The Committee for Lorne: Cape Otway Light – A Beacon of Hope

With Pete Spring – Committee for Lorne.

On the last games of the football/netball season hosted at Stribling Reserve two weeks ago, Lorne Football and Netball Club President, Carly Enticott, hosted a President’s Lunch.  The guest on the day was singer Mike Brady who performed a number of his original songs including the now famous “Up There Cazaly”.  He talked about and played many of the advertising jingles he had written which jogged memories for all in the audience.  He also performed a song, “The Otway Light”, from a recent album entitled “Bloodlines” a collection of songs about Ireland and early Australia with particular emphasis on this part of the world, the Great Ocean Road and the Otway coast.  If you are interested, you can find more information here.

This particular song brought back memories of an evening in January 1994 when we attended a ceremony to decommission the Cape Otway light.  It was the longest con

 

tinuous operating light on the Australian mainland.  It was being replaced by a low powered solar light in front of the original tower.  Over 3,000 people attended the ceremony to mark the turning-off of the light.

 

On that evening a lone piper played a lament on the balcony around the lantern room at the top of the lighthouse.  The speaker for the night was standing with his back to Bass Strait, with the ocean seemingly very angry that the light was being turned off.  He spoke to the audience about the lighthouses of Cape Otway and Cape Wickham on King Island being regarded as “Beacons of Hope”.  Cape Otway light was often the first sign of life in Australia for 90% of migrants arriving in Australia after weeks at sea.  The ships passed far south of the Cape of Good Hope, then sought the ‘Roaring Forties’ – the strong prevailing winds that blew from the west to the east between 40 and 50 degrees south.  There is a 90km gap between King Island and Port Phillip Heads and that might sound a long way but take off 15kms of reefs on either side and add in gale force winds or pea-soup fogs, and the 84 kilometre gap between Cape Wickham on King Island and Cape Otway was known as the “Eye of the Needle”.  It is the Western entrance to Bass Strait.  Sea captains would hug the Victorian coast, to avoid being driven into King Island in bad weather, resulting in many wrecks.

The chorus of Mike Brady’s song is very evocative:

“And if God’s willing, under clear skies we’ll sail,

A fair wind will drive us, good fortune will prevail,

And If God’s willing, a friendly shore we’ll sight,

And if God’s willing, we will find the Otway Light.”

The government of the day recognised the need for a lighthouse at Cape Otway and reserved the tip of the Cape as the site.  Access was a problem in establishing the lighthouse and after three attempts, the Cape was finally reached by land.  A site was selected and after great difficulty a road was cut.  Construction began in 1846, using sandstone stone quarried at the Parker River five kilometres away.  The light was lit in August 1848 making it the second light to be established on the mainland coast.

The light which was installed was known as a first order Fresnel lens.  Fresnel lenses are divided into different sizes, called orders.  The first order lens is the largest and most powerful.  It can be up to 3.5 metres in height and 2 metres in diameter.  The lighthouse lantern was manufactured in London and transported via small boats across the violent surf.  The light mechanism consists of 21 polished reflectors and lamps mounted on a frame.

Once the construction of the lighthouse was completed, Lightkeepers were in charge of maintaining the light produced, ensuring a higher chance of survival for incoming ships. The Head Lightkeeper kindled the light at sunset until 10pm, while assistants were in charge between 10pm and sunrise.

Over the years the Lighthouse and Cape Otway coast has witnessed up to eight different shipwrecks including the famous Loch Ard in 1878 that was unable to see the lighthouse due to heavy fog and the SS City of Rayville in 1940 that turned out to be the first American vessel sunk during World War II when it was struck by a German mine.

The following is an extract of a journal kept by a Mr Elder during his voyage from Plymouth to Melbourne aboard the SS St Osyth in 1875 and later sent back to England to his brother and sister.  He details each day of the journey, their course, the weather and the distance travelled that day.  As they sail on the Roaring Forties, he writes:

Sailing Lat 43_51S, Long 109_30E.  Distance for yesterday and today 516 miles, distance to Cape Otway 1545 miles…. Sailing Lat 42_23S, Long 121_45E, Course N83E, Distance 266 miles Cape Otway 1005 miles…. Course N71E, Distance 293 miles. Cape Otway 425 miles

And then:

“Saturday 26th June Weather very fine.  Everyone that is going to stay in Melbourne is busy packing and getting ready, most are for Melbourne.  In the afternoon the sailors got up all the thick ropes and got the anchor ready about a ¼ past 11PM when we were all singing and making ourselves cheery, toll went the bell, the signal of a light on the port bow, then we all made a push on deck to see it for we was just expecting it for we knew that we were not far from Cape Otway and it was just it some went to bed and some did not, Cape Otway is nearly 100 miles from Melbourne.”

“Dear Brother & Sister,  I send you this paltry log according to promise, I know you will think very little of it, but there is no exaggeration in the least and I daresay like myself you will be glad that nothing serious occurred and that I crossed the mighty deep in safety, for it was not only man that brought the ship so quick and safe but Him whom we have to look to, to help us both on land and sea.”

I suspect this gentleman’s hopes, fears and expectations were shared by the many thousands that made the journey and had such reliance on the Cape Otway Beacon of Hope.  Mike Brady’s four-line chorus sums it up beautifully.

Pete Spring

 

A word from the Chairman – John Higgins.

Hello

As you read this column, Spring will have sprung and our minds will be turning to the outdoors, whether it be planning a new garden or vegetable patch, preparing the barbeque for summer action, or shaking off some of those winter kilograms.  Lorne is at its best at this time of year!  There are plenty of opportunities for exercise whatever your taste, whether it be cycling, jogging, walking, bushwalking, swimming, golf, tennis or yoga, and there are groups in town that welcome your participation.  Make a Spring resolution!

With the water temperature hovering around a chilly 13 degrees, our intrepid Mermaids have made it through another winter with dips most mornings, although some of the members have slipped away to warmer waters at some point in the last few months.

We will be holding our next Committee for Lorne meeting this week.  We will receive reports from our member bodies and our local councillor, Gary Allen, and review progress on some of our sponsored projects.  Our main focus continues to be on affordable housing, both short and long-term.

As our retailers, hospitality and accommodation providers gear up for another bumper summer, their demand for workers increases.  On our recent travels north we encountered many international workers with ear-catching accents.  This year in particular there seemed to be many more Irish and English workers there.  In our conversations with them, they were keen to travel south and would be very interested in coming to Lorne and the wider Surf Coast to work, but can we accommodate them?  It is also interesting to note that in Port Douglas, in fact in Northern Australia, working in the tourism and hospitality industry enables overseas workers to qualify for further visas,  whereas in Lorne, and in fact Victoria, it does not.  Why?

In relation to the long-term, we have working groups exploring a number of options.  Our next Housing Affordability webinar will be held on September 13 at 4pm, again hosted by Friends of Lorne (thanks FoL) and you are invited to participate.  The webinar will feature a presentation by Andrew Paul, who has set up a Community Land Trust for key and essential workers in a coastal town in Queensland.  It will be very interesting!

We will also note with interest further developments at Point Grey and on the Foreshore/Pool precinct lease.

As I write, the future of our precious Lazarus Lounge at the Aquatic Club remains in limbo.  We are waiting for an extension to the temporary liquor licence covering the area and an extension to the permit allowing the Club to continue to use the area beyond 30 September this year.  Congratulations to our local Member, Richard Riordan, who raised the matter this week on the floor of State Parliament as a question to the Minister for the Environment, Ingrid Stitt.  We look forward to a positive response from the Minister.

Cheers, John Higgins Chairman

 

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

September

1 – Re Grouse The Dolls House Fundraiser

Live Music Event to raise funds for the renovation of the Doll’s House at Lorne P-12.  6pm to 9pm all ages. Book your tickets here.

3 – Run the Marsh – Lace Up for a Fun Run!

Attention all fitness enthusiasts! Get ready to lace up your running shoes and participate in the 3 Run the Marsh event. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk or a competitive run, this event caters to all preferences. Choose from a 3km walk or opt for the 2km or 5km fun run. The event will take place at the scenic Frogwood Arboretum in Deans Marsh, starting at 9am.

To be part of this invigorating event, make sure to register at deansmarsh.org.au and secure your spot on the track.

9 Lorne Fire Brigade Ball

3 Course Meal, beer, wine and soft drinks, band and Entertainment – $90 p.p 

More info here.

10 Amy’s Gran Fondo – Cycling Adventure on the Great Ocean Road

Calling all cycling enthusiasts! Prepare to embark on an unforgettable cycling adventure along the iconic Great Ocean Road. Join Amy’s Gran Fondo, a premier cycling event, as you pedal your way through breathtaking landscapes and challenging routes. This is an opportunity to push your limits and experience the beauty of the region from a unique perspective.

For more information and registration details, visit amysgranfondo.org.au.

15 ‘What a Wonderfulworld’ Exhibition – Celebrating Local Artists

Art aficionados, here’s an event to mark on your calendars! The ‘What a Wonderfulworld’ Exhibition is set to captivate your senses as it showcases the exceptional talent of local artists. The exhibition opens with a grand event on Friday from 6pm to 7:30pm and will be open to the public daily from 10am to 4pm.

Visit the Lorne Community Connect to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and artistic expression. Don’t miss the chance to appreciate the beauty and imagination of local artists in this captivating exhibition.

October

29 Run the Marsh, 3km walk, 2km & 5km fun run at 9am Frogwood Arboretum, Deans Marsh. Register at deansmarsh.org.au.

November

4 Lorne Market, 9-4pm https://www.lornemarkets.com/