December 05, 2012
Struth! Bottled History Resurfaces
IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says that a beachcombing couple in New Zealand have miraculously saved a note in a bottle that's been floating goodness-only-knows-where for the past three-quarters of a century…
Geoff Flood and Leanne McAlees found the bottle on Ninety Mile Beach in the country's far north earlier this month, and most amazing was that the note was still dry and readable even though the bottle's cork had been pushed back inside the bottle. "Another high tide and it could have been swamped and the note inside ruined and lost forever," said Mr Flood.
Dated March 17, 1936 – that's 76 years ago – the note was written on paper with a P&O company logo and a picture of its liner, SS Strathnaver that sailed between the UK and Australia. It was signed H.E. Hillbrick, and asked that if found it be forwarded, with details of where found and when, to Mr Hillbrick at an address in Leederville, Western Australia.
And although Mr Hillbrick has long since departed this world, Mr Flood tracked down a distant member of Herbert Ernest Hillbrick who said he was "very excited" about the find, but had no idea where his forebear may have tossed the bottle overboard between Australia and England.
And STRUTH can reveal that Mr Hillbrick was an employee of the Western Australian Railways, that he died in 1941, and that coincidentally the mother of his wife, Ethel Louise Porter migrated to Australia from, where else but, New Zealand… making for another of life's little coincidences.
(Photo shows Geoff Flood's son, Shayde aged 5, with bottle and note, and the late Herbert "Bert" Ernest Hillbrick and family.)
Labels:
Struth
Support Traveloscopy - Support Responsible Travel.
Traveloscopy is a freelance journalism enterprise supporting the tourism and travel industries. We aim to encourage people to travel thoughtfully and responsibly and also support sustainable initiatives within the travel sector. You can help us cover our operating costs, even if in just a small way.

Last 30 Days' Most Popular Posts
-
It's been a fascinating few weeks retracing portions of the old Hume Highway as well as the even older Great Southern Route.
-
The rusting regiment of Murrayville Roderick Eime click above to see more images by Darren Schiller Driving along the Mallee Hig...
-
IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says that a love of cruising has s...
-
By William Starr Moake Sunday morning Hana Bay was as flat as a pond with a gentle southerly breeze under a clear sky. These wer...
-
Fiona McIntosh I'm now past 80,000 words into this story for you. It's been very slow over Christmas as I think all of us - not ...

No comments:
Post a comment