Of Tragedy and Valor
Christopher Ian Tapscott

Christopher Ian Tapscott
B 1953

Chris Tapscott is a retired Principal of Port Elliot Primary School and a previous teacher at Victor Harbor Primary. He is a Life Governor of the Port Elliot Surf Lifesaving Club.

Chris married Winifred Leah (lee) Shannon, the daughter of John Lindsay Shannon and (grand daughter of Jane Caroline Rumbelow). Leah passed away in 2022 after a battle with cancer.

16 May 2025. It was a special meeting this morning with Chris Tapscott, Tim and Mike Shannon, Susan Lake and Don and Lesley Rumbelow. 50 years ago today, a 21 year old Chris Tapscott, together with Lin Shannon, Graham Rumbelow and Dr Ken Proctor were involved in the attempted rescue of, Geoffrey Rumbelow at Encounter Bay.

Trouble at Encounter Bay

On a stormy day at Yilki on 16th May 1975, 21 year old fiancée Chris was involved in the attempted rescue of Geoffrey Rumbelow at Encounter Bay. Geoff's Clausen Craft 17-foot clinker boat was riding hard at her anchor and broke free. Dragging its unattached chain, the boat began to drift towards Wright Island, taking a terrific battering.

Geoff Rumbelow had arrived from work and without consideration, he jumped into a dinghy and made for the boat. When about 100 metres from shore three large waves struck the dinghy, the third of which pitched him out of the boat and into the sea. Geoff clung to the dinghy for about five minutes before being forced to let go.

Ken Proctor, a holidaying school teacher, then rowed his nine-foot dinghy out to Geoff, grabbing his arm with one hand and tried to paddle with the other but could not pull him aboard. Ken struggled to hold Geoff and row at the same time for about five minutes.

Malen Rumbelow 4th, proprietor of the Rumbelows fish shop at Yilki called Lin Shannon with an urgent message was that someone was in difficulty in the surf out from the shop and help was needed.

At that time, Chris and his fiancee Leah Shannon were with his father in-law Lindsay Shannon, preparing to host their wedding reception the next day.

Both Lin and Chris jumped in the car and sped to the beach. Down at the beachfront Lin and Geoff's cousin Graham Rumbelow prepared to launch another dinghy. Chris, having had considerable experience in surf, persuaded Lin to remain on shore.

By the time Chris and Graham Rumbelow reached Proctor's dinghy Geoff Rumbelow was blue and unconscious. Chris grabbed the drowning man and attempted to haul him as far as he could over the stern so that mouth to mouth resuscitation could be attempted. Chris supported Geoff from the water whilst attempting to provide mouth to mouth resuscitation as they rowed ashore with waves continually breaking over the dinghy. Chris remembers the chill of the water took away his breath and how he found swimming a tough contract in his flared corduroy jeans.

After moving some distance towards the shore, a big wave hit the dinghy, and Geoff was swept off the stern. Chris jumped in to secure him once more, catching hold of the drowned man. He fought his way back to the dinghy to grasp the stern with one arm whilst he held the man with the other.

When they finally neared shore bystanders swam out to assist and they lifted Geoff Rumbelow from the sea and carried him to the seaweed spattered sea wall. St John personnel administered oxygen when Geoff was brought ashore but he did not respond.

Amazingly, Chris and Leah continued with the wedding and reception, and departed after the reception for Bendigo.

Mr. Rumbelow, who is survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters, served with the 2nd 48th Battalion during World War 11. He was a popular member of the Victor Harbor Rotary and R.S.L. clubs and the cortege to the Victor Harbor cemetery on Monday was the largest seen for many years.

Prior to the funeral, a service was held in the Yilki Congregational Church which was packed to overflowing with scores of mourners outside.

In 1977, Chris Tapscott, Kenneth Proctor, and Graham Rumbelow were awarded Royal Humane Society bronze medals for bravery. The three were among nine men to receive the medals from the Lieutenant-Governor (Mr. W.R. Cricker) at a ceremony at Government House.

From Victor Times, 1975
By Gregor Arch Grosvenor

Medals for bravery

Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986)

Wed 1 Jun 1977

Three men involved in a sea rescue at Yilki, Encounter Bay, in May 1975, last Friday received Royal Humane Society bronze medals for bravery. The three were among nine men to receive the medals from the Lieutenant-Governor (Mr. W.R. Cricker) at a ceremony at Government House.

The men involved in the Encounter Bay rescue were;

Mr. Kenneth Proctor, 51, of Vale Park;
Mr. Graham Rumbelow. 49 of Victor Harbor;
Mr. Christopher Tapscott, 23, of Port Elliot.

They went to the aid of Mr. Geoffrey Malin Rumbelow whose boat had broken from its moorings. They managed to get him ashore but he did not respond to treatment.

Mr. Graham Rumbelow said that many years ago his grandfather had been involved in successfully rescuing a man in the same area.

Letter from George Rumbelow, 2015

Dear Chris,

I am hoping you are the Chris Tapscott that was my teacher in 1983 (Year 6 for me) at Victor Harbor Primary School).

My real name is Darren Rumbelow and I am the grandson of Geoff Rumbelow. I only attended Victor for the last term of that year as my Mum, Lynn had moved to a sheep station in the north of SA and I was staying with my Nanna (Shirley) at Victor.

I moved up north with Mum in Year 7. I told my mum of this cool teacher, Mr T, who I thought was a great guy. It was then that she told me that you had tried to rescue my Grandpa when he drowned off Yilki.

I just wanted to let you know that I have thought of that often. My Grandpa, although I was only 3 at the time of his death, was like my Dad.

Today, 16 May is the 40th anniversary of his death. Growing up I heard stories of Grandpas heroics in WWII as a Rat of Tobruk. I also heard stories of 3 heroes who braved terrible weather at Yilki trying to save my Grandpa. All I ever wanted to do as a kid was grow to be a hero like my Grandpa and those 3 men at Yilki in 1973. It formed me into who I am today.

I was 17 when I joined the Army and I served for 10 years. After that I moved to Police where I have been for the past 14 years. I have always tried to pay it forward as far as facing my fears and helping others. In the back of my mind has always been the basic concept that if you are in a position to do something to help someone else then you do it. You just do it.

No questions asked. (it drives my wife mad sometimes).

I never had the opportunity to put that into practice in the Army but on various occasions during that period there were times when I chased and apprehended an offender who had escaped Police custody and other "stupid" things I did based on my belief that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the actions one does under fear.

As a Police officer I have had to perform tasks that some might also label as heroic. I have received various commendations and the like over the years, including during the 2011 Qld Floods when I rescued a family from their flooded house and most recently when I came across a head on crash off duty and retrieved two injured children from their smoking car.

I don't think of these things as heroic and I certainly don't do them for validation or award. It is just who I am and it is only recently under self reflection that I have become aware of this. But I am proud to say that I have saved lives, and I have helped others whenever I can.

I tell you this because it was growing up with the knowledge of what you and two other men did for my Grandpa, 40 years ago today, that helped form me into the man I am today and has given me the character to perform my job the way I do. For every thank you card I have received or certificate or commendation I have been awarded, I can trace that back to a shitty day in Yilki in 1975.

Thank you for trying so hard to save my Grandpa. Even though the stars weren't aligned that day, or God had a different plan, or you were just shit out of luck (depending on your outlook on life) your actions that day had a flow on affect and I have thought of your bravery that day many times and have used it to be a better human.

I hope this finds you well and in the event that I have the wrong person....ooops! Disregard

Cheers,

Darren RUMBELOW

Message from Chris Tapscot, 2025

Hi Darren,

It’s Chris Tapscott here, and I am hoping that this is still your phone number!

It’s coming up to the 50th anniversary of the loss of your grandpa Geoff, this Friday, and I have just been speaking with Don Rumbelow, son of Graham, about having a quiet coffee on Friday morning at the Yilki store to commemorate that fateful day. Lesley will be there too. He tells me that Malcolm Rumbelow has just headed north again and won’t be here.

Just letting you know that we’ll be thinking of you, as well as the events of that day.

If you don’t mind, I’d also like to share the letter that you wrote to me on fb ten years ago. I’m wondering too whether you could please let your Mum know that we are commemorating the day.

I hope that this finds you well.

Kind regards,

Chris

Message from Chris Tapscot, 2025

Hi Matt, this Friday is the 50th anniversary of the loss of Geoff, so I had the thought of having a quiet coffee at the Yilki Store to commemorate.

Ten years ago Darren (now George) made contact with me via Facebook. My wife Leah (nee Shannon, whose grandmother was a Rumbelow) and I happened to be in Florence, Italy, at the time, and the next day was our 40th wedding anniversary. (We lost Leah in 2022 after a battle with melanoma). I opened Facebook and found the attached letter from Darren.

So, in thinking about Friday I thought the George and his Mum would like to know that I am thinking of him as well as the events of that day.

Don & Lesley Rumbelow, and possibly others, will be there Friday.

Cheers,

Chris

Principal constantly receives positive feedback

Chris Tapscott has always been interested in Aboriginal culture. The Port Elliot Primary School principal is now helping local students learn about Aboriginal communities and their culture

For the past 17 years Victor Harbor students and their parents have visited an Anangu community each year in the state's far north west. And for the first time this year, Port Elliot Primary School students had the same opportunity, thanks to principal Chris Tapscott. Mr Tapscott set up the Victor Harbor-Fregon cultural exchange in 1981 and was later involved in the establishment of the Goolwa-Amata exchange. He set up the Port Elliot-Murputja exchange this year.

Fregon, Amata and Murputja are Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara speaking Anangu communities in the far north west of South Australia. Local students spend about three or four days at an Anangu community in the middle of the year learning about the community's culture, stories and land. Children from the Anangu communities visit the South Coast every summer. The exchanges are a part of Aboriginal studies courses conducted at local schools. Mr Tapscott says the programs create an opportunity to reconcile Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. "I think anything that creates the opportunity for Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people to get together and share experiences in a positive way is what reconciliation is all about and I think this type of program creates this opportunity," he says. "And I feel that I have just been a catalyst in that and really it's the communities that own it and that's why it's so strong."

Mr Tapscott was bom at Victor Harbor and grew up in Port Elliot. "I was interested in Aboriginal culture when I was growing up here in Port Elliot," he says. While completing his diploma of education, Mr Tapscott spent a month at Amata in 1975. He returned to Amata to work from 1976-77 before he was transferred to Fregon, where he worked for the next two years.

Mr Tapscott taught at Victor Harbor primary school from 1980-92, where he established the Victor Harbor - Fregon exchange. He worked as a project officer in Aboriginal education from 1993-94. He was deputy principal at Ernabella Anangu school in 1995 and principal at Amata for the next two years, where he was involved with the Goolwa-Amata exchange. A masters thesis conducted on the Victor Harbor-Fregon exchange found that adult and student participants had strong and positive memories about the program. "They really enjoy the trip, the course, meeting Aboriginal people, making Aboriginal friends and seeing those people come back and visit them down here," Mr Tapscott said. "They really enjoy it. "The feedback every year is the same."

Mr Tapscott said the exchange also influenced the participants' views on Aboriginal people and issues. "I have had feedback that says kids that have been on the exchange are different to those who haven't." He said participants were more tolerant and had a higher level of understanding of Aboriginal and other cultures.

Four given life membership

Four members of Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club have been awarded life membership. The honor recognises years of service, ' dedication to duty, and promoting the ideals of the club.

Chris Tapscott, who joined the club in 1967-68 season and gained his bronze medallion in 1968-69. He has held numerous positions on the club committee, including secretary, publicity officer, boat captain, and club captain. He was awarded the clubman trophy for season 1975-75 and patrol efficiency 1983-84.

He has also received a Surf Life Saving Association of Australia Certificate of Merit and Royal Humane Society Bronze Medallion for the attempted rescue of a local fisherman in May, 1975. Chris Tapscott has spent many years rowing for Port Elliot boat crews. During these years, he has won a total of five gold and three silver medals for surf boat competition at numerous State titles. He is at present the club's boat captain.

Port Elliot welcomes 'old bov' as principal

Port Elliot Primary School has welcomed new principal, Chris Tapscott, who himself was a student at Port Elliot some years ago. Mr Tapscott spent the past two years as principal at the remote school Amata Anangu in the far north and has returned to the South Coast with his wife, Leah, and two children, Nick and Phoebe. "I grew up in Port Elliot, the son of a plumber, and attended Port Elliot Primary School for all of my primary schooling and went to Victor Harbor High School and Flinders University where I gained a science degree and Diploma in Education," Mr Tapscott said.

After going to university he spent four years teaching in remote Pitjantjatjaran speaking Aboriginal communities, before transferring to Victor Harbor R-7 for 13 years.

"I was a project officer based at Noarlunga for the following two years and then returned to remote communities in 1995 as deputy principal at Ernabella Anangu

School for one year, after that I went to Amata Anangu School." Mr Tapscott is a community person who is also a member of the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club.

Far north posting for Tapscotts

Well known local couple Chris and Leah Tapscott are leaving Victor Har bor to work in the far north west of South Australia.

Chris will be deputy principal of Ernabella Aboriginal community in the Pitjantjatjara freehold land and Leah hopes to work with Njanampa Health, the Aboriginal con trolled health service. Although he was born and bred on the South Coast, Chris has been "interested in things Aboriginal since I was a kid". "My dad, who was a plumber employed two Aboriginal men from Point McLeay after Aboriginal citizenship in 1967 and I have been interested ever since," he said. "I did a science degree in oceanogra phy and meteorology at Flinders University and a diploma of education with a single unit in Aboriginal education." His first experience in an Aboriginal school was in 1975 when he was practice teacher at Amata community — he was then appointed to Amata in 1976 and 1977.

The following two years he was transferred to the nearby Fregon Community before returning to Victor Harbor where he taught at the local primary school for 13 years.

"While there I began the Fregon exchange which continues to-day."

Chris applied for his new position after two years as project officer for Aboriginal Education based at Noarlunga.

"This will give me an opportunity to get back among kids, I like working with kids and teaching. "I wanted to go to Ernabella, which is very closely related to Fregon, because I felt I had something to contribute. "I have some facility of language and culture and something to offer the com-munity from a long term historical perspective. "It was also an opportunity to be deputy principal of a school, and a new challenge — it is not a big school, only 130 students, but a complex school. "I am also interested in Aboriginal community management of education which is only a couple of years old in those areas. " Chris said he had appreciated the sup-port of the local community in his years of teaching at Victor Harbor and par ticularly the support of the Fregon exchange. ''The exchange would not have been possible without their support.

"My interest in Aboriginal education has been buoyed by the interest shown by the community and the long term benefits in this particular community of the cultural exchange program," he said. "The Tapscotts hope to provide a cuppa to the Fregon group as they pass through Ernabella this August."

Victor teacher for research

Acting deputy principal at Victor Harbor Primary School Chris Tapscott will be part of a research project for the current term involving the eight tribal aboriginal schools in South Australia.

Mr lapscou iormeny caugnt at rTegon Aboriginal School and at Amata school, and has maintained ties with Fregon through the cultural exchange involving the Fregon and Victor Harbor Primary schools. The project is part of the Participation and Equity Program, a Commonwealth Schools Commission initiative, part of a national program to answer questions such as why children are not getting the most out of secondary education and why children leave school early.

Principals of the eight tribal aboriginal schools put forward a proposal for funding involving research by two officers. The proposal was successful. The two research officers will be looking at the question of why children are not getting the maximum benefit from secondary education as regards tribal aborigines who attend the eight tribal schools in SA. A request had been made for Mr Tapscott to be released from Victor Harbor Primary School for the current term to undertake the research. His partner in the project will be Mr Trevor Adamson, a traditional Pitjantjatjara man who is also a teacher at Fregon.

Mr Tapscott, who speaks Pitjantjatjara, will be based at Fregon and travel extensively through the traditional areas and areas providing secondary education service to the tribal settlements. Mr Tapscott will be released from the project for the Fregon-Victor Harbor Primary exchange later this year. It is hoped the recommendations in the report from research late in 1984 will be able to be acted upon in the 1985 academic year. Mr Tapscott and Mr Adamson will have a support team made up of the tribal schools curriculum committee.

Mr Chris Tapscott and son Nicky look over a map showing the position of the Fregon area.

Local teacher on State panel

Victor Harbor Primary School teacher, Mr Chris Tapscott, is involved in an innovative approach to problems facint traditional Aboriginal people attempting to gain formal Tertiary qualifications.

Mr Tapscott, coordinator of the unique cultural exchange programme between Victor Harbor and Fregon in the far north west, has been appointed to a committee of the Tertiary Education Authority of South Australia. This assessment committee, meeting in Adelaide next week, will determine whether a proposed Diploma in Teaching (Anangu) and Associate Diploma in Anangu Education for tribal Aboriginal people of the North West of the State should be accredited. These courses have been proposed by the South Australian College of Advanced Education.

The proposals would allow tribal Aboriginal people to study in their homeland without travelling to Adelaide. Mr Tapscott, who earlier this year sat on the Academic Advisory Panel for the proposed courses, has had wide experience in the fields of Pitjantjatjara language, culture and education. He has written a Pitjantjatjara Language I book, conducted classes in the language at various centres, and been an advisor or translator for television stations and the I Australian Law Reform Commission.