1922 – A family outing on horseback went terribly wrong when a tidal creek crossing ended in a double drowning.
Herbert’s Creek was part of the boundary between Banksia and Glenprairie stations, 120km north of Rockhampton and 27 kilometres north of Marlborough, Central Queensland.
Vincent Kelly, 29, his sisters Ethel Catherine, 27, Winifred, 19 and Mary 10, were on their way to spend a weekend with the Mortimer family at Glenprairie.
Brother Frank Kelly, 24, told an inquiry that he had accompanied his three sisters and brothers to the creek to make sure they crossed safely, while his sister Constance, along with Gwen and Joyce Mortimer, were waiting on the Glenprairie side.
“Before my brother and sister attempted to cross we could see the tide coming in in the distance, but we were of the opinion that they would be able to cross before the tide reached them.
“When partly over the tide caught them. Ethel’s horse became restive, and the tide coming in strongly, the girls’ horses were swept off the bar of rocks on which they were crossing into the deep water.”
Frank rushed out to help. Vincent helped little Mary turn her horse around, as they were still closer to the Banksia side.
All the horses then made for the bank.
“Ethel and Winifred were washed off their horses. Winifred caught hold of the tail of a horse and was pulled on to a rock, on to which all the horses got,” Frank said.
“In the meantime I reached them and assisted my two younger sisters out.
“During this time my brother was endeavouring to save Ethel.
“I then went to their assistance in deep water. My brother, being the strongest swimmer, volunteered to see if he could find the depth of water to find a shallow place on which to place Ethel.
“While doing so he gave Ethel to me to hold. He tried twice and both times that he came up he asked me if I still had Ethel.
“I said ‘Yes.’
“Just as I replied the second time I lost hold of her.”
Frank tells of the moment his sister slipped from his arms
“He then promptly dived for Ethel, who had gone under, but I did not see either of them again.
“I swam about for a few minutes, but I could not find them.”
Meanwhile, another Kelly brother, Mark, 13, who had been down at the creek also, had gone home for assistance.
Their father William arrived with more helpers, but although the creek was searched even after the tide went out, the bodies could not be found.
Marlborough Police Constable JC Rue said in his official statement that several local people helped in a search-and-drag operation until after dark.
“On the following morning the bodies were recovered fully dressed,” he told the inquiry.
From the state of the bodies he was satisfied that the deaths were due to accidental drowning.
“I have been informed that the tide in the creek rushes in at a terrific rate, and on this occasion the tide had risen about six feet.
Marlborough constable Rue
“The creek is always looked upon as treacherous, both with currents and quicksand.”
There were eight children in the family at the time. The family was well known in the wider region, as their grandfather Edward was an early pioneer of the region, alongside the still-famous Archer Brothers. Their father William was one of several Kelly brothers who owned or oversaw Marlborough region stations at various times.
Cattle are still produced in the area, but much of the land is now also used as part of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area.
Sources: Morning Bulletin, Friday 7 April 1922, p 10
Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 4 April, 1922, p10
Daily Record, Monday 3 April 1922, p4
Way to go Australia 