All functions were well attended. I am pleased to report:

• Malen Rumbelow 5th opened the Peter Matthews Exhibition on Saturday afternoon to a good audience.

• The group photograph in front of the EBFC, captured many persons attending the 170th Celebrations.

• On Saturday evening 151 persons attended  the dinner, comprising 139 adults, 11  children and 1 infant. It was a very good number who gathered, and again, thank you all for  your support of the RDC. 

• It was pleasing that the local member, David Basham MP and the City of  Victor Harbor, Mayor, Dr Jenkins could join us, with both making significant contributions in  addresses to our gathering. 

• The Silent Auction, of the lovely painting by John Ford OAM, of  the Prestonjee Bomanjee, the ship which brought our family to South Australia was acquired  by Justin and Julie McClure, Kallara Station, NSW, who submitted the successful bid. As an aside the auction appeared to have a familiar theme, as Julie’s father John Rumbelow, in 2005 was  the successful bidder for the painting auctioned in 2005. 

• Our Keynote speaker was  Malcolm Rumbelow who presented on the fishing boats of our forebears and the transition to  yachting competition for many of our Victor Harbor group, from the days of the sailing  contests between the fishing boats, to those of the Victor Harbor Sailing Club and the many  prizes achieved by members of the family. The star being Celina, a many times national champion and a competitor in the Sydney Hobart Race albeit stifled by equipment failure and  retiring to southeastern New South Wales. 

• Unfortunately, the weather turned on Sunday. It was decided to move the service to the Function Room of the EBFC, a much more comfortable venue. 

• The Cairn Service by Peter Rumbelow was then followed with his Walking Stick Tour of the paintings,  adding description and detail to each of the paintings. It was very successful and in many  cases touching anecdotes for those who participated with further information on the history  of the local fishing industry.

Meeting About The Rambler 

On Sunday afternoon a meeting was held with Rick Barton, Chair of the local History Trust of SA. This  was regarding the Rambler. The vessel is in disrepair and in a very poor state. 

The cost to restore the  Rambler is no longer feasible. However, it was decided to progress keeping part of the vessel as a  static display at the National Trust site on Flinders Parade in Victor Harbor. 

An option would be to  remove the stern section and erect that to complement the exhibition of the spars, (see photo below) to enhance the display on the History Trust building. 

More information can be found at the link: 

https://www.rumbelow.net/boats/rambler/meeting300325 

Headstones

A sub-committee has been formed to investigate the poor state of some of the headstones of RDC  graves. The sub-committee consists of Peter, Malen, Matt and Charlie. We have been advised of two headstones  requiring attention. We are to visit the Victor Harbor Cemetery shortly and look at all graves. The  graves at the Tabernacle Cemetery are beyond repair. 

The two headstones identified are: 

Cain Jelliff – drowned at the Murray Mouth in 1877.  

He married Alice Rumbelow.  They had no children, hence no immediate family to maintain. 

His headstone is in four parts held together by rusty steel strips and bolts.

Walter Rumbelow - Drowned 23 December 1932.

Walter’s body was never recovered. His memorial is situated on another headstone. 

Married with 9 children. The headstone is on a lean which needs to be corrected. 

Headstone lists and locations.

Much information has already been received from the Council. 

More information can be found at the link: 

https://www.rumbelow.net/memorials