Remembering Them: Elsa And George

The Watkins family of Cardwell and fishing, go hand in hand, like needle and thread. Mr William Watkins Senior began his affair with the sea in the mid 1890’s, and his love of the sea was carried on to his sons Bill and George. The marine tradition was passed on to three of George’s sons - Cecil (Cocky), Francis (Frisco) and Fred (Mickey) and Bill’s son Leslie who joined the Navy. Between them they have owned and sailed different types of boats and know the seas around Cardwell and the Great Barrier Reef like the back of their hands.

George married Leah Elsa Green after his return from World War 1, and briefly took up charter work with his brother Bill. In 1939 George commissioned Norman Wright to build a general purpose launch 42 feet long and capable of carrying 15 to 20 tons of cargo and passengers. He named this vessel the Elsa after his wife Leah Elsa. In 1942, like many other boats, Elsa was taken over by the Townsville Port Control Authority who employed George Watkins to run her.

She worked seven days a week transporting stores to ships in the Townsville Harbour until in 1944 George, Leah Elsa and their family returned to Cardwell. Once back at home George spent his time fishing and resumed the charter work and island picnics. He took pilots from the Lucinda based Pilot Service from Cardwell to and from steamers sailing through the Hinchinbrook Channel to the bulk sugar terminal.

Sisters Dulcie Shanahan and Phyllis Hann of Ingham remembered the moonlight Sunday night trips on the Elsa when they would travel from Cardwell to the Haven on Hinchinbrook Island. There the group would play corners and 2’s and 3’s before returning to Cardwell. Their brother the late Edgar Richards (Stumpy) would bring out his mouth organ to accompany Tom Hubinger of Cardwell who played his piano accordion and everyone would crowd around for a sing song.

In 1942, Elsa and George gained notoriety when they rescued the crews of a Hudson aircraft in the Hinchinbrook Channel and a Kitty Hawk at Toad Creek north of Cardwell.

George lost his arm in an accident in 1949, and his teenage sons Cocky, Fisco and Mickey assisted with the upkeep and running of the boat. In the latter part of 1952, George sold the Elsa to Thursday Island resident Jack Zapher who operated a trochus shell and pearling business from Cairns. Sometime after this, her name was changed to the Anna Maria and underwent repairs at a Cairns slipway. When last heard of, the Anna Maria had been sold to Bamaga residents and during the 1970’s was burnt at Red Island Point.

George Watkins died in 1958 aged 63 years, and his wife Leah Elsa passed away in 1977. Some members of the Watkins family can be found in Cardwell Cemetery if you wish to pay respects.