As a journalist and a historian, I just love it when a little piece of history given some air on these pages resonates with the community and uncovers people who can expand the story.
Two weeks ago on this page we published a photo supplied by reader Matt Patrick on behalf of his father Denis, who was a junior member of a team of life savers who caught a killer shark off the Noosa bar in the early 1950s, and wondered whether anyone could help identify the shark catchers. The picture gets another run here, with Denis extreme left, because reader, Col Mills, knew quite a bit about the crew.
Col wrote: “I was a member of the Noosa Surf Lifesaving Club from 1955 until 1962 and am still a member of the Noosa Old Boys Society, the Noosa ‘NOBS’. Those I can recognise in the photo are, second from left Les ‘Rang-a-Tang’ McGuiness; fourth from left, Bert Hayter, holding the shark fin; and on his right Bevan Fleming. Ken Clarey is on the extreme right and next to Ken is Max Krough. Les, Bert, Bevan and Max were all Gympie boys and Ken Clarey is the son of a Tewantin fishing family and the one in charge of the shark catching crew. Les, Bevan and Max are deceased, Bert lives in Brisbane and Ken lives at Tin Can Bay.”
Meanwhile, rather than give $10 to Australia Post to deliver a book around the corner, I’ve been having a great time personally delivering signed copies of Place of Shadows around the shire. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet people with a similar passion for our history, and can frequently add to my knowledge of it.
So far I’ve uncovered several family stories I was only vaguely aware of, or perhaps not aware of at all, and I thank all of those who have invited me into their homes for a chat. The fun part of history is in the sharing of stories, and Councillor Tom Wegener and I have been cooking up a plan to do more of that in a semi-organised way, visiting the outposts of the shire starting towards the end of next month. More details about that in weeks to come.
And today, July 30, we officially launch Place of Shadows at Harbour Wine Bar, Noosa Marina. It’s a sell-out, but there’s plenty of space available on the footpath at Annie’s Books in Peregian Beach on August 18. Watch this space.
