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Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
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Raymond Etchell (1952)
John Etchell (1952)
William Cowell (1952)
The plaque reads ...
Raymond Etchell (34)
John Etchell (8)
William Cowell (c40)
drowned 25 October 1952
when Strahan based fishing launch
'Telopea'
was wrecked off Guyton Point
North East end of Robbins Island
Since this plaque was placed on the memorial some of the details needed correction.
John Etchell was aged just 6 when he drowned and William Cowell's correct name is Wilfred Cowell. Corrections have been supplied by a member of Mr Cowel's family (30 October 2018) and we are appreciative to have the correct information.
Newspaper reports at the time support these corrections.
The Mercury of Monday 27 October 1952 reported:
3 DROWN WHEN LAUNCH HITS REEF
TWO men and a six-year-old boy were drowned when a fishing launch struck a reef off Robbins Island of the Far North-west Coast early on Saturday morning.
They were Wilfred Marcus Alan Cowell (about 40), Raymond Etchell (34), owner of the launch Telopea , and his son, John Etchell. They were all from Stanley.
The tragedy was discovered when residents on the island saw the wrecked Telopea on the shore and found the bodies of the two men.
The reef, which is off Guyton Pt, on the north-east corner of the island, is about 200 yds. long and contains three high pinnacles.
These are nearly awash at high tide. In the dark they are almost impossible to see and the point is given a wide berth.
Local fishermen said that Etchell had a good knowledge of the island and that Friday night was fairly calm and clear.
The pedal radio service on the island was temporarily out of order and news of the tragedy did not reach Smithton until Mr. William Holyman arrived by launch at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday.
It was not until contact was made with Stanley that it was known the child had been on board.
His body was found yesterday morning about 100 yds. from the wreck.
Both the men had apparently tried to swim ashore as they were without coats and boots.
The Telopea, left Stanley at 10 p.m. on Friday for the cray-fishing grounds off Hunters Island and should have been off Robbins Island about midnight.
Rough weather yesterday defeated plans to fly Dr. D. G. Packham and police to the island."
50 m.p.h. Gale
Mr. Oscar Etchell, brother of one of the victims, took Sen. Constable R. Lockett and Tpr. S. Crocker, of Stanley, to the island in his fishing boat, the Cutty Sark, yesterday morning.
With gales estimated at 50 m.p.h. they had a hazardous voyage to and from the island to bring the bodies to Smithton.
The Coroner (Mr. R. H. Atkinson) will open an inquest in Smithton today.
Etchell is survived by his widow and three-year-old daughter, and Cowell by his widow and a small son and daughter.
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The Advocate's obituary for Mr Cowell.