150 Years in Australia
Descendants of Malen Rumbelow 2nd

Malen Rumbelow 2nd was born at Mildenhall on 15th June 1846. At the age of eight he accompanied his family to Port Adelaide on the Pestonjee Bomanjee and then on to Encounter Bay, arriving on the 5th January 1855.

He married Mary Glassenbury at the Independent Chapel at Encounter Bay on 22nd August 1863. Mary was born at Hope Valley, South Australia, on 6th August 1845 and had been living at Encounter Bay for three years prior to her marriage at the age of 18. Mary and Malen built a weatherboard cottage in 1863 and called it “Crystal Palace”. A replica of this building was relocatef to Whalers Inn near the Bluff.

In 1864 Malen, his father and his brother-in-law, Cain Jelliff, founded a fishing business at Encounter Bay, which started a family tradition that has continued through the generations and will be covered in detail in subsequent chapters. Cain Jelliff and Malen 2nd are credited with organizing the first Regatta and Water Sports event held at Victor Harbor on New Year’s Day in 1869. This tradition continued for many years and was held on the Works Jetty near Granite Island until the late 1940s.

The stone house, Yeltanna (cool place), was built around 1880. Grace, the youngest child, appears to be the only child born there which points to this date. The stone facing consisted of chips of granite obtained from West Island. Mr Oliver, a contractor, would take several men to the island each Monday and collect them on Saturday morning. They lived in shacks and tents and cut granite. The chips were commandeered for the family home and the superior cuts provided the stone for Parliament House in Adelaide.

Malen 2nd died at the age of 59 on 1st July 1905, of asthma, emphysema and cardiac dilation and is buried in the Victor Harbor Cemetery. It is said that he was deeply affected by the death of his son, Malen 3rd, on 10th April 1905, and lost the will to live.

Mary continued to live at Encounter Bay until the time of her death on 27th July 1923. She died of a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried in the Victor Harbor Cemetery. She was almost 78 years of age at the time of her death. Mary and Malen had nine children; Willian Henry, Malen (3rd), Godfrey (2nd), Alice, Rose, Cain, Maria, Samuel and Grace.

[3] William Henry Rumbelow (1st child) (Henry) was born at Encounter Bay on 25th June 1864. He joined his father in the family fishing business of Malen Rumbelow and Sons and proved to be an excellent fisherman and seaman, at one time netting 320 dozen mullet.

In 1883, Henry married Mary Jane Pearce from Waitpinga. In 1907 Henry left the sea due to ill health and commenced farming at Narrung. But after the 1st World War he returned to fishing, this time on Lake Alexandrina. In 1924 he returned to Encounter Bay, where he was renowned as a raconteur telling tales of hazardous fishing trips across Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island. Although he was not engaged in the fishing industry when he returned to Encounter Bay he was never so happy as when busy mending nets or looking after other parts of the tackle.

Henry died in 1928, at the age of 64, four years after leaving Narrung, while Mary Jane died in 1951 at the age of 89. They had nine children, all born at Encounter Bay;

Jane, Mary, Henry (2nd), Ruby, Walter, Herbert, Lawrence, Thelma and Alfreda.

[4] Jane Caroline (Carrie) Rumbelow was born on 25th May 1884 and married Joshua Shannon in 1909 and had two sons, Murray and Lindsay.

[5] David Murray Shannon (Murray) was born at Victor Harbor on 3rd July 1913. He was a Linesman/Personnel Officer at the ElectricityTrust of SA and enlisted in the Australian Army in 1940. He served in the Middle East, Western Desert, Syria, Palestine and Egypt and his role was to keep the telephone lines between the battalions in good working order. While tending the field cable on the Dakota Trail he was shot in the leg. He also contracted Malaria that required treatment after the War. Murray was Mentioned in Dispatches and was awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) for heroism during the advance up the Markham and Ramu Valleys where he laboured day and night to lay and maintain miles of cable.

His citation states;

“His fearless example was an inspiration to his men and the main factor in their ability to keep constant communication to the forward company of the leading battalion”.

Murray married Kathleen Annie Dover on 7th September 1940 and they had two children. Murray died on 27th August 1997.

[5] John Lindsay Shannon (Lindsay) was born at Encounter Bay on 4th July 1916. He was a fisherman at the time of his death and also served with distinction in the Army as this newspaper extract observes;

“ A war correspondent describing the achievements of a band of AIF troops who captured Komiatum, the Japanese key point in Salamaua, said they had been through endless days and nights of hell with meager rations, perpetual wet clothes, and not even a chance to wash. Victor Harbor people will be proud to learn that one of our boys, Private Lin Shannon of Encounter Bay, was among those singled out for special mention in the capture of the ridge. Pte Shannon and a group of mates were the first to take up a forward post well exposed to enemy fire. They fought for 48 hours without pause. In one night attack the Japanese came within 15 yards of their post, but although overwhelmingly outnumbered, they beat them off with Bren Guns, grenades and rifles. They had one bottle of water per day and little food throughout the action”.

Lin married Mollie Trebilcock in 1941 and they had three children. Lindsay died on 7th December 1992.

[4] Mary Jane Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 6th April 1886 and married Alfred Charles Bird, a butcher, in 1907. Mary Jane and Alfred had six children; Hazel, Charles, Henry, Florence, Maud and Alfred.

[5] Hazel May Bird was born at Encounter Bay on 2nd April 1908 and married Francis Leonard Gaffney, a grazier, in 1940. They had one son.

[5] Charles Bird was born on 5th May 1909 at Victor Harbor and died of suffocation when only four days old.

[5] Henry John Bird was born at Victor Harbor on 23rd February 1910 and married Veronica Carmel Farrelly in 1937. Henry joined the Australian Army in 1942 and was a lance corporal when discharged. He served in the Volunteer Defence Corps. Henry and Veronica had one son.

[5] Florence Mary Bird was born at Victor Harbor on 25th July 1912 and married William Percival Lane on 14th July 1930. Florence and William had four children and it is noted that their son, the [6] Honourable Gerald Colton Lane, is a retired Judge. After divorcing, Florence then married Henry Robert Haeusler .

[5] Maud Mary Bird was born at Victor Harbor on 26th December 1913 and married George Laurence Zerk on 15th January 1943. They had four children.

[5] Alfred Malin Bird was born at Victor Harbor on 11th September 1915. Alfred joined the Australian Army on 3rd March 1942 and married Laura Gertrude Hammond on 5th March 1942. When discharged on 29th January 1946 Alfred was attached to 2/43 Australian Infantry Battalion.

[4] Henry Rumbelow 2nd was born at Victor Harbor on 3rd November 1888 and married Lilian Margaret McNicol, the daughter of a well known Narrung family, on 3rd January 1912. They had three children;

Thora, Laurel, and Bruce.

[5] Thora Blanche Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 10th August 1914 and married Eric Harold Langeluddecke. Thora and Eric had one son. Thora made the cake for the Centenary Celebration of Rumbelows in Victor Harbor in 1955 which was three tiered with the Bluff, the islands, the original fishing shed, a porpoise, whale bones, a fish box, a cray pot and figures of fishermen incorporated in the icing; a work of art, greatly admired.

[5] Laurel Phyllis Rumbelow was born at Angaston on 6th December 1916 and married Rosslyn Leslie King who was the manager of a cinema in the city. Ross enlisted in the RAAF in 1941 and was posted at 20 Squadron as a Flight Lieutenant when discharged in 1946. Laurel was a secretary and public relations professional. They had two sons, Bruce and David.

Bruce King was a corporate chief executive officer based in Sydney and is now married to Professor Denise Bradley, South Australia’s first female Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Australia.

[5] Bruce Stanier Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 16th May 1925 and married Melba Gwen (Honey) Robinson in 1948. Bruce grew up with his family in Clarence Park where Henry was a storekeeper. He went to Unley High and then Teacher’s College, graduating in 1943.

During his school days he developed a strong love of the sea and fished with his father and uncles around the Bluff, Wright and Granite Islands. On one occasion they went fishing at Wright Island and Bruce swam to shore for a tin of condensed milk and a bag of raw sausages.

He also developed a passion for baseball and was selected in an under-age State Team as a pitcher.

His first posting as a teacher was to Sheringa, near Elliston on the Pt Lincoln Road. He met Honey Robinson at Elliston in 1946, married her in 1948 and immediately headed off to Papua New Guinea where he taught at a school on the island of Samurai. Honey followed him to Papua New Guinea some 8 months later.

Bruce and Honey returned to Elliston in mid 1950 and looked after the Hotel for Honey’s parents until they moved to Narrung where Bruce worked for an Uncle in a carrying business and gained a mail-carrying contract.

Bruce and Honey moved to the Crystal Brook area and back to teaching where Bruce became well known in the district as the driving force behind the night baseball competition based in Pt Pirie.

The lure of the West Coast and the Hotel industry saw them move back to Elliston where Bruce helped form the Elliston Football Club and renewed his passion for fishing. He then moved to Streaky Bay and the Community Hotel before he developed the Blue Fin Sports Store, which he operated until his retirement. 

Bruce and Honey had four children all inheriting Bruce’s love and skill at sport: John, Vicki, Grant and Andrew.

John has been a stalwart of football, cricket and golf at Streaky Bay.

Grant operated Rally's Road House at Elliston, and played a record 280 “A” grade games for the Elliston Football Club.

Andrew captained the Kensington Cricket Club where he holds the Club record for the most runs scored at district level surpassing the record of Sir Donald Bradman who also played for the club in an earlier era. 

[4] Ruby Alice Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 1st May 1892 and had a daughter Dulcie.

[5] Dulcie Helena Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 13th June 1909 and married Ernest George Henderson on 14th September 1929. After his death she married Thomas Keith Watson on 21st December 1940.

Their son, [6] Lindsay Keith Watson has contributed a significant amount of the research upon which this book is based.

On the 27th of December, 1911, Ruby married John Willis Bottrill, a farmer at Narrung in South Australia. They had four daughters; Madge, Stella, Thelma and Lillian.

[5] Madge Eileen Bottrill was born about 12th June 1912 at Keswick SA and married Sydney William Richards on 10th August 1933 at Murray Bridge. Sydney enlisted in the Australian Army on 5th June 1942 and when discharged on 12th August 1943 was attached to 8 Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps. They had five children. 

Madge later married Horace Baverstock.

[5] Stella May Bottrill was born at Payneham SA on 4th November 1914 and married Robert Henry Gustavus Flavel on 31st October 1931, having one son together.

Stella married again and with Julius Lindley Borchardt had four children.

[5] Thelma Emily Bottrill (Emily) was born in Adelaide on 20th February 1918 and married Edgar Paul (Johnnie) Nagel on 18th May 1940 and they had 4 children.

[5] Lillian Alice Bottrill was born at Semaphore on 22nd September 1924. She married Glen Ivan Nelson and they had two children.

[4] Walter Malen Rumbelow was born at Yilki on 7th October 1894, and married Ethel Isabell Herraman on 15th October 1913 at Narrung SA. Walter grew up at Narrung, farming and fishing on Lake Alexandrina.

In 1924, at the age of 30, he left Narrung with his father and went to Encounter Bay where he purchased “The Ferret” and continued as a professional fisherman. Their first three children were born in Adelaide and the last six in the Victor Harbor area after their move back to Encounter Bay. At the age of 38, Walter was tragically drowned when “The Ferrett” was wrecked off Waitpinga Beach, SA, in a storm on December 23rd 1932.

His cousins, David (who also drowned) and Lionel (who was saved) accompanied him. 

Walter and Ethel had nine children; Lester, Douglas, Beth, Zaphne, Aileen, Bob, Dorothy, William, and Arthur.

[5] Lester Malin Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 9th October 1914. Lester attended school at the Loveday Base School, then at Victor Harbor and, after his father’s death, returned to live at Narrung and fish the lake.

He married Euphemia (Peg) Fenton in August 1939 and enlisted the Australian Army in 1943. He was attached to 8 Battalion Voluntary Defence Corps when discharged in 1945.

Lester received the highest decree given by the Grand Lodge of England in 1973 for long and devoted service. His name was placed on the Honour Roll and he received a Certificate from the Queen. Lester’s obituary ( he died on 6th November 1992) provides an insight into this “Grand old man of the Coorong”. Lester and Peg  raised three girls.

Special mention is made of [6] Carlene Oliver, who proposed that we celebrate the 150 years of Rumbelow settlement at Encounter Bay. She has been a stalwart on the organizing committee and has contributed to the research for this book.

[5] Douglas Nobes Rumbelow was born at North Adelaide in 1917 and died at the age of seven.

[5] Elizabeth Ethel Mary Rumbelow (Beth) was born in Adelaide on 11th September 1918 and married Gordon Paul in May 1942. In 1951 she married Howard Owen Strother, a dairy farmer and orchardist at Tailem Bend SA. Beth had a daughter.

[5] Zaphne Grace Rumbelow was born at Goolwa on 6th May 1920 and married Joseph William Cooper on 3rd January 1942. Joseph enlisted in the RAAF in 1941, and was a corporal attached to 5 Central Reserve when discharged in 1946. He was a farmer and orchardist who bred Jersey cows and Berkshire pigs that won a number of prizes at shows. Zaphne and Joseph had four children.

[5] Aileen Isabel Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 24th August 1924 and married Vincent John Carpenter in 1944. Vincent enlisted in the Australian Army in 1943 and was attached to 2/43 Australian Infantry Battalion when discharged in 1945. Vincent and Aileen had two children. Aileen married Murray Melville Commons in 1964.

[5] Robert Vivian Rumbelow (Bob) was born at Victor Harbor on 30th June 1926, and worked for a market gardener at Cudlee Creek before joining the Engineering and Water Supply Department. He married Patricia Maude Thompson in 1964 and they had a daughter. Bob died on 22nd September 1997.

[5] Dorothy Gladys Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 11th June 1928 and married John Kevin Carpenter, a farmer, in 1952. They had six children and suffered a tragedy when their son, Kevin, died at the age of seven after becoming lost near the lakes by his home at Yarli Station, about 14 miles from Meningie SA. Another tragedy struck when their daughter Karen died at about 2-3 years of age.

[5] William John Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 11th March 1930 and was a linesman with the Electricity Trust of SA. He died at 35 years of age from a brain tumour.

[5] Arthur Phillip Rumbelow was born and died in 1932.

[4] Herbert Victor Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 22nd June 1897 and married Hilda Blanche Heading on 19th July 1924. It is interesting to note that Hilda Heading was the younger sister of Ada Louise Heading who married Herb’s uncle, Godfrey Rumbelow 2nd in 1890, 34 years earlier. Hilda was twenty-seven years younger than her sister, Ada.

In 1916, Herb enlisted in the 1st AIF in Adelaide and was appointed to the 3rd reinforcements for the 50th Battalion. He embarked at Adelaide on the “Seeang Bee” and disembarked at Plymouth on 9th September 1916. He then proceeded to France and marched out from 4th Australian Division Base Depot.

On 4th April 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. He became ill and was transferred from hospital to hospital, until he was finally returned to Australia on a Hospital Ship the “Port Darwin” and discharged as medically unfit on 10th May 1918.

He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Herb and Hilda had three children; Marjorie, Norman and Janet.

[5] Marjorie Anne Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 11th July 1926 and married John Leslie Strother on 7th February 1948. John Strother enlisted in the RAN in 1942 and was an Able Seaman on the HMAS Torrens when discharged in 1946. Marjorie and John had four children.

[5] Norman John Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 8th September 1927 and lived at Narrung until he retired to Meningie SA.

[5] Janet Hilda Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 4th February 1937 and married Colin Leslie Rhue, a farmer and ferry operator, on 23rd February 1957. They had three children.

[4] Lawrence William Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 23rd April 1900 and married Iris Murla Bourne on 3rd December 1927. Lawrie was a bootmaker who moved from Seacliff to Mt Barker then to Nairne and finally to Murray Bridge from where he enlisted in the Australian Army in 1943. He saw service in Darwin with the 10/48 Infantry Battalion, and at discharge was a Corporal with 10 Battalion.

In later life Lawrie moved to Encounter Bay where he continued as a bootmaker and, for many years, was the postmaster at the small Post Office at Yilki which opened for a few hours each week day. Lawrie and Iris had two children; Peter and Ruth.

[5] Peter Lawrence Rumbelow was born at Seacliff on 13th June 1932 and completed his schooling at Murray Bridge. He then studied at night to pass the entrance exam for the technicians in training scheme with the PMG. This led to work in the ABC studios, the Long Range Weapons Research Establishment at Salisbury with Fairey Aviation and Vickers Armstrong, the Government Aircraft Factory in Melbourne, and Woomera every few weeks for missile test firings. He then moved to technical sales and was Purchasing Officer at Hills Industries and later Scott Bonnar before becoming a lecturer in Supply and Business Studies. Peter married Kathleen Mary Wilson on 11th September 1954 and they have two children.

[5] Mary Ruth Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 17th July 1933, and after a career in nursing, married Ronald Henry Moffatt on 11th April 1959.

[4] Thelma Violet Ruth Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 31st May 1902 and married Ernest William Boult on 26th April 1924. They had four children; Doreen, Gladys, Robert and Allan.

[5] Doreen Jean Boult was born on 24th August 1925 and married Norman Castle. They had ten children.

[5] Gladys Kathleen Boult was born on 23rd December 1926 and married George Geesing. Our records are unclear but we believe she had eleven children.

[5] Robert William Boult was born on 17th February 1930, married Joyce Lines and they had two sons.

[5] Allan Ernest Boult was born on 16th November 1932, married Bernice and they had three children. Allan served in the Royal Australian Navy for six years as a stoker. He served on the HMAS Vengeance when it escorted the Royal Yacht Britannia to Australia for the Queen’s first Australian visit.

Thelma Boult (nee Rumbelow) then married Tom Oak Crosby and they had a son, Donald.  After Tom Crosby died in 1947, Thelma then married William Spotiswoode Montgomerie.  Thelma and William had no children.

Thelma died on 8th March 1956.

[5] Donald Albert Crosby was born at Ashford, SA, on 11th October 1943 and married Margaret Deidre Allwood on 26th November 1964 at Renmark.  Don worked in the Bank of New South Wales for 12 years before joining Margaret in their own business for 7 years. Don then joined St John Ambulance Service (now SA Ambulance Service) as a career ambulance officer, and served in this role as a communications supervisor and the manager of operations planning for 25 years. He was responsible for the medical planning associated with the last six Formula 1 Grands Prix held in Adelaide. 

Don and Margaret have two children.

[4] Alfreda Emily Rumbelow (Freda) was born at Encounter Bay on 11th February 1907 and married Ernest Birchall McKeon, a horse trainer, on 6th July 1955. Freda ran a Nursing Home at Parkside and died on 18th July 1982. There were no children.

[3] Malen David Rumbelow (3rd) was born at Encounter Bay on 20th September 1865 and married Susan May Pearsons on 12th June 1886. Malen 3rd was a very strong, robust man with a black beard. He stood six feet two inches tall and weighed twenty-two stone. He was able to lift a blacksmith’s anvil single-handed and he could also lift two bags of wheat at once, an enormous feat. With his father, Malen 2nd and Cain Jelliff (the husband of his Aunt Alice), he pioneered the local fishing industry. There are many stories of him that have probably gained extra magnitude with each telling, but he evidently used to regularly win “Strong Man” competitions and could carry a “flatty” (a fishing dinghy) on his shoulders. Lawrie Rumbelow wrote that Cain told the story of a trip from Kangaroo Island to Port Adelaide with ballot boxes after an election.

“Evidently, Henry Rumbelow was put ashore to collect the boxes, which involved a 14 mile walk in rain through scrub. On reaching the beach with the ballot boxes he found that the sea was so rough that boarding the Rambler would be hazardous. He put to sea in the dinghy with the crew on the cutter watching anxiously fearing he would be smashed against the side of the Rambler."

Malen 3rd stood on deck waiting to assist his brother when providence took a hand.

A huge wave lifted the dinghy level with the deck of the Rambler and Malen seized the bow and with a mighty heave landed boat, man and ballot boxes on the deck. Then began a tussle with the elements as they headed for Port Adelaide where in due course the ballot boxes were safely landed.”

On a fishing expedition with his brother he leaned forward to pull in a large King Schnapper, fell forward, and died. He left Susan with eight children, the youngest, Malen 4th, being only one week old. Malen and Susan had eight children; Charles, Susan, Ivy, David, William, Eric, Lionel and Malen 4th (Ween).

[4] Charles Malin Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 25th July 1888 and married Ruby Lillian Theissenger on 25th April 1912. Charles and Ruby had two sons; Howard and Geoffrey.

[5] Howard Charles Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 27th March 1914 and died when 10 days old.

[5] Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 12th June 1917 and married Shirley Dawn Heath on 27th December 1943.

Geoff enlisted in the Australian Army on 5th July 1940 and served with the 2nd 48th Battalion in the Middle East, Egypt and Tobruk. He was one of the original “Rats of Tobruk” and married Shirley during wartime while on leave. Geoff was a contract carrier and a respected member of Rotary and the RSL.

He died in tragic circumstances on 16th May 1975. On a stormy day at Yilki his 17-foot clinker boat broke its anchor chain and drifted out to sea. Geoff was rowing his dinghy in high seas to retrieve the boat when he was swamped by a big wave about 300 yards from shore and he clung to the dinghy for about five minutes before being forced to let go.

Mr Ken Proctor, a holidaying school teacher, rowed his dinghy to rescue Geoff but could not pull him aboard until Graham Rumbelow also rowed out with Chris Tapscott, a member of the Port Elliot Surf Lifesaving Club, who gave mouth to mouth resuscitation. Waves continually broke over the dinghy and Chris ended up in the water supporting Geoff as they rowed ashore.

St John personnel administered oxygen when Geoff was brought ashore but he did not respond. The drama was enacted with family members watching helplessly from the shore.

Geoff and Shirley had three sons and two daughters and special mention is to be made of their grandson, [7] Matthew James Rumbelow, who has made a significant contribution to the research and presentation of this book and to the organization of the 150 Year Celebration.

[4] Susan Rose Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 28th February 1890. Known as “Sis”, she did not marry and died on 5th September 1955. Sis was only 14 when her father died so she stood shoulder to shoulder with her mother to rear the other children and conduct “Ocean View” guest home.

[4] Ivy Grace Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 3rd June 1892 and married Frederich Johannes Bartel on 15th August 1917. Fred Bartel was a builder and, as well as a number of houses in the district, also built Jefferis Memorial Church at Yilki.

His two sons joined him in the business; Ivan and Donald. 

[5] Frederick Ivan Bartel was born at Victor Harbor on 24th January 1920 and married Coralie Marburn Chigwidden on 15th March 1941. Ivan joined the Australian Army on 22nd October 1940 and when discharged on 31st December 1941 was posted to 48 Battalion. He then joined the RAAF on 16th January 1943 and when discharged was a leading aircraftsman attached to 9 Wireless/Telegraphic Station.

Ivan was a very good violinist and played at local dances held each Saturday night. He was also a passionate and loyal member of the Encounter Bay Football Club. Ivan and Coralie had three children.

[5] Donald John Bartel was born at Victor Harbor on 7th October 1925 and married Barbara Joy Ireland on 25th September 1948. Don joined the RAN on 25th October 1943 and when discharged on 26th February 1946, was a signalman on HMAS Leeuwin. 

Don was an excellent footballer and played a number of games with Sturt in the SANFL. He also played for Encounter Bay for many years and won Mail Medals (Association awards for the Fairest and most Brilliant Player). He always seemed to have plenty of time to gain possession and drop-kick to his man and was very strong on the ground.

Barbara is an excellent artist whose work has been keenly sought after. Don and Barbara had three children.

[4] David John Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 9th June 1894 and married Florence Mabel Morgan on 5th August 1916.

David was a fisherman and lost his life, at 39 years of age, in tragic circumstances when The Ferret foundered near Waitpinga Beach in a storm on 23rd December 1932.

David and his brother Lionel and cousin Walter were returning from Kangaroo Island with a load of fish on board destined for the Christmas market when the disaster occurred.

We believe that David pushed Lionel up the beach when they were washed ashore. He was swept back out to sea by a wave while Lionel was spared. Walter, a cousin, also perished in the disaster.

David and Florence had three children; Florence, Yvonne and David.

[5] Florence Lorraine Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 22nd June 1917 and married Lawrence Edward William Rosser on 17th September 1938. Lawrie enlisted in the Australian Army on 15th April 1942 and was discharged on 8th December 1944 attached to 4 Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.

Lawrie and Fon and their children Kay and Glen have a formidable sporting reputation. Fon was a member of the first Victor Harbor Womens Life Saving Club in 1935. Lawrie played football for West Adelaide and 400 games for Port Elliot.

They both played bowls.

[6] Kay Ewens (nee Rosser), despite poor health, has contributed significantly to the organization of the Rumbelow 150 Year Celebration and her enthusiasm has been greatly appreciated. Kay was an excellent tennis player and an all-round sports woman while Glen Rosser played many games for Norwood in the SANFL.

[5] Yvonne Linnette Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 15th February 1930. Yvonne had typhoid fever when she was eight. A visitor to the town was the carrier and four children were stricken. One died but Yvonne recovered after eleven weeks in hospital, much of the time delirious. After completing school, Yvonne was a secretary and played basketball, tennis, swam and was a member of the Victor Harbor Life Saving Club.

Yvonne married Norman Dean Hobbs on 7th October 1950. Dean Hobbs was the son of Norm Hobbs, who came from a market garden background in Campbelltown, SA, to a large orchard and market garden near Glacier Rock on the Victor to Yankalilla Road. Norm and his sons Dean and Brian were leaders of the 1st VH Sea Scout and Rover Troops during the late ‘40s and early ‘50s.

Dean and Yvonne moved to Lucindale, SA, to manage a 10,000 acre scrub block that was being developed. Clearing the scrub and establishing the property was a big undertaking and they eventually returned to Port Noarlunga South and then retired to Goolwa where Dean died in 2002.

Dean and Yvonne had two sons.

[5] David John Rumbelow (Rocket) was born at Victor Harbor on 28th March 1933 and married Verna Doris Burt on 9th June 1956. David was a carpenter who played football and cricket for Encounter Bay then married and moved to Murray Bridge. He and Verna had four children.

David was born three months after his father drowned and, nearly fifty years later, Kevin Timothy Rumbelow was born eight months after his father, Kevin, was also drowned.

[4] William Ernest Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 16th January 1896 and died at the age of 15 on 24th December 1911.

[4] Eric Leslie Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 2nd May 1898 and married Gwendoline Pearl Chamberlain on 8th January 1921. Eric was a fisherman and proprietor of the Victor Harbor Swimming Baths when they were located in an enclosure half way to Granite Island off the causeway.

He was evidently an excellent runner and swimmer and I (Peter Rumbelow) can remember that he taught me how to swim at about 6 years of age by bribing me with half a bush biscuit if I could make it from the “sissy rope” to the edge of the baths. The other half was used for the next challenge.

He was also a plumber at some stage of his career and manufactured toilet cisterns of the elevated pull-chain type. It was always embarrassing to note the name “The Rumbelow” stamped on the front of the cistern in homes around the area.

His wife Gwen sang for many years in the Newland Memorial Church Choir and was an excellent croquet player. She represented Australia in many Tests against other countries and, I believe that she was the World Champion at one stage. Eric died in 1945 while she lived on until 1976. They did not have any children.

[4] Lionel Toleman Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 9th December 1903 and married Ivy Lottie Doreen Chilton on 17th June 1925.

Lionel was a fisherman who survived the tragic sinking of the Ferret on December 23rd 1932 and found his way to Vic Honeyman’s house to break the news of the disaster.

He was also the recipient of a bravery award from the Royal Humane Society for rescuing Abraham Solomon from drowning at Encounter Bay on 24th January 1925. Lionel was a stalwart of the Encounter Bay Football Club as a player, official, goal umpire and supporter for all of his life. Lionel and Ivy had one son, Graham.

[5] Graham Toleman Rumbelow (Rummy) was born at Ethelton, SA, on 10th June 1927 and married Jean Metcalf on 31st January 1948. Graham grew up at Yilki and became close to his cousins, Don and Ivan Bartel and David (Rocket) Rumbelow.

They fished, swam and lived in boats and helped with the fishing business whenever able. Graham was a good swimmer and helped his Uncle Eric teach swimming at the Baths. School was not his thing so he left at 14 and worked as a carpenter for Arch Appleby, then Harold Vorwerk and then Bartel Brothers where he was a foreman for some time. He built a boat that Lionel and he used, a 22 foot Carvel Hull craft called Mae-Don (after his children) and left the Bartel Brothers when he built Gra-Lin and took up professional fishing in 1962.

In partnership with his cousin, Lin Shannon, he became a very successful cray and shark fisherman and was president of the Southern Fisherman’s Association and a member of the Crayfish Advisory Council of SA. Graham was a keen sportsman and was captain of the Encounter Bay Cricket Team for 13 years, became a life member of the Football Club and represented the Association in both sports. He was a tough footballer and many opponents seemed to make contact on his fist with their chins.

After selling his share of Gra-Lin to Lin Shannon, his son Don joined him fishing on a larger boat, the Taperoo but bad health later saw them sell the Taperoo and buy J & R Joinery. Graham’s health continued to decline so he bought another cray boat the Azalea, and fished locally. He then decided to build a 40-foot riverboat, which he did without plans on the floor of his shed.

After about 4 years Graham and Jean launched the craft at the marina on Hindmarsh Island and started many wonderful trips up the river with friends and family. Graham loved the sea and was out fishing with his close friend and cousin, Don Bartel, on the day he went to hospital for the last time. Graham and Jean had three children.

Special mention must be made of [6] Don Rumbelow, President of the Encounter Bay Football Club and his wife Lesley who have also been stalwarts of the group that organized the 150 Year Celebration.

[4] Stanley Malen Rumbelow ( Malen 4th but known as Ween) was born at Victor Harbor on 1st April 1905 and married Gwenneth Hilda Hughes on 29th November 1928.

Ween spent over 60 years as a fisherman, mainly in local waters, and is well remembered huddling around a small fire in the lee of a bank near the Bluff with his brother Lionel and their mates Bill and George Ewen looking out to sea for a school of mullet. They then scurried into the flatties moored below them and surrounded the school with their nets.

Ween and Gwen built up a fresh fish business at Yilki, which grew into a large cray distribution business when their son became involved. The large water tanks, refrigeration and filtering systems and a well-organized kitchen for cooking were, at the time, probably the largest operation of its type in the State. Gwen was also a gifted artist and had a gallery attached to the fish shop.

Ween was very concerned about the lack of knowledge of the sea by many boat owners, and with Lionel and the Ewen brothers, was often called upon to rescue people who got into trouble. It is said that Ween saved 13 people who needed to be rescued in a six week period in 1963. Ween eventually ‘hung up his nets” after discovering the body of his long-time friend George Ewen, who died while fishing in May 1983.

Ween died in January 1985 and Gwen in 1995. Ween and Gwen had two children; Howard and Malen.

[5] Howard Malen Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 17th November 1934 and died the next day.

[5] Malen Stuart Rumbelow (Malen 5th) was born at Victor Harbor on 24th September 1945 and married Meredith Anne Knox on 28th January 1967. Malen 5th was a bank officer employed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia until he resigned to join his mother in the cray selling business. Malen had shops in metropolitan Adelaide and became well known for selling whole crays outside of the metropolitan racing tracks. Successful punters were regularly relieved of some of their winnings. 

Malen and Merrie had three children.

[3] Godfrey Rumbelow 2nd (3rd child) was born at Encounter Bay on 2nd January 1869 and married Ada Louise Heading at the home of her father at Campbelltown on 12th August 1890. According to his children, Godfrey was the first Rumbelow male to avoid the fishing industry due to persistent seasickness.

However, there is a story recalled by Lawrie Rumbelow in which Henry and Godfrey, as youths, were fishing when they sighted a school of mullet. Godfrey jumped overboard and held the end of the net while Henry rowed around the school. Suddenly, a 10’ 6” long carpet shark appeared, and was about to attack Godfrey who shouted to Henry. Henry gave his boat a quick shove to bring it alongside Godfrey who quickly clambered aboard.

The shark then tried to attack the boat but was killed with a lance carried for just that purpose. As carpet sharks were feared by the fishermen for their ferocity and daring, perhaps this was why Godfrey chose not to follow the family passion for fishing.

He had a number of occupations in his lifetime. He sold the fish for the family business for a time, had a farm in the Waitpinga area which fronted onto the beach at Encounter Bay and moved away from Yilki and lived at Payneham near his wife’s family for a number of years before returning to Victor Harbor.

He was a very good runner and the story is told that he was once involved in a foot race with a horse. I cannot guarantee that the result was accurate but we were always told that Godfrey won. Godfrey and Ada had six children; Ada May, Sam, Frank, Stella, Ken and Gwen.

[4] Ada May Rumbelow, known as May, was born at Victor Harbor on 2nd May 1891 and married Herbert Stephenson Reid in the Congregational Church at Victor Harbor on 23rd March 1912. They had four daughters; Madge, Greta, Jean and Norma

[5] Florence Madge Reid was born at Victor Harbor on 22nd April 1913 and married Edward George Fisher on 28th August 1937.

Ted enlisted in the Australian Army on 21st January 1942 and when discharged on 4th January 1946 he was a Warrant Officer Class 1 attached to 102 Australian Brigade Workshop. Ted later enlisted in the 2/11th Infantry Brigade. Madge and Ted had three children.

[5] Greta May Reid was born in Adelaide on 7th July 1914 and married Wilfred Clement Holder in 1943. Clem joined the RAAF on 16th December 1935 and when discharged on 20th May 1946 was a sergeant attached to SPU SA Section. They had one daughter.

[5] Marjorie Jean Reid was born on 1st July 1918 and married Flight Sergeant George William Bateman during WW2. George joined the RAAF on 25th April 1942 and was a flight sergeant in 463 Squadron. At the age of thirty two he was killed in action and is remembered with honour in the Bussus-Bussuel Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. Jean and George had a son. Jean then married Frank Woodward and they had two children.

[5] Norma Gwendoline Reid was born in Adelaide on 26th May 1920 and married Kenneth George Brown during WW2. Ken enlisted in the Australian Army on 3rd September 1942 and when discharged on 6th February 1946 was a Corporal attached to NT Area Workshops. Ken later joined the Regular Army.

Norma, who was a dancer, and Ken had two sons.

[4] Samuel Godfrey Rumbelow, was born on 27th December 1893 and married Ruby Freda Lemon on 7th October 1913. They had one daughter, Doris Ada Rumbelow. The Observer on 24th April 1920 described Sam’s death by drowning as follows;

“Mr. Samuel Rumbelow, aged 27 years, a member of one of the oldest families of Encounter Bay, was drowned at Port Elliott this morning. The young man, who was a popular conductor of touring parties between the seaside resorts of Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor, Port Elliot and Middleton had taken a lady visitor at Port Elliot (Miss Mary Duall of Adelaide) down the rocks to enable her to obtain a photograph of “Nature’s Eye” Green Bay. The lady became giddy and fell into the water. Mr. Rumbelow bravely jumped in to endeavour to rescue her, but a wave carried them both out to sea. Miss Duall was taken out of the water ten minutes later by visitors, who endeavoured, with little success, to promote artificial respiration. Dr S J Douglas of Port Victor was summoned in the meantime, and he continued the efforts at resuscitation for three quarters of an hour, at the end of which signs of vitality became apparent and the lady recovered consciousness.

Mr. Rumbelow, however, lost his life. When the first wave had spent its force he was seen standing up to the waist in water. He threw off his coat, managed to clamber on to a rock, and stood there for a moment; but another breaker washed over the rock and once more took him out to sea. The body was later recovered in Green Bay. The deceased was the eldest son of Mr. Godfrey Rumbelow.”

[4] Frank Harris Rumbelow was born on 26th March 1885, enlisted in the 48th Battalion, Australian Infantry, AIF, in August 1915. Frank had 12 month’s military experience with the 22nd Light Horse prior to joining the 1st AIF and in January 1916 he embarked on the HMAT Borda from Adelaide to sail to Suez. He then joined the 48th Battalion and sailed to Marseilles in June 1916 to join the British Expeditionary Force. On 7th August 1916 he was wounded in action in France, and admitted to a field hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. He was later transferred to England and went to a hospital in Birmingham.

He was discharged from hospital in October 1916, convalesced, and then returned to France in December. On 12th October 1917 he was reported missing in action and this was later upgraded to killed in action in April 1918 aged 23. He is named in Belgium at the Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen. Frank was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

[4] Stella Lillian Rumbelow was born on 2nd April 1898, married Leonard Albert Miller on 23rd June 1914. She died in 1972. Len was an engineer, who, by reputation could make or fix anything, and he passed on these skills to his sons who were in the motor or farm machinery businesses. Stella suffered from asthma and was confined to bed much of the time in later years. They had 12 children; Dorothy, Frank 2nd, Edith, George, Joyce, Audrey, Daphne, Gwen, Marjorie, Valma, Len and Stan.

[5] Dorothy Heslop Miller was born in South Australia on 4th October 1914 and married Carl Adolph Sandelin McCann on 5th September 1936. Carl enlisted in the Australian Army on 5th January 1942 and when discharged on 5th February 1948 was attached to 6AAT COY. Dorothy and Carl had three children.

Carl died in 1966 and Dorothy then married Leslie Chant on 26th June 1971. Leslie enlisted in the Australian Army on 12th July 1941 and when discharged on 11th November 1943 was attached to 6 Coy AASC. Dorothy died on 30th July 1991.

[5] Frank Albert Miller was born at Coburg, Victoria on 25th November 1917 and married Joyce Irene Burns Baker on 22nd May 1943. Frank worked with his father while still attending school, then was apprenticed to Richards Engineering at Woodville before joining his father in business. Frank then founded FA Miller and Co, an engineering business at Port Adelaide before starting a successful farm machinery sales and service organization at Lameroo, SA. Frank and Joyce had two sons. Joyce died in childbirth delivering their second son on 31st August 1944 and Frank then married Margaret Croxton on 7th June 1947.

Frank and Margaret have three children.

[5] Edith Stella Miller was born at Payneham on 26th April 1919 and married Perce Albert Semmler, a welder and boiler maker. Edith and Perce had three children and Edith died on 3rd November 1988.

[5] George Godfrey Miller was born at Payneham on 24th May 1920 and married Ethel May Fay Goodenough on 25th October 1941. George served in the Australian Army during World War Two, enlisting on 26th July 1940. He was a motor mechanic with City Motors and then became a maintenance mechanic. George and Ethel had two children.

[5] Joyce Lillian Miller was born at Richmond, SA, on 11th February 1922 and married Donald James Mathews. Donald enlisted in the Australian Army on 29th May 1940 and when discharged on 7th September 1943 was attached to 2/27 Battalion, 2nd AIF. Joyce and Donald had seven children. Donald died in 1974 and Joyce then married Patrick Connors. She later married Fred Combe on 19th December 1996.

Joyce died on 5th June 2003.

[5] Audrey Mae Miller was born at Richmond on 10th February 1925 and married Leonard Warren Stewart on 27th March 1948. Len enlisted in the Australian Army on 1st February 1941 and when discharged on 26th June 1942 was attached to Sup Coln 4 MD. Audrey and Len, a bootmaker, had two children.

[5] Daphne Joan Miller was born at Clarendon on 7th November 1926 and married Glen Arthur Samuel Last on 18th November 1950. Glen enlisted in the Australian Army on 19th April 1943 and when discharged on 14th June 1946 was attached to NSW LTD Staff.Daphne and Glen, who later worked as a bus and tram driver with the Metropolitan Tramways Trust, had two children.

[5] Gwendoline Parsons Miller was born at Clarendon on 28th November 1927 and married Reginald Harold Gilbert on 12th June 1948. Reg enlisted in the RAAF on 17th February 1942 and when discharged on 26th November 1945 was a Leading Aircraftsman attached to 13 Squadron, Canberra. Gwen and Reg, a greengrocer in Payneham and St Peters in Adelaide had four children.

[5] Marjorie Dawn Miller was born at Clarendon on 30th April 1929 and married Frank William Maidment on 23rd December 1950. Frank was a fitter and turner who became an administrator with South Australian Railways. Marjorie and Frank had four children.

[5] Valma Jean Miller was born at Edwardstown on 8th November 1930 and married Stephen Raymond White on 28th October 1950. Valma and Stephen, a toolmaker, had five children. Stephen died on 3rd June 1977 and Valma then married Leonard Frank Battams on 3rd September 1979.

[5] Leonard Kenneth Miller was born at Blackwood on 21st October 1932 and married Lorraine June Penley on 21st November 1953. Len worked with his father in Miller Sons before progressing through the ranks as a motor mechanic to run a very successful Volkswagen Service business for a number of years. He then became a trade school teacher and consultant to the Automotive Industry Training Board. Len and Lorraine had five children.

[5] Stanley Leslie Miller was born at Queenstown on 12th November 1935 and married Joan Irene Beare on 20th October 1962. Stan and Joan run a successful motor workshop, spare parts outlet and wrecking business and they and their business were strong supporters of stock car racing in South Australia. Joan, in fact, was a successful driver in “demolition derby” events until just last year, 2004. Stan and Joan have two children; 

[4] Kennith Stanley Rumbelow was born on 30th July 1902 and married Reta Hentschke in 1936. Ken had an excellent tenor voice and won many singing competitions in Adelaide and country centres in the 1930’s. He sang at weddings and concerts and was a member of the Newland Memorial Church Choir for sixty-five years and held many positions in the Church and the community.

He had a number of jobs as a salesman and in later life had a grocery shop in Victor Harbor and was the postmaster (part time) at Yilki until its closure. Ken joined the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the Volunteer Defence Corps stationed at Victor Harbor and was discharged with the rank of Corporal.

Like most Rumbelows, Ken was a passionate supporter of the Encounter Bay Football Club and was their President for a number of years.

He was very proud to present the Rumbelow Shield to the winning grand finalist in the Great Southern Football League on a number of occasions. Ken and Reta had three sons; Kenneth (Peter), Denis and William. Ken died in 1998 at the age of ninety five.

[5] Kenneth Peter Rumbelow (Peter) was born at Victor Harbor on 13th April 1937 and married Genevieve Wallace Hickling on 20th February 1960.They had two daughters.

Peter played football for Norwood before coaching at Athelstone and also swam at State level in his youth. He joined the Savings Bank of SA and eventually became Chief Manager, Property, for the State Bank of SA. The construction of Adelaide’s tallest building, now Santos House, was Peter’s responsibility and was completed a few years before his retirement in 1991.

In January 2005, Peter was presented with the Australia Day City of Campbelltown Citizen of the Year Award. Peter was Chairman of the Committees that organized the 150 Year Rumbelow Celebration and compiled this book from research carried out by a number of people, particularly Mary George and Lesley Avery.

[5] Denis Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 21st July 1941 and married Kaye Heading on 4th September 1963. They have two daughters and a son.

Denis was a canny left-footed half forward for Encounter Bay before taking up a teaching appointment at Willunga.

He was also an excellent tennis player. Denis became a lecturer in the University of South Australia (and its former titles) and trained many of today’s teachers.

[5] William Godfrey Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 19th February 1944 and married Flora Legge on 25th January 1968. They have two daughters. Bill was also a teacher who spent time at Glossop and Pt Pirie before settling in Adelaide where he ended his career as Deputy Principal of Charles Campbell Secondary School at Campbelltown. He played football with distinction for Encounter Bay, Berri and the Proprietary Team at Pt Pirie at centre-half back or centre-half forward. Flora recently retired as the Principal of Ceduna Area School.

[4] Dulcie Gwendoline Rumbelow, known as Gwen, was born at Victor Harbor on 24th March 1909 and married Vernon James Swain in 1927. They had a farm at Inman Valley and for a number of years Vern and their only son, Terry, were stockmen on a family station in Queensland. Gwen was a very good pianist and played at dances in the district. Gwen and Vernon had one son, Terry. Gwen died in 1961 at the age of 52.

[5] Terence Vernard Swain was born at Victor Harbor on 24th January 1930. He was a very good footballer who played for Encounter Bay, then The Valleys (Inman Valley) when they formed and then Encounter Bay again when they amalgamated with The Valleys. Vern was a long-term official and follower of the teams. Terry married Margaret Stevens on 27th May 1950 and they had two sons and two daughters. Terry suffered with respiratory problems, and, for the sake of his health, transferred in his employment as a supervisor linesman with Telecom, from Victor Harbor to Tennant Creek.

He was involved in a serious car accident in the bush where he was badly injured and not found for quite some time. His wounds were untreated for so long while they battled to save his life when he was flown back to Adelaide, that his rehabilitation was long and arduous. He died in 1994 at the age of 64, having never really recovered from his ordeal.

[3] Alice Hester Rumbelow (4th child) was born at Victor Harbor on 25th May 1871. Alice did not marry but lived on in the family home, Yeltanna, in Yilki until she died of a heart attack on 8th July 1957.

We knew her as Auntie “Owl”, a short, stout lady who enjoyed family contact. The family tell how she would sit in the window looking out to sea for the return of the fishing boats, whereupon she would ring a bell to signal to all the women to grab their filleting knives and hurry to the Fish Shed to prepare the fish for market as soon as possible.

[3] Rose Mary Rumbelow (5th child) was born at Yilki on 28th February 1875 and married John Trent Strawbridge on 6th August 1901. They had three daughters; Irene, Winifred and Sylvia.

[4] Irene Jean Strawbridge was born at North Adelaide on 4th September 1902 and married Alfred James Cobb on 12th August 1922. They had four children; Lorna, Collin, Nancy and Margaret.

[5] Lorna Cobb was born at Broken Hill on 14th December 1923 and married Stanley Carl Victor Stein on 24th December 1941. Stanley enlisted in the RAAF on 24th February 1941 and held the rank of Corporal when discharged attached to TOC.

Lorna and Stanley had one son.

[5] Collin Lindsay Cobb was born at Victor Harbor on 3rd May 1925 and married Thora May Hocking on 6th September 1946. Collin was a master mariner who served in the Merchant

Navy during WW2. His war service record states that he was engaged on 8th May 1941 and his last engagement was on 26th November 1945 on the Ship, Kekerangu. Collin and Thora had one daughter.

Thora died in 1971 and Collin married Marilyn Alice Karaina Kewene on 10th April 1976. Collin and Marilyn had one son.

[5] Nancy Jean Cobb was born at Victor Harbor on 29th November 1932 and married Bruce Wyland Graham on 4th August 1951. Bruce, an accountant, enlisted in the RAN on 25th November 1941 and when discharged was an able seaman on HMAS Torrens. Nancy and Bruce had two children.

[5] Margaret Rose Cobb was born at Victor Harbor on 3rd December 1936. She did not marry and died at the age of 38.

[4] Winifred Norma Strawbridge was born at Ovingham, SA, on 9th April 1904 and married Harry Wearne, a chemist, on 5th June 1926. Winnie and Harry Wearne had two children; Norma and Peter.

[5] Norma Jean Wearne was born at Hindmarsh, SA, on 5th July 1928 and died when four years of age.

[5] Peter Norman Wearne was born at Hindmarsh, SA, on 28th May 1936 and married Lynette Fay Foreman on 16th December 1967. Peter, a carpenter, and Lynette had two children.

[4] Sylvia Rose Strawbridge was born at Hahndorf, SA, on 10th August 1907 and married Howard Swain, a dairy farmer, on 21st October 1933. They had one son, William.

[5] William Lawrence Swain, a mechanic, was born at Victor Harbor on 31st August 1936 and married Kathleen Dawn Osmond on 26th April 1969. They had two children.

[3] Cain Jelliff Rumbelow (6th Child) was born on November 2nd 1877 at Encounter Bay, and was named after his uncle, Cain Jelliff, the husband of Alice, who tragically drowned at the Murray mouth on the 2nd March of that year. Cain was born in Crystal Palace, a little weatherboard cottage on the seafront of Encounter Bay, the home of Malen 2nd, and Mary. A visitor, Captain Parkes, once referred to the cottage as the “Crystal Palace” and the name stuck. 

Many years later the cottage was condemned and given to Rex and Dorothy Tilbrook, who spent many months carefully dismantling and rebuilding it as the “Settlers Cottage” at Whalers Haven, now called Whalers Inn. Kevin, Phylis’ brother helped with this task and the cottage became a great tourist attraction as a museum of items of local historical interest, including some of the restored original furniture.

When the Tilbrooks sold Whalers Haven, the cottage became part of the accommodation as the Bridal Suite and the contents were sold and lost to the family. As he grew up Cain helped his father and older brothers in the fishing business, then known as M Rumbelow and Sons, and officially joined the partnership when he left school.

He courted Susannah Martha Bailey (Annie), who lived at Hindmarsh Valley, by riding his horse from Encounter Bay each week to sit around the table and talk to the whole family and then ride back home.

Cain and Annie eventually married in the little Methodist Church at Hindmarsh Valley in 1901. Cain had a brick home built for his bride on the seafront by Fred Bartel, a cousin-in-law. It was named “The Haven” and was not far from the Crystal Palace and Yeltanna, which was the large granite home built by his parents in the 1880’s, when the family outgrew the Crystal Palace. The Haven had eight rooms, a cellar and verandahs on all four sides. A sleepout and bathroom were later additions under the verandahs.

After the children grew up a bit, the Haven became popular as a boarding house and many people made regular annual bookings. Often when you identify yourself as a Rumbelow, people tell of their annual holidays at the Haven and the fishing. Each bedroom had a jug and basin for personal washing. Clothes were washed in a freestanding laundry building in the back yard where a copper, troughs and a mangle were provided. The family bath was also located in this unlined building. There was a second bath – a large round portable tub that was brought into the kitchen in winter for the weekly ritual and placed in front of the kitchen stove. There were also two separate outside toilets, one for guests and one for family. The dining room was quite large and had a piano, which was used for dances. Fred Bartel played the accordion, his son Ivan the violin, Cain the accordion and mouth organ and his daughter Laura played the piano, sang and yodelled on these occasions, which were popular with the guests.

Cain remained a fisherman all his life and when the partnership of M Rumbelow and Sons dissolved in 1907, after both Malen 1st and 2nd had died, he purchased the fishing cutter The Swallow and fished along the coast and also around Kangaroo Island. He entered the New Years Day Sports at Victor Harbor on many occasions and won a number of sailing races. When it was decided to build a church at Encounter Bay, Cain served on the Building Committee. The stone for the building was given by his mother, Mary, and the granite foundation stone was procured by Cain from West Island. The contract was won by J F (Fred) Bartel at a cost of 300 pounds. It was built of limestone with brick facings, a porch and could seat 100 people.

The foundation stone was laid on 1st November 1919 and the church was named the Jefferis Memorial Church in memory of the Rev. Dr. James Jefferis who previously held church services in his home, the Fountain Inn. Like the other Rumbelow fishermen, Cain made his own nets and craypots in the early days.

Cain gave each of his children a block of land as a wedding present, as his father and grandfather had done before him.  Laura and Hube built on theirs but Cyril lived in Adelaide and sold his only to buy one close by later in life when he moved to Encounter Bay in retirement.

During the Second World War Cain and his son Hubert were an official part of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol. They patrolled the coast from the Bluff to the Pages and on his return would signal the “all clear” with flags to the Voluntary Defence Corps volunteers standing sentry duty on the Bluff. His cousin, Ken Rumbelow was often on this duty.

The Swallow, normally painted white with the registered number “28” was repainted battleship grey and renumbered “82” for wartime service. The Haven was also used for ‘rest and recuperation’ by the Armed Forces.

Annie died on 4th October 1949 and Cain died on 22nd April 1952. Both died at home and are buried at the Victor Harbor Cemetery. 

Cain and Annie had four children, Hube, Max, Laura and Cyril.

[4] Hubert James Rumbelow (Hube) was born at Victor Harbor on 12th November 1902 and married Kohinoor Grickson Adcock (Korry) on 5th August 1933. Hube, his wife Korry and their family moved into the Haven when Annie became bedridden, and stayed on when she died to care for Cain. The Haven was sold when Cain died. 

Hube contracted infantile paralysis when about 4 and this left him with a withered foot and a permanent limp that was a problem all his life, particularly later in life when rheumatism set in.

After a time on George Battye’s farm, Hube joined Cain on the Swallow as a partner. From time to time fishing was augmented by other work, working for the council on the sea wall on Franklin Parade and for his cousin, Alf Tugwell, a Wood Merchant. Sometimes, when fish were scarce near home, he fished along the Coorong, at Goolwa and in the Mundoo area. 

Korry died on 24th September 1983 and Hube on 27th August 1986. They had four children; Phylis, Janet, Elwynne and Kevin.

[5] Phylis Grickson Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 31st March 1936. She was well known as the “senior” lady in the well respected chemist shop in the middle of Ocean Street. She worked ,there straight from school for 45 years.

[5] Janet Frances Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 9th May 1939 and married William Desmond Raines on 31st May 1958.

Janet worked in Moss Williams’ delicatessen in Victor Harbor before meeting Des who was a teller in the ANZ Bank. They moved around South Australia and he became a branch manager for a number of years. They moved back to Adelaide where he became a security officer at the SA Brewing Co. They are now retired. Janet and Des had two daughters.

[5] Elwynne Joyce Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 17th March 1944 and married Philip Preston on 2nd March 1963. Elwynne worked at the Avondale Fruit Shop and Milk Bar. In 1960 she left with a friend on a working holiday to Western Australia where she met Philip. They travelled back to Yilki to be married in the Jefferis Memorial Church and ran a Landscaping and Tree Lopping business in Kojonup, WA. They had two children.

[5] Kevin James Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 17th July 1946 and married Maxine Shirley Tucker on 4th June 1966. Kevin initially worked in a sawmill at Inman Valley, SA, then after marrying, moved to Kangarilla, again working in a sawmill.

But fishing was in his blood so he crewed for Lionel Puckridge and worked on the Gra-lin owned by Graham Rumbelow. He then became skipper of Graham’s boat Taperoo.

He became an experienced and capable professional fisherman and obtained all the necessary certificates and licences to manage and skipper fishing vessels. In 1981 he realized his dream and bought his own boat, a 10metre craft called Galini. When the cray season started Kevin fished for three weeks near home but results were poor so he decided to try Kangaroo Island for several days.

On Friday, 20th November 1981, he set off at 6am for Kangaroo Island and spent the night in Antechamber Bay. He was caught in a violent storm on his way home on Sunday and was drowned at 35 years of age. A massive search was made and his body was found seven days later, washed up on Shannon’s Gully Beach near Parsons Beach. Almost five months later, after all the heartache – Maxine found that she was pregnant and Kevin Timothy Rumbelow was born on 4th August 1982. Kevin and Maxine had three other children.

[4] Maxwell Cain Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 18th September 1904 and died on 23rd September 1921, aged only 17.

[4] Laura Faith Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 12th July 1906. After leaving school Laura helped at home at the Haven Guest Home. Laura married Frederick Crowhurst Kemp on 30th April 1930. Fred had ran away to sea at 14 years of age and joined the British Navy during WW1. He served on five different warships and when discharged with an ear problem he joined Sir Thomas Lipton’s Charter Ships and traveled the world. \

He visited Western Australia in the 1920’s where his sister coerced him into leaving the company, so he came to South Australia to work for his brother-in-law Cecil Lewis, a baker in Victor Harbor. Laura and Fred then ran a bakery in Tailem Bend and then Naracoorte, both for Lewis. They returned to Encounter Bay just before World War Two ended and Fred drove for Abbott’s Tours and later worked for AMSCOL. 

Laura and Fred had two daughters; Elaine and Freda.

[5] Elaine Laura Kemp was born at Tailem Bend on 27th December 1933. Elaine worked in the Yilki store owned by Gwen Rumbelow, the wife of Ween (Malen 4th), and then at Mt Breckan when it was a rehabilitation centre. It was there she met Desmond Kevin Murphy when he was recuperating from a motorcycle accident, and they married on 30th July 1955. They married and moved to Whyalla where Des was a ship’s plumber. Elaine and Des had four children.

[5] Freda Anne Kemp was born at Victor Harbor on 22nd August 1937 and married Joseph Donald Scott on 14th October 1961. Don was a sheet-metal worker at Islington Railways and Freda worked as a domestic at St Mark’s College for a number of years while living at Gilles Plains, SA.

[4] Cyril Vernon Rumbelow was born at Encounter Bay on 18th October 1914 and married Aileen Constance McShane on 14th November 1936. Cyril, the youngest son of Cain, became a linesman with the Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA) at Victor Harbor, then moved to Adelaide where his skill led to an 11 year posting as an instructor at the ETSA Training Centre for Linesmen. He was often called out at weekends when high-tension modifications were made to the supply grid due to his bravery and skill.

On 9th February 1934 Cyril (nicknamed Mick) rescued a farmer, Mr. H L Dent, who was being gored by a bull near Pt Elliott. Cyril, aged 19, armed only with a tomahawk, attacked the raging bull and drove it away thus saving the farmer from a gory death. For this brave act Cyril was awarded a Bronze Medal by the Royal Humane Society of Australia.

Cyril and Connie had one son together, Carl.

[5] Carl Vernon Howard Rumbelow, known as Billy who was born on 7th September 1937. When the marriage ended in divorce,

Billy went to live with his mother who changed his surname to Wood, which upset Cyril greatly. Billy was employed as a driver for Arnotts Biscuits.

Cyril Rumbelow then married Daisy May Warren on 27th July 1946 and they had a daughter, Lynne

[5] Lynne Susanne Rumbelow was born in Adelaide on 9th August 1949 and married Raymond Dean Harper on 8th November 1969. Lynne was a Personal Assistant and they had twin daughters.

Daisy died in 1971 and Cyril married Thelma Josephine Crowsley in 1975. They lived at Port Clinton for a time before returning to Encounter Bay where Cyril died on 3rd April 1982.

[3] Maria Jane Rumbelow (7th Child) was born at Yilki on 13th March 1880 and married Joshua Tugwell, a farmer, on 7th February 1905. Maria Jane was known as Jane and signed her name as Jane Maria when married and at the birth of her children. Josh was born at Encounter Bay in 1879 and was educated at Victor Harbor. He took a great interest in shooting and was a member of the Yankalilla Mounted Rifles and the Victor Harbor Rifle Club. He represented Waitpinga Ward in local government for a number of years. Jane and Josh had five children; Alfred, Bert, Clem, Ernest and Doreen.

[4] Alfred Joshua Malen Tugwell was born at Encounter Bay on 9th March 1906 and married Alma Rita Henderson on 26th June 1926. Alf was a carrier, contractor, labourer and wood merchant at various times and served in 4 Battalion Voluntary Defence Corps from 28th May 1942 until 15th October 1945.

Alf and Alma had three children; Dean, Grayham and Keven.

[5] Dean Alfred Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 13th October 1929 and married Ynis Audrey Rowlands, a schoolteacher, on 13th February 1960. Dean was a farm manager and retired to live on Mundoo Island near Goolwa, SA. Dean and Ynis had two children.

[5] Grayham Ben Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 29th September 1931 and married Nance Claire Irwin on 25th July 1950. Claire died on the 10th June 1995 in a car accident at Kojonup, WA. and Grayham died on 6th August 1995 at Albany, WA. They had three children.

[5] Keven Norman Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 9th March 1934 and married Barbara Lynette Spriggs. There were no children from this marriage and Keven married Ruth Ethel Langley (nee Carey) on 31st October 1962. Keven was a contractor and they had two children. Ruth also had a child from a previous marriage.

[4] Bert Tugwell was born at Encounter Bay on 17th February 1909 and married Blanche Venon Henderson on 8th July 1931. Bert and Blanche had four children; Nicklas, Ruth, Roger and Coralie. It is worthy of note that, according to our records, none of the children of Bert and Blanche married. Bert died in March of 2005.

[5] Nicklas Bert Tugwell was born at Encounter Bay on 11th October 1931. He was a farmer and horse breeder living at Narrikup, WA at the time of his death in 1983.

[5] Ruth Blanche Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 2nd February 1935. Ruth was a bakery assistant.

[5]Roger Joshua Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 26th May 1937, worked for the Council, and was a fisherman.

[5] Coralie Dawn Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 29th August 1940, was a nursery assistant.

[4] Clem Tugwell was born at Encounter Bay on 16th August 1910 and married Ida May Joyce on 1st June 1935. Clem was a carrier, blacksmith and dairy farmer, and was involved in highway maintenance at Willunga,

SA. He enlisted in the Australian Army on 7th July 1942 and served with the 18 Light Horse Motor Cadre, 9 Motor Regiment, the 2nd Tank Battalion – 2 Ord Field Park – 4 Vehicle Park and served in Australia at Balcombe, Puckapunyal, Greta, Singleton, Blacktown, Cairns and Upper Mt Gravatt. He was awarded the Efficiency and Long Service Medals and when discharged was a Corporal with 2 Australian Infantry Troops Ordinance Field Park. He won prizes in the Light Horse for tent pegging and the sword and lance events, and then as a senior citizen turned his hand to bowls with success. 

Clem played cricket and football at Encounter Bay and Meadows, was involved with the Emergency Fire Service where he won competitions, and competed in the same team as his two sons. Ida died in 1977 and Clem married Ruby Myra Poole on 20th December 1980. Clem died in 1992. 

Clem and Ida had four children; William, Maxwell, Anne and Colleen.

[5] William Ross Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 8th May 1937 and married Valerie Jean Robins on

1st December 1956. Ross was a forestry worker and they had three children. Ross then married Elizabeth Farthing on 1st April 1971.

[5] Maxwell Clem Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 14th June 1940 and married Shirley Ann Bottroff on 14th April 1962. Max was the supervisor of a maintenance gang at Willunga, SA, and an earth mover driver and beekeeper. There were no children.

[5] Anne Tugwell was born at Victor Harbor on 7th October 1946 and married Clarrie William James Pike on 8th April 1967. Clarrie was a dairy farmer and then a sheep grazier and pastoralist at Mundulla, SA.

They had three children.

[5] Colleen Joyce Tugwell was born at McLaren Vale on 28th January 1953 and married Daryl William Pyke on 16th June 1972. Daryl was a truck driver and they had two children.

[4] Ernest Tugwell was born at Encounter Bay on 13th January 1912 and married Edith Rose Dawson on 27th October 1945. Ern was a dairy farmer who enlisted in the Australian Army on 26th January 1940. He served in a machine gun division in the Middle East, Syria, Palestine, Java and Burma. He landed in Java in 1942 with rifles but no machine guns and was captured by the Japanese and taken to a Prisoner of War Camp in Thailand. He worked on the Burma Railway and was released at the end of hostilities. He was discharged on 18th July 1946 attached to the 2/3 Machine Gun Battalion. 

Ern and Edith had no children.

[4] Doreen Jean Tugwell was born at Encounter Bay on 3rd January 1923 and married Irvine Thomas Crowhurst on 8th January 1944. Irvine, a dairy farmer, joined the Australian Army on 11th July 1942 and when discharged on 15th July 1946 was a corporal attached to 10/48 Infantry Battalion. They had two children; Irvine and Barry.

[5] Irvine John Crowhurst was born at Prospect, SA, on 16th September 1946 and married Margaret Dawn Rowe on 27th January 1976. They had no children.

[5] Barry Joshua Crowhurst was born at Prospect on 21st May 1949 and married Teena Cynthia Hassell on 24th May 1969. Barry and Teena had two children.

[3] Samuel Rumbelow (8th Child) was born at Victor Harbor on 1st December 1881. He suffered from spina bifida and died soon after his 5th birthday. He is buried with his parents in the Victor Harbor Cemetery.

3] Grace Emily Rumbelow (9th Child) was born at Encounter Bay on 7th January 1885 and married David Robert Buck on 12th September 1911. David was a farmer/labourer who lived at Port Elliot when he married. 

Grace and David had seven children; Neta, Alice, Olive, Bessie, Samuel, Steven and Douglas.

[4] Neta Grace Buck was born at Encounter Bay on 8th July 1912 and married Leonard Charles Rowe on 30th June 1934. 

They have had no children.

[4] Alice Merle Buck was born at Encounter Bay on 25th July 1913 and married Norman Keith Sellar on 18th February 1932. Norman served in WW2. 

Alice and Norman had two children; Shirley and Terrence.

[5] Shirley Patricia Sellar was born at Maylands on 31st August 1932 and married Douglas Cameron Wallace, a plumber, on 26th February 1955. 

They had three children.

[5] Terrence Norman Sellar was born at Norwood on 5th April 1937 and married Lois Faye Ralston on 22nd August 1964. They had two children.

[4] Olive Hart Buck was born on 1st January 1917 and died at seven years of age.

[4] Bessie Lilian Buck was born on Kangaroo Island on 3rd April 1919 and married Leslie William Hann on 8th October 1938. Les and Bessie operated a dairy farm, Munrovey Stud, on the main road just out of Middleton, SA. 

They had four children; Brian, Glenda, David and Graeme.

[5] Brian Leslie Hann was born at Victor Harbor on 24th July 1941 and married Frances Carole Crooke on 10th June 1967. Brian started work with NCR in Adelaide and then in Broken Hill before going to the Middle East Africa region. 

In 1965 he joined the International Division of NCR at Dayton, Ohio, USA. Then, in 1986 the family moved to Long Island, New York where Brian was vice-president and general manager of an NCR subsidiary. They currently live in Sarasota, Florida and they have two children who were born in Ohio, USA.

[5] Glenda Joyce Hann was born at Victor Harbor on 18th December 1942 and married Roy Joseph Seccafien on 18th September 1971. They had two children.

[5] David William Hann was born at Victor Harbor on 28th March 1944 and married Lynette Heather Raggatt on 6th July 1963. David became part owner of a Cabinet Making business in 2001. They had three children.

[5] Graeme Ernest Hann was born at Victor Harbor on 27th May 1948 and married Virginia Marilyn Elaine Knight on 18th September 1975 and had one son.

[4] Samuel Malen Buck was born 17th January 1921 and died of complications from measles aged 10 months.

[4] Steven Robert Buck was born at Kensington North, SA, on 11th May 1924 and married Ruth Watts in 1950. Steven enlisted in the Australian Army on 20th April 1943 and was discharged on 25th October 1945 attached to 2/48 Australian Infantry Battalion. Steven married again in 1975 to Evelyn Sarah Nicholls.

[4] Douglas Buck was stillborn in November 1927.