Local journalist Arch Grosvenor began work at the Victor Harbor Times in 1925 aged 14 and was editor from age 18.  In response to the tragic drowning of Geoff Rumbelow in 1975, Arch titled his heartfelt article "Family of tragedy and valor".

The theme of tragedy and valor has been central in the planning of the 170 Celebration and Exhibition, as we remember all family members who have contributed to the Fleurieu peninsula in rural and agriculture, commerce, sporting, defence service, community associations, many of the Rumbelow family losing their life in the process.

The Peter Matthews Collection is a magnificent gesture from local artist Peter Matthews that captures the tragedy and valor of the founding families and fishers. Privileged to have it on display in one location for the families and community to enjoy.

My mother Gwen Rumbelow and her famous fish shop gallery and made friendships with many local artists including Peter Matthews, Alfred, Ainslie, Nan Hodge and others. Peter and Gwen established the first Victor Harbor Art Show. 

We acknowledge Peter Matthews along with artists Andrew Matthews and Bill Needs and thank Chris Matthews for being with us today. We thank the collection custodians the Victor Harbor Council and Mayor Moira Jenkins and Mark Irwin and Victor Harbor Rotary for the use of display boards. 

We are privileged to have local artist Alfred Engel with his latest work of Lionel Rumbelow commissioned by Lionel's grandson Don Rumbelow. We acknowledge Carlene Oliver and her family as descendants of Lester Rumbelow and his image here today.

It’s hoped the research and stories that have been collated for this event can bring life to the 14 proud men which are gathered here today in spirit and in our memories.

Welcome All

It’s pleasing to see so many able to join us on this occasion at this outstanding community facility.

We have with us tonight two guests:

• The Member of Finniss, Mr David Basham MP

• Mayor Dr Moira Jenkins.

The Basham family is well known in the area.

In reading for this reunion, I came across a devastating fire report of 1859 when one of David’s forebears was burn out in a fire that destroyed his farm, doing 15 K pounds damage and leaving nothing, the house being guttered and livestock and crops destroyed.  Oner wonders of insurance in those days!

More recently Phil Basham is seen photographed at Port Elliot in with a large stingray.

And of course there is Basham’s Beach at Port Elliot.  A lovely beach fronting a nature reserve.

And our thanks go to Mayor Jenkins, leading the City of Victor Harbor since 2018 and providing the focus of our gathering in the Peter Matthews Collection of paintings. 

The City of Victor Harbor is the custodian of the Peter Matthew Collection and they have loaned them to us for the weekend.  And of course, we are in a City of Victor Harbor building ~ as the owners of the EBFC clubrooms.

And speaking of this building, as a member of the EBFC it is pleasing to see the outcome of the endeavours of the members, local government and the State government, in funding the extensive improvements made over many years to bring the building to what we have now.

I believe it is an excellent example of local communities and the levels of government working together to achieve outstanding results.

Our thanks to our two guests for their unqualified support in achieving what we have today.

I would like to thank and identify your committee which put together this function:

Lesley Avery – all who attended in 2005 would know Lesley as our Genealogist – a function she continues today – of which we are very grateful.  Sadly, Mary George our other genealogist of 2005 has passed away.  Lesley and Mary made a formidable combination.  A team of achievers, whoever, with Lesley now in a solo capacity.

Ali Hoffrichter – Ally put her hand up to be Treasurer and to assist in fund raising.

Malen Rumbelow 5th  opened the Peter Matthews Exhibition – Malen’s Mother Gwen was a prime mover in establishing the Victor Harbor Art Show and had a small gallery at her fish shop – so Malen is no stranger to our artists.

Peter Rumbelow – was the leader of the 2005 150 years of Rumbelow’s when we had, according to the media some 640 persons present in marquees on the oval outside.  With his committee this was an outstanding achievement.  

Peter is to conduct the Cairn Ceremony tomorrow at 11.00am and then will host a “Walking Stick Tour” of the subjects of the paintings.  This will be here in the Gary Roberts Room at 1.00pm.  All are urges to attend both.  For those not familiar with the area, the Cairn is on the beachfront opposite the Yilki Store.

Malcolm Rumbelow – Malcolm is the be our keynote speaker.  He has a passion for sailing and sport and is a Life Member of the EBFC.

Matthew Rumbelow – I’ve left Matt until last.  Most of you would have had contact with Matt in attending here tonight.  Matt was also a prime member of the 2005 reunion with his desktop publishing skills enabling that occasion to be the success it was.

Similarly, this time Matt has come to the fore as an untiring resource of acquiring things, mainly information, but the size of his endeavors is outstanding.

The www.rumbelow.net website is all Matt’s work.  It is extensive and I recommend all to go to it and investigate what Matt has put together.  It is very comprehensive, and on behalf of the Organising Committee, and all Rumbelow, I thank Matt for constructing the website.

I take this opportunity to recognise John Ford OAM.  He is almost like family, having been with us since 2005 where he was the artist for the cover of the 150 Years of the Rumbelows book.  Again, John is with us and again creating a magnificent painting of the Prestonjee Bomanjee.  I first met John on the beach at Taperoo, in 1986, where he was involved in the construction of the One and All -he was on the Sail Training Committee – and still is.  His love of marine experiences and the Port Adelaide environment has seen him deservedly awarded an OAM. John has donated the painting which is the subject of our Silent Auction, and our major fundraising venture for this occasion. Thank you, John.

Many other persons have assisted in arranging this function – later I will thank those specific Associations and persons in putting this reunion together.

And tomorrow return here from noon until late, take the Peter “Walking Stick Tour” and there will be light meals available and the Bar, as well as later the Crows will be on TV.

And thank you to all for your presence here tonight.  As Matt said two nights ago:

“It’s my birthday and I’m having a party Saturday with 150 relatives to celebrate with me.”

I know we will all enjoy the occasion.

I want to thank the Rumbelow family for inviting me along tonight. It's a privilege to be here in this building so thank you to you all and please enjoy your night thank you.

The first Basham to come out to Australia he was a convict that was found guilty of possessing a forged 5 pound note and he was originally sentenced to life. He escaped and was sentenced to death but that was changed to being transported to Tasmania. His family decided to come to Australia. It was quite a fascinating story that his wife and children came out and he had two more children here.

The Basham family settled here in 1838 as I said settled here in 1838 and then the family broke into two halves effectively the Victor Harbor Bashams and the Port Elliot Bashams. I'm a Port Elliot Basham with half of the family moving across in 1856 to Port Elliot and Bashams Beach.

Thanks Charlie. I feel like I've crashed a party as I've only been in Victor for 20 years.

Hello everybody, it's an absolute pleasure to be here today and thank you so much for inviting me to come along and represent the City of Victor Harbor

It's quite daunting to actually be talking to generations of the Rumblow family as you really are part of the fabric of Victor Harbor 

When I look at the pictures and I look at all that your family has contributed, not just locally but to South Australia as a State, I really am in awe of you all. 

So today is really a celebration of the legacy of the Rumbelow family as well as a celebration for you all in terms of the incredible journey that you've taken in helping Victor Harbor become what it is today.

For many of us, Victor Harbor is more than just a place on a map, it's a place where the community is deeply connected. If we look at the Rumbelow family and the Rumbelows that are here today, I can truly say that the Rumbelow family is deeply connected to our community in so many ways and thank you to current generations and past generations for that connection for what you put into our community.

I think that as Victor Harbor starts to grow and you can see for those people that have come into Victor and haven't been here for a while how much it is growing, one of the really big things that's important to me and important to council is that we don't lose that sense of community.

It's important we don't lose that sense of what Victor Harbor is and I often say we can have the best roads, the best roads, best electricity, or the best infrastructure but if you don't have a sense of community and you don't have a sense of belonging then you're truly lost.

Our sense of community here in Victor Harbor comes from the different journeys that all the people of Victor Harbor have made and come together. The journey from our Ramenjerri Narrunji history to the early settlers such as the Rumbelows and the Bashams in Victor Harbor through to later generations who have established farms down here um that have established businesses down here to the current generations and our young people that are here today our schools, all of that knitted together actually makes Victor Harbor the place that it is. 

Don't forget whether or not you're part of the history of Victor Harbor and your family's part of the history or whether you're a newbie to Victor Harbor, whether you've moved away and then come back, you are part of that fabric and part of that community and on behalf of council I'd really like to thank you and your family, your elders past and present, for being part of that fabric of Victor Harbor it is truly appreciated.

Thank you

Whilst much as been written about the Rumbelow's achievements in sports such as Football and Cricket, but I wanted to highlight an even longer association the Rumbelows ans Families have had with sailing and racing. 

Our families arrival at Encounter Bay on January 5th, in 1855, set in motion a long and interesting dynasty of varied interests, many 

involved around the sea. After working in various jobs, Malen and his sons and son-in-law Cain Jelliff set up a commercial fishing business in 1863. 

The Rumbelow men had become adept sailors, being a quicker and easier method of propulsion than rowing. 

The family boats of that early era, The Ferret, the Rambler, Spray, the Ivy, Brigand, Stranger and Swallow all performed well at sea and it wasn't long till necessity turned to adventure and "competition" 

Malen 3rd and his brothers often took part in spontaneous, as well as organised races, with other fishing cutters. One time when Malen 3rd and his brothers Henry and Cain were at Kangaroo Island in the Stranger, they challenged the other fisherman to a race to Port Adelaide. Malen, knowing his home waters well, crossed quickly to the mainland and sailed close inshore, leaving the others to get becalmed. The Stranger won by 14 hours.  

Cain and Malen are credited with organising 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. 

Regattas were held in Victor Harbor on New Years day, as early as 1869 and Cain Jelliff and Malen 2nd, were involved in organising the early regattas. Competition came from the local boats and also from boats in Goolwa. No trailerable boats in those days, so competitors from Goolwa had to sail out the Murray Mouth, west to Victor and then reverse the exercise to go home. 

These regattas lasted for many years and became so popular, and known about, that early 1900's saw the authorities, of the day, organising trains to bring holiday makers and day trippers to Victor from Adelaide to watch and enjoy the New Years frivolities. Stories of huge crowds on the foreshore and Granite Island watching the activities enjoying picnics and generally helping to create a wonderful atmosphere. 

The Rumbelow men, Malen, Cain, David, Hubert, Walter, Lionel, Lester, all participated and always accounted well for themselves. These regattas continued well into the 1940's before unknowingly being resurrected by the Victor Harbor Yacht Club in the mid 80's when Don and I were on Committee. 

Cain Rumbelow purchased that very fine fishing cutter, the Swallow, which he took on many fishing trips to Kangaroo Island, and along the local coast. He also sailed the Swallow to victory in many of the sailing races at Victor Harbor on New Years Day. 

In 1923 the 'Swallow ' sailed from Victor to Outer Harbor in 7 hours 10 minutes ; this Mr C. Rumbelow says, just about constitutes a record. 

"the men in the cabin could not stand up, and were afraid to stir out for fear of getting washed overboard. Many times the captain was ail but swept out of the cockpit ; innumerable times the men thought they were going down, never to come up ! Encountering another squall in the morning, the sailors were compelled to heave to, lower the throat halyard, and take in three reefs. "

During the Second World War Cain Rumbelow and his son Hubert were an official part of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol. The Swallow, normally painted white with the registered number “28” was repainted battleship grey and renumbered “82” for wartime service. 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.   

Probably the most well know Rumbelow boat was/is The Rambler. It was built by Peter Sharp as a racing yacht at Port Adelaide in 1875, and was converted to a cray and fishing boat by the Rumbelow family in 1904 and christened.

The boat changed hands many times, the wooden cutter which made many fishing trips to Kangaroo Island and many exciting and adventurous excursions were undertaken in this boat. 

It was still used in the 1990s before a Kangaroo Island resident purchased it with the intention of restoring it. 

Many would know it was "rescued" in 2009 from the slipway of Searles boatyard and transported to Council land near Waitpinga Road.

But for the past 20 years, the Rambler's resting place has been the Waitpinga Road dump in Victor Harbor, only a few kilometres from the waters of Encounter Bay, where it spent the first few decades of its working life. Over the decades, plans were put forward to cover and preserve the Rambler but it has slowly been falling to pieces over that time, mainly visited by cows who used it as a scratching post. 

The plight of the Rambler has been in the media every few years, most recently when the Department of Marine Archeology at Flinders University completed a historic survey along with diving on the wreck of the South Australian. Matt Rumbelow and his colleague undertook at 3D photoscan of the hull which is available to view on our website.

The Victor Harbor National Trust under their new chair Rick Barton is keen to discuss the Rambler with family and community. There is an initial planned for 2pm tomorrow here at the club. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

Boat building at VH trade school? Building sail boats. Charlie said that the trade school at Victor taught boat building and many students end up making masts for the sail club.

Stuart Monteith Weymouth was born on 27th February 1929 at Adelaide and married Doreen Todd on 16th July 1955. He  joined the merchant navy where he worked on local freighters and overseas on an oil tanker. He then became shipping supervisor for the British Phosphate Commission . He loves sailing and has won championships in the Dinghy Class and served as coxswain in a rescue crew.

As sail gave way to mechanised power, sailing by the family became mostly non existent, yes Dad had sails on Gralin and Taperoo, but they were auxiliary power sources and steadying sails and rarely used. Dad - Graham - built Don and I a Yachting World Cadet sailing dinghy in the shed at home. 

As kids Don, Tim Shannon and myself would sail that out in the bay, but it wasn't till the mid 70's that we got involved in competitive sailing at the Victor yacht club. That was the start of another era of sailing still continuing today. 

Neil Avery, a descendent from the Mahalia Rumbelow line, sailed competitively from the Port Melbourne Yacht Club, for many years, sailing Moths, Jolly Boats and Lightweight Sharpies, competing at club level and in Victorian State and National titles also.  Neil was Officer of the Day and Chairman of the Sailing Commitee for the1980-81 National Lightweight Sharpie Championship held at Port Melbourne. 

At the same time, Don and I competed from VHYC, sailing Yvonne 20's and Hobie 18's, sailing club, State and National series. 

Our first National series was at Rockingham WA and a fair journey across the Nullabor towing a 20ft catamaran.  That title series was a real baptism of fire as we rigged on the beach in very light breezes only to get off the beach as the Freo Doctor would come in blowing it's arse off. 

Another Nationals in Frankston, saw me in an unfamiliar place leading the fleet in about 5 knots, not too far from the Frankston jetty, on the last leg of the race, excitement building, I capsized in a small gust, finished well back, but not last. 

In the build up to another National series here in Victor on the Saturday before titles started we had a squall of 60 knots go through the fleet. It was Don's turn that day and he was flying, showing all the fleet a clean set of rudders, with kite up and screaming into the back of a swell, his old Yvonne gave up under pressure and completely broke up. We had some fun then trying to recover everything, but not to be disheartened, Don bought another local boat not sailing at the time and still competed in the Nationals.

Malen the 4th was known to sail on the Rambler in his youth, before moving to flatties and net fishing the bay. His son, Malen 5th was a later starter to sailing, commencing in the mid 80's on keelboats out of South Australian Yacht Squadron. Yachts from the 42ft "Off-Shore Stand Aside" to the 70ft "Helsal 2" 56ft "Rager" and others keeping him busy for many years doing the Gulf races and the Lincoln race and race week many times. Progressing from crew to Helmsman and experiencing one dangerous wash overboard, only being brought back aboard by a very good safety harness and quick thinking by Malen to get the skipper to bear away, lower the gunwhale to water level enabling him to get back on deck. 

Tales of night sailing in strong winds, knock downs, when all you can see is Black water, Black skies and Black options, tend to keep you very focused on tasks at hand. 20 odd years of this type of sailing have given Malen plenty of stories. 

This brings us to the 7th generation of sailors, the "kids, who have kids". 

Mark Ewens, Troy, Celina, Melissa, Cain and Brad Rummy, all sailed at VHYC as kids growing up, going on to sail in High School Team sailing regattas, State and National titles as skippers and crews. They sailed just about anything that was about in Victor, Mirror and 125 Dinghy's, Arafura Cadets, Arrows Mosquitos, Hobies, Stingrays Nacras and Yvonne 20's at different times. 

Mark won the "Cock-of-the-Walk" trophy at VHYC as a 15 year old. Not a bad feat when you consider this tropy is awarded yearly to the boat with most wins in the season, across all classes. He was also a Club Champ, competed in State and Nationals and won a National handicap title in Mosquito Catamarans. 

Troy sailed Mirrors with Mark's dad, Graeme, winning Club Champs, then going on to Arrow Cats, competing in both State and National titles. Troy achieved National Champ status as a crew, sailing with local skipper Randall Cooper, on a Stingray in about 90-91. 

Melissa sailed Mirrors as crew and skipper, went on to crew Nacras in State and Nationals, with local skipper Colin Grundy and also did a couple of seasons on the Yvonnes doing State and a Nationals with Pete Michelmore, another local skipper. 

Brad started sailing as a crew on a Mosquito, progressed to skippering a Mirror, the Arafura Cadet, winning State titles, and then. into Arrows, where he won two Junior National titles. He eventually went on to sail Yvonnes in club, State and National series also. 

Oh shit, I forgot Celina! ...  not really, its easier to speak of her last. 

What hasn't Celina done?

Celina started in Mirrors, then on to 125 Dinghy's, Arafura Cadets and Arrows and crewing on Stingrays for State and Nationals. 

In 93-94 she won the Arafural Cadet Nationals  in Rye Victoria, 94-95 she again won the National and the State titles in Kingscote Kangaroo Island, 95-96 saw her take home her 3rd Nationals. trophy, winning 7 out of 8 races. 

In the race she lost, she had a problem with her sail and had to tip the boat over, swim to the masthead, fix the issue and then right the yacht to complete the race. 

She also won the States again and finally managed to win a Club Champs as well. 1996 also saw her named as the Victor Harbor Times- Goolwa Rotary Club Sports Star of the Year.

In 1997 she won the South Australian Women's Sailing Regatta in a 420 Dinghy, I think. Not a bad resume for a young woman not yet 20 years old. 

Celina was transferred to the Adelaide office of Rural Press, and eventually to head office in Sydney. She kept sailing her Arrow for a few years before succumbing to the lure of keelboats on Sydney Harbour, and Blue water ocean series as well. 

She progressed from foredeck to sheet hand, tactician, helm and 2nd skipper and skipper. 

Celina is now a well respected and important crewmember on "Georgia Express" a 36ft Mumm design racer. 

She has taken on the skippering in women's series on Sydney Harbour finishing 2nd in that series in 23 and co skippering in the Blue Water Point Score series which is basically the qualifying events for the Sydney-Hobart. 

Races to Coffs Harbour, The Gold Coast, Broken Bay, Batemans Bay, Port Stephens are all just normal for her now.

In 2023 after a lot of coercion and cajoling she said yes to the chance of a Sydney-Hobart. So for the year of 2023 Celina and the crew of "Georgia" trained, worked, streamlined on board safety protocols and generally made ready for the big one. Putting the right crew together, considering crew positions, compatibility, flexibility to fill numerous positions, calmness in a crisis ... all things that need to be considered. Crews have to have the right off shore accreditations, health certificates, first aid certificates, navigational knowledge, determination, rigging understanding and the ability to think outside the square. 

You just never know what Mother Nature and the Old Man of the Sea will throw at you. 

With all the preparation done, Boxing Day 2023 saw the start of the 78th Sydney Hobart with "Georgia Express" just one of the 103 entrants. They had a good start and were sailing well down the East coast keeping up with many larger boats and in the top 2 or 3 of their division. 

They were past Eden and soon to enter Bass Strait when rigging issues caused problems. With the threat of worsening weather and not being able to correct the rigging at sea the descision to retire was made. Their race was done, retiring they limped back to Sydney. 

Law Connect was the  winner in just 43 hrs and 3 mins, an average speed over that distance of 14 knots or 27klms/hr., but we all know that yachts don't sail straight lines. 

Out of 103 Entries, 85 finishers, 628 nautical miles in a straight line or 1163 klms. 

Celina decided against the 24 race as she believes 36 ft just aint big enough, and "Georgia" once again had to retire, this time with more damage from a broken spinnaker pole at night, surfing down large swells at 20 knots, an electrical fire and subsequent loss of 

instruments. Once more they limped back to Sydney, but still in 1 piece. 

The following year. the 2024 Sydney Hobart had 2 deaths during the race, both from head injuries, 1 sailor washed overboard at night in heavy conditions.  A very lucky man to be wearing extra safety gear, he was wearing a PLB or personal locator beacon, with AIS capability, automatic identification system. 

Basically this means his personal device was picked up via radio wave transferred to a satellite GPS which enabled his yacht to return to his position and pick him up, nifty huh ...

These incidents highlight the danger, not just of ocean racing but right down to club level of sailing. There are more deaths from sailing than Alpine Cross country or downhill racing.  For those unlucky enough to go over the side there is a 70% chance of NOT coming back. Head injuries, broken bones, lost fingers, hypothermia.... All things happening on a regular basis. 

The sea can be deadly, as we all know too well and remember the deaths of the Rumbelows and loved ones this weekend.

 However, despite the statistics, there are millions of people sailing every day worldwide taking these risks 

Why do we do it?  It's in our blood and it's bloody good fun 

MR: We're going to move on to a very serious part of the night.

As we are in the Encounter Bay Football Club it's certainly the place where many efforts, many dreams and much blood had been spilled by Rumbelows.

(The historian and author) John Althorpe began this process I think which was naming a Rumbelow team of the Century (in the Eagle News). I am not sure it's exactly a century but it's as good as we could do.

Charlie and others have fought tooth and nail and we've got some to (team) hand outs for the tables.

...

Peter Rumbelow - "Walking Stick Tour" 

Sunday 30th March 2025 

"Walking Stick Tour" Matthews Exhibition - Peter Rumbelow 

Date: Sunday 30th March 2025

Venue: Encounter Bay Football Club - Function Room 

Present:

• Rick Norman, Chair of the National Trust of  Victor Harbor

• Richard Higgins,  National Trust of  Victor Harbor

• Wendy Van Duivenvoorde, Professor of Marine Archeology, Flinders University

• Don Rumbelow

• Peter Rumbelow

• Jim Rumbelow

• Matt Rumbelow

• Susan Rumbelow

• Lesley Avery

• Neil Avery

Apologies:

Discussion:

General discussion regarding previous attempts by National Trust Victor Harbor to secure funding and protect the Rambler over the last few years. None successful.

Wendy Van Duivenvoorde asked if the boat hull could be restored with current timber structure? Advised no. All timber to be replaced.

Rumbelows asked if they still had contact with Scotts Transport if they were to transport elements of the boat. Advised that contact was with Mayor Mary-Lou Cocoran.

Matt Rumbelow demonstrated 3D photographic scan of boat (circa 2023). Will provide to Flinders University. Rambler in 3D

Wendy Van Duivenvoorde asked if she would conduct another survey/study of boat, and advise on which aspects would be most suitable for salvage and static display.

Rick Norman asked for the most suitable place to reposition the hull and/or artefacts from it. Rick advised the side court yard where the Rambler mast is currently displayed.