Of Tragedy and Valor
Kenneth Peter Rumbelow

Kenneth Peter Rumbelow (Peter) was born at Victor Harbor on 13th April 1937 to parents Kennith Stanley Rumbelow and Reta Hentschke. 

Peter 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 then tallest building was Peter’s responsibility and was completed a few years before his retirement in 1991.

Peter has been a member of the Rotary Club of Campbelltown since 1973, being elected to President from 1982 - 83. Rotary is an organisation for business and professional men and women who are prepared to give of their time and expertise to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Its scope extends from the local community to some of the most impoverished people on earth. At the same time we believe in having some fun, so that service and fellowship are the two pillars upon which Rotary stands. 

In January 2005, Peter was presented with the Australia Day City of Campbelltown Citizen of the Year Award. 

From 2004 Peter was Chairman of the Committees that organized the 150 Year Rumbelow Celebration and compiled the  The Rumbelows of Encounter Bay : 150 Years book from research carried out by a number of people, particularly Mary George and Lesley Avery.

Cairn Commemoration

Peter Rumbelow was instrumental is commissioning the commemorative cairn with assistance from the Victor Harbor Council. 

It was built from (granite) rock that was cut from the islands and the trimmings from the granite blocks that built into the facing of (South Australian) Parliament House.

Peter lead the unveiling and commemoration of the plague with the ode below.

“We offer thanks for the bravery and strength of character of Malen and Alice Rumbelow and who in 1854 left their friends and family in rural Suffolk, boarded a small overcrowded ship and set out for Port Adelaide, a place unknown to them that they had heard about from Malen’'s nephews who had migrated a few years earlier. 

We have read of the journey to Australia, the deaths on board, the children born below, the storms and the drenching rain that reached everywhere and the stale food as the end grew near.

We don't know what brought them to this place in Encounter Bay, but we do know that Alice married Cain Jelliff who introduced the family to fishing. We again admire the bravery of the family, particularly the women because a whaling establishment in 1855 was a far from ideal place to raise a young family

We read of the births and deaths that occurred in the family so soon after and we wonder at the self-reliance this family showed so far from their family support.

We particularly paused to remember the members of our family who died at sea, most while fishing but not all.

We reach out in this quiet time with love and support to those who are with us today who have lost husbands fathers and grandfathers to the sea.

We also pause to remember the members of our own immediate families who are no longer with us or who couldn't be here for a number of reasons and we bring to mind how much they enjoyed these family celebrations.

We give thanks for all those members of the family who have made significant contributions to society in many different ways. Some through their trades and professions, some ____ makers and some through community organisations. 

We are especially proud and grateful to those who have risked their lives to save others and the awards received are testament to their bravery.

We remember with gratitude those who lost their lives serving their country in wartime their sacrifice is respected.

We also express our gratitude to all those who served and returned. We read with pride some of the citations detailing their bravery in action.

We are grateful for the opportunity as a family to remember our past and we look forward to the achievements that will come through the years from the descendants of the two humble people we honour; Malen and Alice Rumbelow”

Thank You.