Of Tragedy and Valor
Stanley Malen (Ween) Rumbelow (4th)

Stanley Malen Rumbelow (Malen 4th) was born at Victor Harbor on 1st April 1905, and became known as Ween (Scottish slang; child, small person or thing).

He just 10 days old when his father Malen David Rumbelow (Malen 3rd) died at sea. 

In 1928 Ween married Gweneth (Gwen) Hilda Hughes. They had two sons; Howard and Malen (5th). 

Howard Malen Rumbelow was born at Victor Harbor on 17th November 1934 but died the next day.

Ween spent over 60 years as a fisherman, mainly in local waters, and is well remembered huddling around a small fire in the lee of a bank near the Bluff with his brother Lionel and their mates Bill and George Ewen looking out to sea for a school of mullet. They then scurried into the flatties moored below them and surrounded the school with their nets.

Ween and Gwen built up a fresh fish business at Yilki, which grew into a large cray distribution business when their son became involved. The large water tanks, refrigeration and filtering systems and a well-organised kitchen for cooking were, at the time, probably the largest operation of its type in the State.  Gwen was also a gifted artist and had a gallery attached to the fish shop.

Ween was very concerned about the lack of knowledge of the sea by many boat owners, and with Lionel and the Ewen brothers, was often called upon to rescue people who got into trouble. It is said that Ween saved 13 people who needed to be rescued in a six week period in 1963. 

Ween eventually hung up his nets after discovering the body of his long-time friend George Ewen, who died while fishing in May 1983. Ween died in January 1985 and Gwen in 1995. 

Fisherman Saves Five from Drowning

• Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

•  Fri 22 Feb 1963 

A well-known Encounter Bay fisherman on Sunday afternoon saved the lives of five people when their 8 ft  dinghy capsized in a heavy swell.  He is Mr S. M. (Ween) Rumbelow who has rescued thirteen people in three weeks. 

Aboard the dinghy were three men and two young women. None of the occupants had life jackets and only one of the men could swim. He made for the shore about three quarters of a mile away but was soon in difficulties. The others clung to the sides of the boat. 

The party's plight had been seen  from the beach and Mr. Rumbelow rowed out to them. He reached the exhausted swimmer who was about to go under and pulled him into his boat. He then continued on to the others and took them aboard. One of the women was crying hysterically and had apparently swallowed a considerable quantity of sea water.

Messrs R. P. Tilbrook and J.F Golding also went to the aid of the party and after righting the dinghy, towed it to the beach with two of the rescued men in it. 

Mr. Golding  said afterwards ''There was only about six inches of freeboard, what must it have been like with five people aboard?”

The names of the party are not known, but it is believed they came from Adelaide for the day. On Thursday of last week Mr. Rumbelow rescued two young men when their 10 ft. sailing boat capsized and about three weeks ago went to the aid of six men in two boats when they got into difficulties on a dark night in a heavy sea.

'Last of his tribe' - Malen Rumbelow, Yilki fisherman 1905-1985

• From the Book Unsung Heroes and Heroines of Australia (1989)

• Author Suzy Baldwin

• Nominated by: G. Arch Grosvenor 

Encounter Bay in South Australia was named for the historic meeting of Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin in 1802 but is known to others as the scene of countless rescues in treacherous seas by Malen Rumbelow in his wooden rowboat. 

The last of four generations of Rumbelow fishermen who had inhabited the Yilki area since whalers worked offshore, Malen knew the unpredictable weather which had claimed the lives of his father, brother, and cousins. 

Many ignored his warnings at their peril like the two panic-striken men who, after being rescued, still wanted to save their boat which was soon, as Malen knew, to be dashed against the rocks. Having rescued so many, he was, towards the end of his eighty years, unable to save his nephew Geoffrey who insisted on going out to save his valuable fishing boat despite his uncle's warning: 'No man could survive under these conditions.' 

Unable to witness the inevitable, Malen drove over to Rosetta Head, the bluff where his ancestors had watched for whales and fish, returning only to help bring his nephew's drowned body ashore. 

The fishermen have gone from Yilki now, as has Malen Rumbelow who is buried in the local church yard.  His aged widow treasures the mementoes of appreciation he received from a few of those who owe a debt to this unsung hero and his wooden dinghy.

Malen had deep respect for sea

• Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

•  Fri 1 Feb 1985 

The late Stanley Malen Rumbelow's name was so synonymous with fishing at Victor Harbor, even holidaymakers knew who to turn to for advice on local conditions.

Mr Rumbelow, who was more commonly known as Malen, died this week, aged 79. He had spent all his life fishing, first as a young man on the larger fishing boats but, after marrying, he settled down and fished the waters of Encounter Bay and the South Coast. He was more easily recognisable in his later years because he continued to use a net from his small, flat-bottomed dinghy rather than convert to modern fishing tackle. 

Mr Rumbelow's son, also named Malen, said his father was a man who did not change quickly although he was one of the first in the area to see advantages in nylon and mono-filament nets. In fact, Mr Rumbleow was a master of the net and his son said he had yet to see anyone who was better at repairing one than his father.

Although well-known and respected as a fisherman, Mr Rumbelow was, strangely, never really acclaimed for his efforts in saving numerous people in difficulties off the coast. Sometimes these rescues would be at considerable danger to himself and the other brave men who manned the boats. 

'Dad was always concerned about the amateurs who came down here and did not know the water conditions. 'We used to think him an old worry wart but, I guess when you think about it, it was him they used to call if any needed rescuing' said his son. 

Like many other men whose lives are linked with the sea, Mr Rumbelow had a respect for it which bordered on fear, a feeling reinforced by the fact that several members of the Rumbelow family had, over the years, died at sea. Mr Rumbelow himself called an end to his fishing days after discovering the body of his longtime friend, George Ewen, who had died while fishing in May 1983. He had sold his boat and hung up his nets within six months of his friend's death. 

'I think Dad collapsed a bit inside after that,' said Mr Rumbelow Jnr. 'He never used to talk much about it but he had been having giddy turns out in the boat and Dad felt he was going to be next. 'If he didn't get out he would end up like George,' he said. 

The Rumbelow family has been involved with the sea and the South Coast for many years. The first Rumbelow to arrive settled in Victor Harbor in 1855 and the late Mr Rumbelow was a direct descendant. The youngest of eight children, he carried the family name of Malen although he gained the nickname, Ween, because he was only 10 days old when his father died at sea. 

It is a family 'tradition' that has continued. 

One of his brothers died at sea with a pregnant wife at home while, a few years ago, yet another member of the family died with his wife pregnant. In the earlier days practically the whole Rumbelow family was involved with the sea but over the past 50 years it has spread into many fields within the state — mostly at the expense of fishing and the sea. 

Even Mr Rumbelow's son, his only surviving child, was a bank officer until recently coming back into the fish business. Their only other child died within months of birth. 

Mr Rumbelow had two other interests besides fishing — football and cricket . He began playing football for Encounter Bay when he was 17 but, after a disagreement with the club, he took advantage of the fact that they then didn't need clearances to change clubs and began playing for Victor Harbor. Later on, until his 50s, he was a goal umpire for the club. He both played for and captained the Encounter Bay cricket team and went on to be a Great Southern Association umpire. 

The last of his family, Mr Rumbelow is survived by his wife and son, son's wife and three children.  The youngest Rumbelow and only grandson also continues the family Malen Rumbelow tradition. He is named Malen Kim but is known as Kim to avoid confusion with his father and grandfather.

Fish 'n Craft

• Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

• Wed 28 Feb 1979

• By Michele Parsons

It is uncommon to find an art gallery that sells fish. Or a fish shop displaying paintings and crafts.

But this art and fish combination has been working extremely well for the Rumbelow family since they introduced it.

Situated on Franklin Parade, overlooking the sea, this art gallery cum fish shop is a new twist in the 130-year sea-faring history of the Rumbelows. The venture started when Mrs. Gwen Rumbelow and her son Malin, decided to rebuild their fish processing and selling area to cope with the growing demand for fish caught by Malin Rumbelow senior.

A very large shop area was built and it was then that Mrs. Rumbelow decided to pursue her love of art and establish a gallery. A tray-load of bright red crayfish is not an unusual sight in the Rumbelows' art gallery. 

'It's the funniest combination you could ever think of,' said Gwen Rumbelow.

'I had no idea that it would work so well. 'It has grown substantially in the past 12 months. Some people come into the gallery to buy a painting and leave with a crayfish and others come to buy fish and leave with a piece of pottery,' she said.

And a walk through the gallery shows a broad range of arts and crafts - enough to distract the most single-minded fish buyer.

'I think about 99 p.c. of what we have here would be made locally,' Gwen Rumbelow said.

Local potters, such as 'Flip' Hosking, Roly Ben nett and Joan Dyer, have a good cross-section of their work on display … anything from a candle holder to a piggy bank or fruit bowl.

Artists showing their work in the gallery include well-known South Coast names such as Peter Matthews, Alfred Engel, Maureen Woods, Tom Cross, Barbara Bartel and Prescott Sinclair.

Many local sea and landscapes are represented as well as pastels of Aborigine tribesmen, flower studies and several limited edition prints of Ainslie Roberts paintings.

Other crafts in the gallery range from macrame, copper enameling and leatherwork to hand made toys, candles and shell art.

Malin junior makes most of the macrame with some pieces appearing both complicated and adventurous.

'With his background of sailing and sailors' knots he learnt macrame very quickly and now makes his own 'patterns and designs,' said Mrs.Rumbelow.

However, the family's talents do not stop there. Mrs. Rumbelow loves to paint and has several pieces of work in the gallery. As well as this she has a compact greenhouse in which she grows and propagates indoor plants to sell.

These include 25 varieties of ferns and a healthy looking batch of 120 African violets.

In all the Rumbelows are pleased with their twin venture. The combination of two of the South Coasts most well-known products - fish and crafts has proved an unlikely but winning duo.

The name 'Rumbelow' in Victor means 'fish'

• Victor Harbour Times (SA : 1932 - 1986) 

• Fri 5 Oct 1984 

Ask anyone in Victor Harbor to spell Rumbelow, and it's a wonder they dont say 'F-I-S-H'.

The Rumbelow family has been involved in fishing since coming to the area in the 1800's as one of the first pioneers of the district.

Malen Rumbelow, now 79 years old, spent over 60 years as a fisherman, following the path of his father and grandfather before him, before finally becoming a landlubber within the last couple of years.

And his wife Gwen has built up a fresh fish shop business at Encounter Bay to one of the best crayfish outlets in South Australia today. 

Rumbelow's Fish Shop moved into top gear on Monday for the opening of the crayfish season in the South East.

The operation, involving huge water tanks for keeping live crays, a massive refrigeration and filtering system, and a well organised kitchen for cooking, is probably the biggest in the State.

'It has come a long way from those first days when live crays were stored in crates offshore and when we cooked the crays in big copper pots,' said Gwen Rumbelow, who still looks after the shop and gallery on Franklin Parade.

Her son Malen now runs the business, which Gwen started about 35 years ago.

She bought the shop which is now Yilki Store, and began selling a variety of goods.

'And to sell fish was inevitable,' said Gwen.

Gwen, who spent her childhood in the Riverland, met the Rumbelow family during regular holidays to Victor Harbor.At that time she was attending business college in Adelaide.

'And I saw that Rumbelow boy hanging about,' she laughed.

Gwen and Malin were married in 1928.

The couple settled at Encounter Bay and Gwen learned about the Rumbelow family history.

'I believe the Rumbelows were listed on the ship's log as being farmers,' she explained 'but as far as I can find out, they were fishermen in England and they certainly took up fishing when they came here.'

Gwen has a photograph of Malen's father on his three-masted sailing ship off the Bluff.

'It was taken for granted that Malen would take up fishing when he left school at 14,' said Gwen.

'But fishing was completely different in those days.

Malen would rise at about 4am the same as all the other fishermen in the area, get in his boat and go to his nets at the Bluff.

'During the mullet season, they would sit on the Bluff watching for the fish coming in.

'But you dont get them coming in today in their hundreds as you did then,' Gwen pointed out.

'I personally feel the drop is something to do with interfering with the river flows at the barrages.'

Gwen recalls that during the Depression years, a Mr Davis used to come to the Bluff on pushbike and buy the fish to take into Victor Harbor.

Gwen began to use her business skills when she took on the general store.

'It was during the war years, and a lot of Air Force boys were staying at Mount

Breckan,' said Gwen. 'Victor Harbor was thriving, and I thought there was a possibility the shop would be a success.

Gwen sold cool drinks, sweets, groceries - and fish.

There was no ice cream sold in those days, before refrigeration.

'I was determined if I was going to sell fish, I would do it properly,' said Gwen.

'So I got hold of some ice boxes instead of the drip safes which had been used up to then.

Gwen later sold the store and bought the little cottage next door, where Rumbelows Fish Shop and Gallery now stands.

'I brought the fish business over here,' said Gwen, "using the verandah on the front.

"In those days, we used to keep the crayfish in crates anchored in the pools offshore.

"During the day, I would go down to the boat and go out to the crates to get crays to sell.

'Often the customers would come with me.'

Gwen commented "Imagine trying to do that today."

When Gwen started cooking crays, she used a big copper pot.

'I could see how popular the cooked crays were, especially with the Air Force boys and

their wives,' said Gwen, once again using her astute business mind. This week there are no copper pots.

'We will go to the South East in refrigeration vans to collect crays," said Gwen.

'That is a great advancement to the old days.

'Malen's father used to store the fish in wet seaweed.

"And Malen used to store the fish in layers of ice.

"Now the refrigerated vans are here.'

The crayfish season begins in the Victor Harbor area in November. 

Rumbelows supplies many local hotels, and cooked crays go to Adelaide, where the Rumbelow's have opened another shop. This is a move taken by Gwen's son Malen, who joined the family business about six years ago, after 21 year in banking.

He has also bought back the Yilki Store next door.

Malen senior was never interested in the business aspect .

'He was a fisherman all his life,' said Gwen.

'Now he has sold his nets, his boat and his fishing licence.'

She commented : 'He and his brother Lionel used to supply me with some beautiful fish."

And Gwen still serves in the shop where she has installed a small gallery of the work of her 'painting cobbers'.