions to our library, both in hard copies and
on-line. There was lots of positive feedback from satisfied customers. Sincere thanks
go to the volunteers who gave their time and knowledge.
Next year, perhaps we could introduce special interest groups e.g. Irish, German,
English, or wherever there is an interest and two or more wish to meet. If you would
like to come to our Think Tank session we can discuss it (1st December—notice see
page 5). This event plans for the association’s 2013 operations.
The Unlock the Past roadshow came to town for a day in September. This was the
last roadshow they will present, choosing instead to do webinars. It was interesting
listening to the presenters. I would love to have a smidgen of the information they
have for researching.
Your excellent work in selling the tickets in the raffle netted us $1,350, $450 above
the budgeted $900. Well done.
DATE TO REMEMBER: Morning tea for volunteers (all volunteers) to be held on
17th November 10 am. Bring a plate and have a chat – love to see you and catch up.
Many thanks to Margaret Picard for compiling and editing this edition of ‘Relatively
Speaking’. We are still in need of an Editor for next year’s magazine, and help will
be provided.
VALE Life Member Irene HARLOW (1919-2012) daughter of Charles and Gladys
STRATIGOS (nee BUBBERS). Joining the association in 1985 an appreciation
certificate awarded at the 1995 Christmas party says it all. “To one Irene HARLOE,
a gentlewoman in every sense of the word. Irene is another quiet achiever, who has
for many years helped the association in every way that she can with a willing heart
and a gentle smile, and well deserves our thanks.”
Season’s greetings and best wishes to all for health and happiness and I look forward
to seeing you in the New Year.
‘Til the next time
Kathy
FHANQ LIBRARY CLOSED
We will be closed from Wednesday 19 December 2012 to
Tuesday 1 January 2013 (inclusive).
Re-opening at 10 am on Wednesday 2 January 2013.
Relatively Speaking Page 5 November 2012
FHANQ THINK TANK SESSION
Members are invited to attend a think tank session on: Saturday 1st December 2012 at
2 pm to draft an operational plan for 2013.
This is the opportune time for you to have a say in the Association’s management.
Any member interested in promoting an idea is asked to please email Kathy at
klav69237@bigpond.com with a simple outline that can be displayed on a
whiteboard.You don’t necessarily have to attend the library.
Suggested topics - subject to time available and not necessarily in order of importance
• Vision - next two years
• Management Committee function
• Budget 2013
• Magazine
• Resources
• Publicity
• Events calendar 2013
• Fund raising and grant applications
• Volunteer retention and recruitment
• Website
• Any other item
NEW MEMBERS FROM 29 JULY 2012
Mark Stephen ALLEN Janet Lavinia HURLEY
Betty ALLEN John LAURIE
Dorothy Lorraine MAYES Bob WOOD
Susan Jane WILSON George Edward MUNSON
Joan B GROTH George O’DONNELL
Glenda Margaret MONAGHAN Jennifer Margaret DUCE
Jennifer BUZZI Marion ROWLEY
Maureen Therese ROBSON Jeffrey George WEST
Enid Gladys BERRY Carol SLATTERY
Jacob Malcolm DALE
Relatively Speaking Page 6 November 2012
COURAGE TOIL AND DEVOTION:
Pietro Giovanni CONTE and (Isetta) Prudenza Elisa BANDIERA
By Diane Laun
Diane’s story was written for future generations to recognize her grandparents Pietro
and Isetta’s history and the hardships endured whilst building a life together in North
Queensland.
It begins in Italy before their emigration to Australia with a sketch of the prevailing
conditions that affected their lives, mainly the extended household; lack of formal
schooling; strong church influence and the impact of seasonal and overseas migration
on the social structure.
The following excerpts are centred on Pietro’s life prior to his marriage to Isetta.
*****************
Unlike Isetta, not much is known of Pietro's early life.
Pietro was born Pietro Giovanni CONTE on 4th April, 1901 in Castagnole, Italy the
seventh child and second son of Luigi and Miglioranza Maria (PITARRI) CONTE. It
is said their family was poor and this probably accounts for the fact that he could not
read or write as he would have had to help out by working on farms.
When war came, Pietro lied about his age and
was employed as a cook for two years. He
came home and stayed a year being sick with
pleurisy. When the war [WWI] ended, there
was much unemployment and widespread
poverty in Italy. Many young men in search of
work applied to emigrate in order to get out of
the rut of unemployment.
His sister Katina had emigrated to Australia to
become the second wife of Carlo (Charlie)
DALLA VECCHIA. Emigrating around 1890,
Carlo had farmed first at Macknade and then in
1909, moved to Innisfail.
[Pietro first met Isetta at her cousin’s wedding
and later at family gatherings under the
watchful eyes of her mother and father.
When Pietro decided to emigrate to Australia
he asked her to become engaged and wait for
him. They said good-bye and it was five years
before they saw each other again.]
At the beginning of 1924, Pietro came to Australia. Fares at that time were £41 and it
is not known whether Pietro paid this or was assisted by his brother-in-law in return
for working on the farm for a number of years.
Relatively Speaking Page 7 November 2012 On arriving, he went to work for his brother-in-law and set about learning the ropes of cane-cutting. He noticed that most of the gangs in the area were Italian. The cane cutters organised themselves into gangs and registered themselves in Innisfail. Having experimented with gangs as small as four men, they found that eight men could pool their wages and afford a full-time cook. The annual "Sign on" became an important day in the ritual of Innisfailites, as cutters filled the main street and caught up with mates they had not seen since the start of the slack season. His home for the next few years was the cane barracks, a typical galvanized iron sheeted, timber framed, cement floored dwelling with stretcher beds, push-up windows and a rope-pulley kerosene tin shower in a bath recess. He and the other gang members went to work when the moon was full i.e. 3 am. The secret of Italian success came at 8 am when the men were brought a solid breakfast by the cook. It might have been eggs, stew with meat, potatoes, peas and water to drink. At 12 midday the men would go back to the barracks and have pasta with meat, vegetables and wine or beer. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, they would return to the field and work as long as they could see. Smoko was brought to the field - tea and cake. The night meal was soup and meat. A constant supply of meat throughout the day was essential to the punishing regime of work demanded by cane-cutting. The men wore the same set of clothes before and after midday "smoko", a uniform of singlets, shorts and sandshoes. Their used clothes hung drying and odorous, sugar stiffened like black armour, on the veranda clothes-line until Sundays. Then they were bent and creakingly folded into kerosene tins half full of boiling water charged with shavings of kerosene soap on the roaring wood stove. Sundays too were the time of a barracks clean-up when the kerosene tins, emptied of the thick black treacle-water residue of the clothes washing were reboiled for a scrubbing of floors. “The cutting itself demanded teamwork: the method of cutting was as precise and ordered as the choreography involved in a London changing of the guards. The first man, the pacemaker, cut the bottom of the plant, topping in mid-air with the stalk slanted so that the tops dropped free of the falling cane. The second man then started down his row, cutting the bottom of the stalk which was elevated then angled before topping so that the top fell parallel to the cane rows but away from the butts of the first felled sticks to avoid entangling the cane when it was later lifted to be loaded. More than that, the tops were placed to avoid fouling the standing cane of the cutter in the third row. The second row cane cutter threw his cane stalks neatly on to their brethren placed on the ground by the first man. The third cane-cutter duplicated the role of the pacemaker, by making the foundations for the cane bundles built upon by the fourth cane cutter. In a perfectly matched gang, the cutters would begin cutting one end of a paddock at the same time and finish at the end of the row together. If there were slower cutters, they were placed in positions seven and eight in an eight-man gang so that their lack of pace did not impede the faster members.” (Robert Pascoe, 1987 Buongiorno Australia: Our Italian Heritage p.116-117)
Relatively Speaking Page 8 November 2012
During the next year, with ever increasing numbers of Italians, the Italian Club was
established in Mourilyan and at the opening ceremony, Pietro met many, many
people. A short time later, the organisation called the Progressive Club held a dance
that attracted people from throughout the district including non-Italians. An Italian
orchestra played and the paper stated that "the club has started upon a prosperous
career". The paper further said of the club that it was "the chief improvement in the
township this year."
He noticed that Italians were beginning to leave their mark in the form of bricks and
mortar with many fine residences not unlike the dwellings of northern Italy being
built. Apparently the trend started in Innisfail in 1924, for in that year, the North
Queensland Register reported:
One of our oldest and most popular residents is Carl Dalla Vecchia, the "king of the
Italians”. His latest enterprise is to build himself a new house on a commanding
rise near Goondi Hill. It is not to be an ordinary pioneering humpy either. Like
most good settlers he has seen enough of them. Carl has made a splendid start with
what will be a concrete mansion and a valuable example for other people to follow.
The construction is of hollow concrete bricks which have been manufactured at his
new works at South Johnstone, which should develop into a valuable local industry.
…
That's the kind of a settler we want in North Australia.
Problems were arising though with emigration and the obvious surplus of labour in
the sugar industry. By February 1925, the Italian born population of Australia had
risen by 9,354. Charlie, his brother-in-law often spoke to Pietro about why this
resentment was taking place.
"Do they think we will take all their jobs? Do they envy us our ability to work long
hours and live on as little as possible so as to put money aside to bring out our loved
ones, buy a house or farm or even a car? They worry when groups of us Italians get
together that there is a danger of creating little segregated communities out of touch
with the general life of the country and preserve our own habits and language. They
forget we work from 3 am till night, sometimes 7 days a week if it is raining and
when do we have time to learn their language and customs. Our children learn
quickly but it is hard for us oldies."
In response to anti-Italian sentiment in north Queensland, a Royal Commission was
appointed by the state government "On Social and Economic Effect of Increase in
Number of Aliens in North Queensland" - the Ferry Commission.
Thirty nine witnesses in the northern towns (eight of which were Italian cane-farmers
and three cutters) gave evidence. One farmer, Silverio DALLA VECCHIA, spoke of
the treatment meted out to them by Britishers causing "strife and ill feeling instead of
amity between the races". Things did not improve and by 1930, a "Gentleman's
Agreement" between the Australian Sugar Producers' Association, the Queensland
Cane Growers' Association and the Australian Workers' Union determined that 75%
of jobs in cane cutting be reserved for "Britishers".
Relatively Speaking Page 9 November 2012
Carlo DALLA VECCHIA said that with respect to labour, he generally employed
Italians. He had five Italian field hands in the current year, two of whom were his
brothers-in-law. He decried the fact that his normal cane-cutting gang, consisting of
four Italians, all of whom were war veterans and naturalised Australian citizens, had
been precluded from cutting for him during the current season. He had been forced to
hire British.
Mario MELANO, acting Italian Consul in Townsville, spoke in defence of the Italians
and said that the Italian government was currently actively engaged in discouraging
emigration from Italy. Most of the Italians currently arriving were women and
children coming to join their husbands and their numbers were exceeded by
departures of Italians from the area. 1,000 Italian workers had left Australia in the
first seven months of 1930 so he felt the problem would not be to prevent new
foreigners from coming in, but of trying to persuade them from walking out.
In the face of these developments, the aliens and the Italians in particular, began to
get their backs up. For the first time, there was widespread mobilisation among the
North Queensland Italians in defence of their rights. The DANESI brothers of
Innisfail called a meeting of their fellow countrymen after a newspaper "Smith's
Weekly" headed one of its articles:
"Innisfail, Nightmare City of North Australia. Town of Dreadful Dagoes Looks
Calm but Foreign Scum Oozes from its Highways"
But despite the turmoil, work continued on and Pietro lived frugally, aiming to earn as
much money as possible within a limited period of time. … He had to provide for the
future.
[Isetta's father died on 31st January, 1929. Pietro was to have come sooner but when
her father got very sick, Isetta asked him to postpone the marriage. Pietro returned
eight days after his death to marry her.
They were married on Wednesday 3rd April, 1929 on a beautiful day at Castagnole.
They left Italy on 17th July to set up house at South Johnstone in North Queensland.]
Relatively Speaking Page 10 November 2012
COURAGE TOIL AND DEVOTION:
Pietro Giovanni CONTE and (Isetta) Prudenza Elisa BANDIERA
Diane Laun’s book is available at FHANQ library—Catalogue No. NQB 162.
Her story is sourced from speaking with her grandmother Isetta, uncles, aunts and
cousins and consulting books on migrant experiences at that time.
The National Archives of Australia is a valued resource with the digitisation of the
records of Peitro’s World War II internment as an enemy alien under the National
Security Act 1939. Ref. NAA: A11797, WP5068; NAA: A435, 1947/4/136; NAA: D4028,
CONTE PIETRO; NAA A12508, 31/1296
The library holds a few books on Italians in North Queensland - see below
Catalogue No. Title Author
NQC 093 Sugar Tears & Eyties Dalseno, P
NQC 018 Sotto la Croce del Sud (Under the Galassi, F
Southern Cross)
ITALY 008 Italian – Australian Courtship & Ed Johnson, GC
Marriage Stories Contributors Ingham people
NQB 082 Italian Pioneers in the Innisfail Edited by Ada De Munari Choat,
District Alf Martinuzzi and Ilma
Martinuzzi O’Briend
NQC 329 The Cane Barracks Story Eugenie Navarre
DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN IMAGES TO TROVE?
To add your photos all you need to do is join Flickr, upload your photos, and add
them to the Trove: Australia in Pictures group. After about 10 days they will appear
in Trove. If you want your real name to show in Trove make sure you put your name
into your Flickr profile. Follow these steps
1. Go to http://www.flickr.com/
2. Sign in to Flickr, or sign up if you are not already a member.
3. To activate your Flickr account you will need to load at least 5 photos.
4. Upload your images to Flickr.
5. If you flag your photos ‘hide this photo from public searches’ your photos
cannot be transferred into Trove.
6. Visit the Trove: Australia in Pictures group, by searching for ‘Trove’ under the
‘groups’ tab in Flickr.
7. Click on the ‘Join this group’ link and follow the prompts.
8. Read through the group descriptions for guidelines about contributing to Trove,
including information on captions, tags and licences.
9. To add an image to the Trove group click on that image.
10. Select Actions menu button (top left above the image) and click the “Add to/
Remove from group”.
11. Add accurate tags and descriptions to your photos.Relatively Speaking Page 11 November 2012
AUSTRALIAN FEDERATED BUTCHERS EMPLOYEES’ UNION
1911 Eight-Hour Day in Townsville
Christine RUFFLE was asked by the owners of the above photograph to find out as
much information as she could about it. There are two other photographs of couples
sitting in horse and donkey carts that relate to the same event. Aided by a magnifying
glass, the internet and a lot of determination Christine reports that:
The group photo banner reads the Australasian Federated Butchers Employees'
Union. Registered in 1906 the A.F.B.E.U. changed to their present name Australasian
Meat Industry Employees’ Union in 1912. Source: www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0109b.htm
The photos were taken after the Eight-Hour Day procession in Townsville, 4th May
1911. Some 1,300 workers took part. Source: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80352738
Group identities. She’s been told that the gentleman standing in the back row, fifth
from the right is John O'FARRELL (1858-1928) AKA Melbourne Jack. He is
recorded on the Federal Electoral Roll 1913 as a slaughter man residing in Sturt Street
West, Townsville. Source: www.findmypast.com.au
A close perusal of a gentleman seated towards the centre of the front row appears to
be wearing black face paint, holding a meat cleaver, with some kind of animal lying
against his body. It is probably the same person who is sitting in the horse cart photo
with wording on the side "Don't buy from the Union.". This must be the cart that
won the prize for the best worst turnout - the "Non-union Butcher" mentioned in the
The Northern Miner article.
The photographer was Edgar Stanley BURROWS a resident of Townsville
1908–1912, after which he moved to Wollongong, New South Wales. Sources:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/58114534#blob Australian Electoral Rolls www.findmypast.com.au
There is still much to learn from the photographs. More detailed information will
shortly be posted on the Rootsweb mailing lists for FHANQ, AUS-NQ and
AUS-QLD-Townsville in the hope that some respondents can expand the story.Relatively Speaking Page 12 November 2012
FROM LONDON TO NORTH QUEENSLAND :
THE ENDEAVOURS OF JOHN LAMBERT (1846-1923)
Dr Jennifer Lambert Tracey*
Notations in a leather bound Bible passed down through generations record the births,
deaths and marriages of the LAMBERT family. The marriage of John LAMBERT
(1788–1838) to Sarah Hill (1790–1853) was celebrated on 26th July 1813 in the
Parish of All Hallows, Tottenham. John and Sarah’s second son, Jonathan, was born
in Edmonton on 5th July 1817 and his childhood, along with that of his eight surviving
siblings, appears to have been comfortable and secure. Jonathan learnt the skills of
whip making from his father and, at the time of his marriage on 4th October 1840, he
was residing in Red Lion Street in the London Borough of Islington. His bride, Mary
Ann GUDGEON, was the daughter of wheelwright, Thomas GUDGEON, and his
wife Sarah TRIGG.
The LAMBERT and GUDGEON families lived in Church Street, Edmonton and had
taken economic advantage of the increasing need for horse drawn transport by
London’s burgeoning population. Mary Ann and Jonathan LAMBERT had twelve
children, although only their sons John and James emigrated to Australia. These
young men chose to live out their lives in North Queensland. This paper focuses upon
John LAMBERT’s journey and settlement in the fledgling settlement of Townsville.
John was born on 25th December 1846 amidst the celebration of a typical 19th century
English Christmas. By 1851 the LAMBERT family had relocated to 17 Lower Queen
Street, Islington, where John and his older sisters, Elizabeth and Emma, were
fortunate to have attended school. Although as many as nine of Islington's schools in
1851 were private, they taught less than half of the district's schoolchildren. John
eventually worked with his father, Jonathan, and ‘Thomas GUDGEON and Sons’ at
their wheelwrights’ shop on Edmonton’s High Street.Relatively Speaking Page 13 November 2012
By the early 1860s, urban growth was devouring the social ambiance of Greater
London. For many families, the nostalgic bond of home was being replaced by
exhilaration at the thought of life and opportunities in a new country. Emigration
schemes had expanded the boundaries of possibility on an unprecedented scale.
Reports of opportunities that awaited settlers in the newly formed ‘Colony of
Queensland’ were rife throughout London’s working class. Gold discoveries in the
Colony of New South Wales during the 1850s had made many prospective emigrants
aware of the rewards to be had and possibilities of a better life. At the age of 18 years,
John LAMBERT made the decision to emigrate, took leave of his family and in
August 1865, boarded the ship Montmorency in London bound for Port Denison.
The Black Ball Line clipper Montmorency was
the first official immigrant ship to the newly
formed Colony of Queensland in 1860. Her
last voyage in this role was reported in the
‘Shipping News’, Port Denison Times,
2nd December 1865, and John LAMBERT is
noted as a steerage passenger on that voyage.
Those who paid their own passage were
eligible for a ‘Land Order’ of 18 acres and,
after two years' residence in the Colony, a
further order for 12 acres. The Orders were
valued at £18 and £12 respectively.
Shortly after his arrival at Port Denison reports of gold discoveries north-west of
Townsville, caught John LAMBERT’s attention. Along with hundreds of other ‘would
be’ diggers, he headed north to Townsville then on to the rugged country around the
Star River. By the 26th March 1866 it was reported that initial finds on the newly
proclaimed ‘Star River Goldfield’ were meagre, however for those with perseverance,
there were rewards. The Cleveland Bay Herald, 19th January 1867, published an
article noting that ‘Mr. COSTIN of Dotswood Station’ reported men had been
working the gullies leading into the ‘Star’ for about ten months and were getting
payable gold.
It is not known if John LAMBERT was successful in his quest for gold at the Star
River although he did have the misfortune to encounter Townsville’s first cyclone. It
struck the settlement with devastating force late at night on 3rd March 1867 and news
of the impact was reported in the Brisbane Courier.
... The only buildings which can really be said to have weathered the fury of the
storm are, the Court House (which the Police Magistrate kindly opened for the
shelter of those whose houses were destroyed, and of which shelter some fifty or
sixty persons availed themselves), the residence of Mr. Gordon, P.M., the lock-up
(where also a few were kindly allowed to shelter for the night), the cottage of Mr.
Shearer, and a few humpies on the beach...Relatively Speaking Page 14 November 2012
Oral history relates that he followed the next North Queensland rush, 150 miles via
Burdekin Downs, to the Cape River. The Cape River Goldfield was proclaimed in
September 1867 in the midst of financial depression. The economic viability of this
goldfield was considered integral to the progress of the Colony and reports of
discoveries were anxiously followed in the press. Within a year, the easily won
alluvial gold had been depleted. The rush was over.
Miners moved on to other fields, later Ravenswood and Charters Towers, however
John returned to Townsville. There, on 13th June 1868 at the Townville Court House,
he married his young Irish colleen, Martha BROWN, daughter of John BROWN and
Martha COLLINS. Martha was born 18th March 1845, in Drumcree, Portadown,
County Armagh, and had arrived at Moreton Bay on board the Wansfell in 1865. The
young couple established their home in bushland near where the old Methodist
Church was later erected on the corner of Wills and Stokes Streets. In 1868 there were
only tracks through this rugged area at the base of Castle Hill. It was in this small
cottage that their seven children were born:
John Martha
Lambert Brown
(1846-1923) (1845-1922)
• John Alfred LAMBERT, 14th September 1869; died 5th February 1921.
• James Brown LAMBERT, 11th April 1871; married Elizabeth JOYNT at Cairns,
on 2nd February 1901. James and his family relocated to Western Australia.
• Herbert Nathienal LAMBERT, 21st March 1872; died 1946 in Townsville.
• Eliza LAMBERT, 25th February 1874; married Joseph William NOBLE,
28th November 1896. Eliza Lambert NOBLE died 26th September 1929 at
Townsville. Joseph NOBLE died 31st December 1945 at Townsville.
• Henry LAMBERT, 8th September 1876; married Lily McLATCHIE. Henry
LAMBERT died at Gordonvale on 26th April 1926.
• Sarah LAMBERT, 7th April 1881; married John DAN, a tailor of Double Bay,
Sydney. Their son Lex DAN was well known to North Queenslanders as a
shipwright on the Manoora and Kanimbla’s Queensland coastal runs.
• Frederick Arthur LAMBERT, 13th September 1886; died 25th September 1949 at
Wellington Street, Acacia Vale [Aitkenvale]. Frederick married Alice Mary
McElligott.Relatively Speaking Page 15 November 2012
For a time John LAMBERT returned to his trade of whip making and ran a
‘Handsome Cab’ in the town. With the marriage of his eldest son, John Alfred to
Margaret CUMMINS, daughter of James CUMMINS and Ann O'BRIEN of Belgian
‘German’ Gardens, on 31st July 1901, the bonds between the early settler families –
LAMBERT, CUMMINS, LYNAM, BRABON, NOBLE and BENTON were being
reinforced. When Martha LAMBERT became ill she was lovingly cared for by her
daughter Eliza Lambert NOBLE at their home in Warburton Street, North Ward.
Joseph ‘Joe’ NOBLE, a blacksmith and wheelwright, worked at Joseph BENTON’s
Blacksmiths, one the earliest blacksmithing and wheelwright shops in Townsville.
Martha Brown LAMBERT died 9th April 1922 at the age of 77 years. Before and after
her death, John LAMBERT spent considerable time with his son, Henry, at
Gordonvale. On 2nd September 1923, John LAMBERT died at sea off Cairns, on
board the SS Canberra. He is buried in the Martyn Street Cemetery. A monument is
erected to him upon the grave of his wife Martha Brown LAMBERT, in the Old West
End Cemetery, Townsville.
Photo above -Benton’s Blacksmith Shop in Belgian ‘German’
Gardens. (Lambert Collection)
Photo Left—Joseph Noble with Alfred Lambert (author’s father)
on the road to Mount Spec c1940
1
The parish of Tottenham was divided by a Roman road known as High Road around which most of
the early settlement was situated.
2
Several generations of the Lambert family were located in Winchmore Hill and Edmonton areas
north of the City of London. Earlier generations from c.1657, were recorded as living in the Tower
Hamlets, close to the River Thames.
3
The London Gazette, 18th January 1870. Notice in reference to the the estate of Thomas Gudgeon
[the elder] with Jonathan Lambert and Joseph Gudgeon noted as Executors.
4
Baker, T. F. T., 1985. A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 8: Islington and Stoke
Newington Parishes, pp. 117-135.
5
Queensland State Archives. Registers of Immigrant Ships' Arrivals; Series ID 13086; Roll:
M1696.
6
Wooden ship, 668 tons built in Quebec, Canada by T.C. Lee for James Baines & Co. of Liverpool
and launched in 1854. The ship was destroyed by fire at Napier, New Zealand on 28th March 1867
after offloading immigrant passengers.
7
Foote, W., 1978. ‘Queensland Immigration and the Black Ball Line. Paper read at a Meeting of the
Royal Historical Society of Queensland on 23rd February 1978’. Journal of the Royal Historical
Society of Queensland, Volume 10, Issue 3: pp. 21-49Relatively Speaking Page 16 November 2012
THE TOWNSVILLE RSL LIBRARY
The Townsville RSL Library houses an extensive collection of over 2,000 books,
journals, periodicals and items of electronic media on Australian military history from
the Boer War to the present day with a particular focus on North Queensland military
history. The collection is predominantly non-fiction books and includes official
histories, personal memoirs and battalion histories. Amongst these collections are
important rare books, and personal diaries.
The Library, situated on the first floor, has an impressive mural created from photos
and sketches provided by the Australian War Memorial of people who served, were
based in Townsville or who came from the region.
Generally the library is open to all interested readers, researchers and students from
Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm (closed public holidays and weekends). People
who are not members of the RSL must sign in as a visitor and abide by the liquor
licensing provisions. Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Borrowing rights are automatic with Townsville RSL membership with a loan period
of two weeks, with extensions allowed. A small number of items are only available
for viewing within the library and are not for loan. The Townsville RSL would like to
extend an invitation to anyone and everyone to drop in, or to phone the librarian, for
assistance in all matters military. The librarian is available on Monday and Tuesday
to assist with difficult search queries, including family military histories.
All acquisitions, both purchased and donated, must meet the stated goals of the
library. The library aims to collect resources across a variety of formats such as
books, magazines and DVD’s. The Library also accepts bequeaths of private
collections. One such item of irreplaceable value is a diary hand written nearly a
century ago of Edward MORONEY who landed and fought at Gallipoli as well as the
Western Front.Relatively Speaking Page 17 November 2012
Several books held at the Townsville RSL Library will be of interest to Family
History researchers. They include:
I didn't know that: Cairns and districts, Tully to Cape York, 1939-1946, service
personnel and civilians / Vera Bradley. This historical record covers people, places
and units in North Queensland during World War Two. It is made up of the stories
supplied by service personnel and civilians. It has an index as well as a names index
and includes many photographs. This book is for reference and cannot be borrowed,
however pages can be photocopied on request.
Fighters from the Fringe : Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Recall the
Second World War / Robert A Hall. Surprised at the extent of Aboriginal and
Islander involvement in Australia’s war effort, Hall recounts their contribution to the
digger legend and largely forgotten aspects of black-white relations
Of special interest is Chapter 5 Saulo WAIA : Pearl Diver Turned Soldier. It includes
a photograph with fellow soldiers Henry TABUAI, Semere AUDA, Jack WARSUM,
Abae AGIRI and Kalop AGIE. All the men were from Saibai Island except Semere
AUDA who was from Boigu (AWM Neg. No. 119173). The book is indexed with
thirty three photographs. 940.5481 94 HALL
The war with Johnny Boer : Australians in the Boer War, 1899-1902 / edited by
Max Chamberlain & Ron Droogleever. This book includes eye-witness of Boer war
and is uncensored. It includes an index as well as a name index. 968.048 WAR
Lives and times : personal narratives by soldiers who served in, or were attached
to, Australian Army units sharing the designation '31st', during World Wars I
and II / edited by S.J. (John) Gardner. This four volume set covers 106 Australian
Army personnel. Each story gives an outline of each member’s life from birth.
940.548194 LIV
Feel free to grab a coffee from our coffee
shop and come upstairs to the library and
have a look…
Ruth Marsh
Ph: 07 4759 9500
Fax: 07 4772 4176
Email: library@tsvrsl.com.au
LEGACY FAMILY TREE
Genealogy Software — Standard Edition—Free Download
http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
FHANQ Legacy Workshops with Paul Brown
at 5 Baker Street Library
th
4 Friday of the month 10 am to 12 pm &
following Saturday 10 am to 12 pmRelatively Speaking Page 18 November 2012
Joyce Patricia GLEESON
Born into Eternal Life 9th July 2012
Joyce Patricia GLEESON was born in Herberton, North Queensland on St Patrick's
Day, 17th March 1925, the youngest child of William John and Helen EATON. Her
siblings were Colin, Tom, Joan and Agnes. All were born in Herberton.
Joyce received her primary education in Herberton at St Patrick’s Convent School and
her secondary education at St Monica's College in Cairns. She successfully completed
studies in commercial subjects and music and on leaving school found employment as
a secretary with Star Bowkett in Cairns. She was later employed as secretary to the
General Manager of the Far Northern Division of Queensland Railways based in
Cairns.
She was a member of the Children of Mary and the Legion of Mary and President of
the Junior Legion of Mary and sang in the St Monica's Cathedral choir.
Joyce kept contact over the years with a number of her friends from school days. In
1996 she was able to celebrate with them in Herberton at a gathering to mark the
75th Anniversary of Mount St Bernard's College.
In the 1940's funds for worthy causes
were raised by pageants, so called
"Queen Competitions". Sources of
funds were the holding of social
events, running craft and home wares
stalls, direct donations and conducting
raffles. Joyce was an entrant in a
Queen Competition in the mid 1940's.
Joyce won the competition. In the
official photograph featuring Joyce as
Queen she was supported by two
pageboys who were actually girls,
twins Petra and Paula STEPTOE who
were born in Townsville under the
watchful eye of Sister GLEESON,
Jack's mother who worked as a
midwife to support her three young
When Joyce married Jack GLEESON on All Saints Day, 1st November 1947 at
St Monica’s Cathedral in Cairns members of the Children of Mary formed a guard of
honour at the entrance to the Cathedral. Their marriage has stood the test of time for
64 years.
Joyce at all times made a tremendous contribution to their marriage, to their family
and Jack’s career. She raised a good, talented and responsible family, Margaret,
Patricia, Paul, Catherine and Therese.Relatively Speaking Page 19 November 2012 Concurrently with the raising of her family Joyce maintained her interest and activity in Church related organisations and projects, in addition to community activities. She was a member of the Villa Vincent Women's Auxiliary from its inception helping to raise funds for the initial building and subsequent extensions. She assisted with craft and other activities for the residents of Villa Vincent. She served as President, Secretary and Treasurer at various times and for quite a few years offered her home as a base for the conduct of the door to door collections for Villa Vincent. Her home was the venue for many social functions to raise funds. Joyce was also a Foundation Member of Inner Wheel, the women's organisation open to wives and widows of Rotarians. Over the years she held various executive positions including President in 1978/79. She remained a member of Inner Wheel until her death. Before buying a home in Belgian Gardens, the Gleesons lived in Queens Road, Railway Estate. Margaret attended the Sisters of Mercy primary school and Joyce assisted with fund raising including a food and drink stall at the annual show to raise funds for the building of the present Church, St Francis Xavier. Joyce was also a member of CDA, the Catholic Daughters of Australia which later became the Catholic Women’s League. On a number of occasions she served terms as President of the Townsville branch and consistently was a member of the executive, secretary and treasurer. When Paul attended Our Lady's Mount Christian Brothers College, Joyce assisted on the Tuckshop committee and other activities associated with the College. Paul completed his secondary education at Nudgee but Joyce continued to help at lgnatius Park. Like her mother Joyce was a hands on person. She was known for her hospitality and her ability to welcome and entertain guests with a natural flair for hosting any occasion from a morning tea to a celebration dinner often enlisting the enthusiastic support of her family. She successfully raised five children and enjoyed her fourteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Joyce also had an active social life and gained many friends. Even the busiest people have their recreations hobbies and interests. From early days Joyce enjoyed the outdoors and was often pictured swimming with her children at Magnetic Island. Until recent times Joyce played golf regularly at the Townsville Golf Club. She collected a number of trophies along the way. She joined the Townsville Golf Club in 1965. Joyce and Jack travelled widely together in Australia and overseas on quite a few occasions, including a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1986 to Lourdes, Medjugorje and the shrine at Knock in Ireland, The Passion Play at Oberammagau, Europe, USA including Alaska and Canada, Singapore, Thailand and Japan. She floated in the Dead Sea, visited Kotzebue in the Arctic Circle, kissed the Blarney stone and flew Concorde from New York to London in three hours forty minutes. She enjoyed an active and interesting life whilst playing her part in the life of the Church and the Community.
Relatively Speaking Page 20 November 2012
A major highlight in Joyce's life was her appointment as Dame of the Order of Pope
St Gregory the Great in October 2006. She was invested as Dame by Bishop Michael
Putney at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Townsville 1 July 2007.
The citation reads:
BENEDICT XVI SUPREME PONTIF
Having considered the requests freely presented, we recognised your contribution to
the wellbeing and advancement of the church and the catholic cause, and we wish to
give you a well deserved expression of our gratitude.
So we promote you
JOYCE PATRICIA GLEESON
Of the Diocese of Townsville
To be a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great in the Civil Class
This we make and declare, and to you we grant the faculty of using all the privileges
which go with this dignity.
Given at Rome, at St Peter’s on 7 October 2006
Cardinal Bertone
Secretary of State
Joyce died peacefully in the early hours of Monday 9th July at her home at
157 Bundock Street, Belgian Gardens. She will be sadly missed by her husband Jack,
her five children, fourteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Above photo – The Gleeson family Front L-R Margaret, Jack, Joyce, and Paul
Back L-R Catherine, Patricia and ThereseRelatively Speaking Page 21 November 2012
Relatively Speaking Page 22 November 2012
AUSTRALIAN BUSH POETRY
OLD AND NEW RAIL BRIDGE ACROSS THE TORRENS CREEK QLD
Photo by Bill Strong 2007 1029 0786
Australian bush poetry, it can make your heart sing, make you cry or make you think.
It can reduce you to tears of laughter or simply make you smile at a quirky anecdote.
Thriving bush poetry clubs are found in Australian cities, towns and rural areas.
Gaydon MATHEWS kindly contributed the poem on page 23 about John HEENAN,
husband of her great-grandaunt, Elizabeth. Reader, judge for yourself the poetic
license employed in the poem against the mundane facts reported in the Townsville
Daily Bulletin page 5, 27 February, 1913 (see below). Some nine years later a
romantic version of the story titled Death’s Double That Missed was published by the
same paper.
Torrens Creek Washaway
HOW DISASTER WAS AVERTED.
BRISBANE. February 26.
The Railway Department has decided to present the man, John Heenan with a
reward of £50 for his action in saving two trains from certain destruction at Torrens
Creek on the Great Northern line1, on the 11th inst.
On this date, in consequence of the sharp rising of the creek, Lengthsman
McNeil, who subsequently disappeared and has not since been accounted for, was
placed on duty to watch the approach on to the bridge. Heenan, who was in the
employ of the Torrens Creek meatworks, that night was disturbed by the roaring of
the flood waters in the creek. He left his quarters and found the water was rising
rapidly and that the bridge was covered with timber washed down by the fresh [sic].
He returned to his room and retired to bed, but was again aroused by the disturbance.
He lit his hurricane lamp and went to the bridge. He found that the sleepers had been
washed away at one approach and that the permanent way at this point was totally
unsafe. He heard a train approaching in the distance, and running up the track for
about 300 yards, waving his lamp the while, was successful in stopping it. A second
train was running about half an hour in the rear of this train; this was also pulled up.
There is no doubt but that Heenan's ready action averted what might have been a
horrible disaster. When daylight broke, it was found that both approaches to the
bridge had been absolutely eaten away by the flood, and had it not been for the
warning given by Heenan, both trains might have rushed to destruction.Relatively Speaking Page 23 November 2012
JOHN HEENAN AND THE BRIDGE
By anon.
There’s a breed of men so humble who are rarely in the news,
For the songsters and the poets never care about their views.
There are railway men whose heroes seldom make the limelight shine;
This we cannot let the story of John Heenan fade with time.
It was back in 1913 in a north-west Queensland town;
All the rivers were a banker with the big wet coming down.
In his tent old John was sleeping – twas his mate’s turn at the shift
To guard that vital railbridge just in case the flood should lift.
But he woke with troubled conscience that his mate may need a hand,
Then plunged through rain and darkness for he was that kind of man.
But the sight that stood before him it would make the strongest cry,
For his mate and bridge had vanished underneath that foaming tide.
Where once a solid structure stood and steel wheels clunked along,
Six feet of flood was o’er the bridge and at least two spans were gone.
Then a whistle in the distance told the train and all its freight
Would plunge into the current if the warning came too late.
So with makeshift lantern swinging, for fear had gripped his mind,
He prayed to God above him that the driver saw in time.
He felt the sleepers tremble as she rumbled around the curve,
Hearing the clanking of the linkage, saw the headlights sway and swerve;
Then he signed a thanks to heaven at the squealing of the brakes.
As the engine hissed and panted, the crew heard old John relate.
And a second train was halted just a mile behind the first.
So the hand of fate was cheated from disaster at its worst.
Old John was well rewarded, though he’d never boast like some,
And the families of the train crews all remembered what he’s done -
The example that he sets us. Now if I can have my say -
That by doing that bit extra, boys, can sometimes save the day.
And when the big wet seasons hit the town of Torrens Creek,
And the river roars and thunders through the ranges dark and bleak,
The drivers of the diesels often swear they see a light
Moving up and down the rail bridge when the floods are at the height.
And if we stretch our fancy, but I don’t mean o’er the ridge,
Perhaps it’s old John Heenan still on guard there at the bridge.
1
The Great Northern Railway is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. The line
stretches nearly 1,000 kilometres linking the port city of Townsville, Australia to the mining town
of Mt Isa in north-west Queensland.
Wikipedia, Great Northern Railway (Queensland), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Great_Northern_Railway_(Queensland) (as of Oct. 29, 2012, 02:181 GMT).Relatively Speaking Page 24 November 2012
THE BOY WHO WOULD FLY: and the sea
(Charles Nevil Ker Bell 1919-1978 Darwin NT)
By his daughter Margaret Picard
My father Nevil BELL’s narrative follows on
from Relatively Speaking March 2007 Vol. 26
No 1. World War II is over, the Japanese
surrendered on 15 August 1945. Four frustrating
months later after reporting to four RAAF units in
the north Nevil now a test pilot under training,
applied for discharge. By this time civilians were
allowed to return to his home town of Darwin.
With his wife Margaret1 they drove from Alice
Springs arriving in Darwin November 1945.
1946
Nevil endeavoured to rebuild his pre-war Darwin Silvertop Cabs business and wildly
grab whatever opportunities arose. He’d received compensation from the War Damage
Commission2 for private and business chattels abandoned or impressed after the
bombing of Darwin. Even so there was nothing left after most creditors were paid.
In January ex-RAAF pilot Dick Sheppard BAMPTON1 went into partnership with Nevil
injecting much needed capital and the year ahead looked promising. By the end of the
year things were going sour. To cater for a population of about 2,500 there were four
other taxi businesses including Keetley’s Taxi Service which still operates in Darwin. It
was operated by Clive KEETLEY3, his wife Jean and his cousin Max (AKA his
brother).
1947
In February Nevil joined MacRobertson-Miller Aviation (MMA) flying Avro Ansons
leaving Dick BAMPTON to manage Silvertop Cabs. Business hadn’t improved; Dick
dissolved the partnership in August and started flying with Australian National Airways
(ANA). He was one of a number of RAAF pilots part of 4 Communications Unit,
Archerfield, who had flown as first officers to ANA captains on various courier flights,
mainly to New Guinea and the Philippines on (ADAT) flights during WW2.
Sadly, on 26 October 1953 9.52 pm4 Dick lost and out of fuel skilfully ditched his aerial
ambulance Dragon Rapide VH-CFA into the sea about 10 miles north-east of Brook
Island. It was being used to transport a 15 year old Aboriginal patient, Jimmy WOODS,
from Iron Range to Cairns when it was diverted to Townsville because of bad visibility.
The bodies of Dick and Jimmy WOODS, and
the aircraft wreckage were never found. The
ambulance officer, Mr AW COUSAR survived
six hours in the water at night and was
miraculously picked up by the sugar freighter
‘Fiona’.
Photograph left—’Clive James’ VH-CFA from the
Ed Coates collection http://www.edcoatescollection.com/Relatively Speaking Page 25 November 2012
1948
Nevil was stationed for a short time in Perth and Broome and then returned to Darwin
where he flew Avro Ansons to remote areas in the Northern Territory and Western
Australia. He faced some challenging medical evacuations, one time flying from
Darwin to Adelaide and at night landing firstly at Port Pirie and then Parafield
aerodrome without radio or navigation lights.5 Nevil survived equipment failures,
flying on one engine and forced landings but chafed under MMA’s routine flights and
regulations. Even flying MMA’s feeder routes with convivial customers, a stop at Mt
House station (his sister Ethel BLYTHE’s home) and medical service emergencies
didn’t please and he quit the company in August 1948.
1949
Silvertop Cabs and Nevil’s other business ventures hit rock bottom and he sold
everything he could. With his wife Margaret and two children, the family retreated to
his in-laws home in Sydney. It wasn’t until 1960 the family then numbering eight
returned to Darwin
1950 – 1951
The tenor of my father Nevil’s story changes from this point. Previously the events
were sourced from my father’s reminiscences, newspaper articles and my mother
Margaret’s letters to her parents 1945-1949. Now my impressions intrude, the love for
a father tempered by the awareness that he had feet of clay. He wrote without the aid
of any documentation in 1976, two years before he died. Had I attempted to write his
story then I would have been paralysed with doubt about his veracity and some
technical aspects. Now that mind-blowing tool the internet has resolved the dilemma.
VH-BGP a Supermarine Seagull V S/N A2-3 AKA “Walrus” is the first aeroplane I
remember. Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory. Once when touring the engine
room of Submarine HMAS Ovens the admixture of oil and sea water took me back to
the age of four, playing in the Walrus while my father worked on it at the Camden
Aerodrome. This was an aeroplane my father loved. He painted a “flying duck” on
the nose, a legacy from his RAAF days. It could operate on land and in water
(amphibian) and was designed to be launched from ship-borne catapults.6
From RAF. Flt. Lt. Nick BERRYMAN’s book ‘In the Nick of Time’
“The Walrus experience was the most exciting and challenging time of my
flying career, because I had to fight two elements: the air and the sea. ... and
believe me; it was even more exciting than flying the Spitfire!”
Photograph left -
VH-BGP Eagle Farm, Qld March 1951.
Pilots: Nevil Bell standing on top of the hull
and and Eric McIlree standing in the cockpit.
From the Ed Coates Collection
http://www.edcoatescollection.com/Relatively Speaking Page 26 November 2012
Above photo - c1950 pilot Nevil Bell standing on aircraft’s bow at
Patlangat Coconut Plantation - coordinates 3o10’S 151o35’E
Any North Queensland reader who has owned a small boat will appreciate the
difficulties of operating an amphibious biplane with a wing span of 14.0 metres.
Reading Nevil’s description of single pilot water operations I have visions of
“Shagbat”, the RAF nickname for the aircraft sailing out to sea and my father, some
18 stone left bobbing in the waves, hopefully still in one piece. He certainly did not
comply with the Air Ministry Walrus Manual safety instruction
“Before the operator attempts to start the engine he should tie a line round his
waist and secure the free end of the line to the eyed fitting provided ....
Should he inadvertently slip rearwards during starting operations, the line will
prevent him from coming into contact with the airscrew [propeller].”7
It’s no wonder the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) crew requirements for Walrus
operations in New Guinea were:
“1.2. When operating as a flying boat – 1 pilot and one additional white crew
member who need not hold a pilot’s or other licence.”
Back to Nevil’s story, mostly in his own words when VH-BGP was registered in his
name (22 June 1950 – 22 December 1950) with the goal of setting up an aerial
ambulance based on Thursday (Waiben) Island and covering a large area of Cape
York, the Gulf country and islands north of TI from the southern tip of New Guinea
up to the mouth of the Fly River. He was at home flying in remote tropical areas and
understood enough Tok Pisin (a Creole, originating as a pidgin based on English, NG)
and Torres Strait Creole to get by.Relatively Speaking Page 27 November 2012
THE BEGINNING
I obtained my endorsement at Rose Bay Flying Boat Base after being given a
conversion by Eric McILLREE (later of Avis Rent a Car and Dunk Island).
VH-BGP was purchased by Eric with the intention of using it up north. It was
necessary to convert it for passenger carrying. This was done in the Camden
Aircraft repairs workshop
ONE CREW - PILOT DUTIES
One had to be pilot come air hostess, radio operator, navigator and engineer.
Water operations were a pilot’s nightmare.
When there was no buoy facilities the ships anchor had to be used for mooring.
After getting up to the aircraft’s bottom wing to crank up the hand inertia starter
to its maximum revolutions, it was a case of down thru the cockpit roof access,
crawl thru to the front hatch, “break anchor”, tie and close the hatch. Then rush
back up thru the cockpit to the wing, insert the crank handle to the inertia starter
and wind it up to full rev’s, engage the toggle; hoping the engine will start as
once the anchor was raised with the massive wing area acting as sails the aircraft
would drift backwards.
In river operations or when anchored close in shore one had to move quickly
before hitting the river bank or the shore. If the engine started, okay. If it did not,
drop the anchor again and recommence the procedure. On occasions it was a
case of throwing the anchor out as far as possible and pulling the aircraft further
out off shore, repriming the engine and try for a restart – subject to the wind
condition prevailing at the time. Fine in cold weather conditions (kept you
warm) but in the tropics you found it a little different.
REMINISCENCES
Thursday, 22 June 1950 4:30 p.m. It was on a flight from Rose Bay to Coffs
Harbour with a small party on board including Neville WINGROVE of New
Zealand when owing to cyclonic conditions it was necessary to land on the river
at Nambucca Heads.8
Taxying in the inner harbour the aircraft grounded on a sandbar and was forced
to anchor. At about 3.00 am Friday with the river rising and high winds [80 mph]
the aircraft dragged the anchor and the tail wheel hit the rocks on shore. I started
the engine, taxied back to the sandbar, dropped anchor, kept the aircraft headed
into the wind by “weather cock” action and left the engine running to hold fast
onto the sand bar. Next morning the rising flood waters of the river floated the
aircraft so borrowed three more anchors from a boat club attached those and
rode out the storm on board. When the weather cleared took off for Coffs
Harbour and on to Eagle Farm at Brisbane.
Tuesday afternoon, 27 June 1950
Eventually having completed business in Brisbane took off in VH-BGP and
ended up being towed into Rockhampton. This is how it happened.9You can also read
