Of Tragedy and Valor
Kevin James Rumbelow

Kevin James Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 17th July 1946 , only son of Hube and Korry (deceased) and loved brother of Phylis, Janet and Elwynne.

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He 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. Kevin Kevin assisted the Tilbrooks in relocating and reconstructing the original Rumbelow cottage Crystal Palace. The cottage a great tourist attraction as a museum of items of local historical interest, including some of the restored original furniture.

But fishing was in his blood so he crewed for Lionel Puckridge and worked on the Gralin 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 realised his dream and bought his own boat, a 10 metre 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. A massive search was made and his body was found seven days later, washed up on Shannon’s Gully Beach near Parsons Beach. Kevin was  35 years of age.

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.

Body found

• Victor Harbor Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

•  Wed 2 Dec 1981 

The body of Victor Harbor fisherman Kevin James Rumbelow was found at Shannon's Gully Beach, about 5km west of Parson's Head, on Saturday.

Mr. Rumbelow, who was the subject of an extensive search after being reported missing in his fishing boat on Monday, was spotted by the Rescue One helicopter. The helicopter had been called to Victor Harbor to investigate boat wreckage 30 miles east of the Murray Mouth. The sighting was identified as a catamaran which had broken its moorings nine months ago.

Sgt. John O'Dea, of the Victor Harbor Police, thanked those who took part in last week's search.

Kangaroo Island Shipwrecks

• By: Gifford D. (Gifford Desmond) Chapman 

THE GALLINI 

The Gallini was a fibreglass planing hull vessel built by Mr. Steve Peake of Skippercraft at St. Kilda, South Australia, in 1975. The vessel measured 30.0 feet long, 10.0 feet beam, and 3.0 feet beam, was built for Mr. Bill Plionis of Streaky Bay, South Australia. The new vessel was powered by a 250 horsepower Volvo 71 diesel engine. 

In September 1981, the Gallini, was purchased by Mr. Kevin Rumbelow of Victor Harbor. This was his first rock lobster fishing vessel, having previously skippered other vessels from Victor Harbor, including Mr. Graham Rumbelow's Taperoo.  

For two months Mr. Rumbelow fished in the Victor Harbor area, mainly to familiarise himself with his newly acquired vessel. 

At 6 a.m. on Friday, 20th November 1981, he left Victor Harbor to fish in and near Backstairs Passage. He told his wife Maxine, he expected to be away a  week. 

On Friday and Saturday he reported in on the ship's radio to Mrs. Smith, the operator of VH5OT.  His last report was at 3pm on Saturday. 

Mr. Rumbelow told Mrs. Smith that he had pulled his pots near the Pages,  a small group of islands at the entrance to Backstairs Passage, and that the  pots were onboard. He said that because of the bad weather he was going to head for Antechamber Bay to shelter. The wind was from the northwest  at 30 to 40 knots. 

At 11 a.m. on Sunday Mr. Rumbelow did not answer a call made to him from Mrs. Smith during the morning scheduled. Mrs. Smith telephoned Mrs. Maxine Rumbelow on Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock, to inform her that her husband was not responding to repeat calls made by her. Other vessels in the area had not seen the Gallini, and some concern was felt for the vessel and the sole occupant. 

On Monday morning, 23rd November, Mr. Rumbelow was reported missing. A search was immediately mounted for the missing boat and the skipper, Mr. Kevin Rumbelow.

Mr. Graham Rumbelow, a cousin of the missing fisherman, hired a Cessna aircraft to search for him and the boat. An Orion aircraft from the Edinburgh Air Force Base, State Rescue helicopter, and boats from the Victor Harbor Sea Rescue Squadron, searched an area from Victor Harbor to Kangaroo Island, in an effort to find the missing vessel and Mr. Rumbelow. 

The body of Mr. Kevin Rumbelow was found on Saturday 28th November, at Shannon's Gully Beach, about five kilometers west of Parson's Head, having been spotted on the beach by the State Rescue helicopter. The helicopter was called in by Sergeant J. F. O'Dea of the Victor Harbor Police, to investigate boat wreckage east of the Murray mouth. The sighting was identified as a catamaran that had broken its moorings nine months earlier. 

After a church service at the Yilki Uniting Church, Mr. Kevin James Rumbelow, aged 36 years, was buried at the Victor Harbor cemetery on Monday, 30th November 1981. He left a wife Maxine, and three children.