Monthly Bulletin
May/June 2005 - Vol 8 No. 3

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There were two different photographs taken on the same day of 16 August 1911. By extrapolating from the first picture, the children and their teacher can be identified in the second photograph.

School mistress and her pupils in front of the Superintendent's cottage at Sandy Cape Lighthouse in 1911 Photograph courtesy: Claire Craig

School mistress and her pupils in front of the school building at Sandy Cape Lighthouse in 1911 Front row: Flora Shephard, Claire Byrne (holding the plate), Dorothy Lambert Middle row: Clarence Byrne, Walter Shephard, Irene Askew, Harold Lambert, Esmond Byrne Back row: Percy Lambert, George Shephard, Clara Muhldorf, Ray Shephard Photograph courtesy: Claire Craig

In the Australian "lighthouse bible" book, From Dawn to Dusk by Gordon Reid, there is a photograph of a school mistress and her pupils at Sandy Cape Lighthouse in Queensland, dated 1911 (page 246). LoA Inc President Denise Shultz received a couple of letters relating to this photograph and another taken on the same day, in which the people in these two photographs have been identified.

Dear Denise,

My name is Helen Webb and with me is Mrs Claire Craig. We have logged onto the Lighthouses of Australia website after Claire’s family members wrote to her about it.

Claire was born at Sandy Cape in 1905, she just turned 100. Her father was the lighthouse keeper at Sandy Cape when she was born and they lived there until 1912. One of the students featured in the class photo of 16.8.1911 is Claire. She can also give you the names of the other students.

Helen Webb and Claire Craig nee Byrne

Dear Denise,

I have just had a call from my Aunt Claire and I believe that with her assistance, we are now able to identify the people in the photo. There were a couple of whom she was not sure earlier but she has now worked it out.

On the verandah of his house is Claire’s father, George Patrick Byrne, who was the Superintendent at Sandy Cape at the time. He was also my husband’s grandfather.

Claire Byrne is the child holding the plate. The lady standing next to her is the teacher, she could be either Clara Muhldorf (Claire’s preference) or Eva Connors. Clara Muhldorf married Peter O’Gorman and later married again, a man by the name of O’Connor.

The girl sitting next to Claire with two ribbons in her dark hair is Dorothy Lambert. The tall girl leaning against the lighthouse is Claire’s aunt Irene Askew, her mother’s younger sister, who lived with the Byrne family at Sandy Cape from 1907 till 1912.

The girl sitting at Irene’s feet is Flora Shephard. Behind the beribboned Dorothy Lambert is Walter Shephard, Clarence Byrne (Claire’s brother) and Percy Lambert at the top.

Behind Claire is Harold Lambert, George Shephard, Esmond Byrne (my father in law and Claire’s brother) and Ray Shephard.

I am glad we have been able to assist you with this information.

Lesley Byrne

South Solitary Island Lighthouse Photograph: Winsome Bonham

Heather Duun (nee Mckinnon) from Newcastle, NSW, is a new subscriber to the Bulletin, and writes:

My father, Tom McKinnon, was an assistant light keeper on South Solitary Island from 1946, 47 and 48 (I think). I had my 4th birthday soon after we arrived, and was 6 when we left. I have the Australian Women's Weekly article with the photos featured in the current bulletin, and remember the journalist's visit, as well as a few other photos taken on the family Box Brownie. There was a Cinesound newsreel entitled "Far from it all, they tend the Light" also featuring the Duncan family, and my mother, Bonnie, my Dad, myself, and my (then) baby sister, Bethel.

I have many happy memories of my life there as a small girl, and started my schooling from Blackfriars Correspondence School in Sydney with my mum as my teacher. I remember Mr and Mrs Duncan, Beryl and Tommy, and I think there were older daughters as well. I remember VAl Gordon and Verdi Schwinghammer, and for many years had his distinctive signature in my little autograph book. I will try to collect up the family lighthouse archives from my mother, who went to the lighthouse as a young mother, post-WW2, and is now approaching 87 years old. My Dad died in 2002, but always had fond memories of his short stint in the lighthouse service.

Email Heather Dunn

South Solitary Island Lighthouse Photograph: Ian Clifford

Hi Heather,

Thanks for your letter. We would be very interested to learn more about your family's stint on South Solitary, and view the movie footage that you mention. Anything you can learn from your mum would add to our records, and especially if you could do some high-resolution scans of the photos that were taken on the island when you were there. 

It's always interesting and informative to view older photos that reveal the evolution of technology and architecture, especially when they have identifiable people in the shots. If you are able to help us in this way, it is useful for us to have a detailed caption (date, place, names) and to know the photographer's name.

We look forward to hearing more from you. 

Regards 

Steve Merson
Bulletin & Prism News Editor
Email Steve Merson

My name is Debbie and I am a preschool teacher in Rhode Island, USA. Our students will be learning about lighthouses next month for our curriculum and I would like to know if you are aware of any children that live on lighthouse property. Perhaps their parents are keepers. I would love to have my students correspond with children who live in such a remarkable place.

Thank you!

Debbie Gleadow
Email Debbie Gleadow

It would be a wonderful idea, except that all the Australia lighthouses have been automated and there are no actual keepers in residence; only caretakers. If there are any families living on the lights with school-age children who are interested in your request, we will put them in contact with you.

Pauline O'Brien
Secretary LoA Inc.
Email Pauline O'Brien

Caring for the graves on Montague Island Photograph: Ed Kavaliunas

Hi,

I am in the process of researching old cemeteries and burials located with or part of lighthouses in Australia. So far I have been researching the cemeteries and burials at the following lighthouses:

• Victoria: Cape Otway, Gabo Island and Wilsons Promontory 
• NSW: Boydtown (near the old church), Green Cape and Montague Island 
• Sth Aust: Port MacDonnell Lighthouse Cemetery

I would appreciate any assistance and information [cemetery history, burials, etc] about old cemeteries and burials attached to lighthouses within Australia. I would also be grateful to hear from anyone who could find the time to assist me with this research.

David W. Weatherill
86 Moreton Crescent
Bundoora VIC 3083
Email David Weatherill

Double Island Point Lighthouse Photograph: Winsome Bonham

Dear Sir/madam,

I have been looking with interest at your web site. As a child I lived at Double Island Point and Pine Islet lighthouses where my father was a keeper. Tremendous experience for a child and I must say I wish I could be back there living now.

On the website you wished for details of the keepers at Double Island. You can contact my father Geoff Grieves by sending an email to my address if you wish.

It is nice to see Pine Islet lighthouse preserved.

I have many memories of life on the lighthouses as a child. 

Regards

Karl Grieves 
Email Karl Grieves

Cape Moreton Lighthouse Photograph: Grant Maizels

James Campbell, from Bridgetown WA, is a new subscriber to the Bulletin and enquires via an email to the keeper:

I am attempting to trace records of my grandfather's life at Cape Moreton lighthouse in QLD, circa 1910. His name was Edwin Johnson.

Regards,

James Campbell
Email James Campbell

The Lighthouse Keepers By Stuart Buchanan

Our Secretary, Pauline O'Brien welcomes James and forwards his contact details to our QLD Representative Peter Braid, who then supplies James with the following information, as a place to begin his research:

Hi James,

Stuart Buchanan's book The Lighthouse Keepers lists an E.T Johnson who started as a keeper in 1912.

Regards,

Peter Braid
LoA State Rep
Email Peter Braid

James replies with enthusiasm:

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for your information regarding "Edwin Thomas Johnson" who certainly was my grandfather! This is the first indicator I have had which tells me when he started work on the island, so I have been really thrilled with this information! I still find it hard to believe that you hit the jackpot. I will certainly obtain a copy of Stuart Buchanan's book through our library system. 

Can you advise me if there is a Queensland State authority who would still have employment records for Moreton lighthouse, so I can find out more info about family members and the time he spent on the island? 

Once again, many many thanks.

James Campbell

P.S. Does your organisation keep photographic records?

Peter's response:

Hi James,

Regarding your search for your grandfather's lighthouse service at Cape Moreton circa 1912, suggest you visit the Queensland State Archives Ph: (07) 3131 7755. The Reference Section (07 3131 7777) holds many files which can be accessed.

The John Oxley Library (Ph: 07 3840 7780) also holds copies of the Blue Books, which contain pre-1915 lighthouse records. 

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is still responsible for the operation of the coastal lights, but all their archival records have been transferred to the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Ph: (02) 9612 3600 or website http://www.naa.gov.au Suggest you use their RecordSearch function.

You could also contact:

Phil Shanahan
Queensland Lighthouse Historical Society
PO Box 177
Buddina QLD 4575
Ph: 07 5444 4864

Good luck with your searching. If you discover any meaningful information, we would like to hear from you so that we can add to our records.

Regards

Peter Braid
LoA State rep

Hi Pauline,

Many thanks for passing on my enquiry about my grandfather's lighthouse service at Cape Moreton to Peter Braid in Queensland. He has found a reference that places him there as a keeper in 1912, so I am quite thrilled at this information.

Once again thank you,

Best regards,

James Campbell

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