OVERdeBERG

0656862204

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

© Jacques Louw (2021). Alle regte voorbehou.

Jaargang 2 Uitgawe 77

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

In hierdie uitgawe...

0656862204 (WhatsApp) overdeberg2020@gmail.com (e-pos) Kontak ons gerus!

Swellendam restaurant 3de beste in Afrika

3

Wanneer Leeus bome plant

10

Strandroof: ‘Queen of the Thames’

16

Sonskyn, sneeu en Canola

Photo: Cathy van Eeden/Swellendam Experience/FB

“What a find!

Adrian and Jill have created something really special here.

The attention to detail is exceptional…”

- TripAdvisor

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Email: blueskyarniston@gmail.com www.blueskyguesthousearniston.co.za Phone: +27 28 4459010 Cell: +27 71 4186209 See our Nightsbridge listing for availability and bookings.

1

2

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

Redaksioneel Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

Goeiedag en welkom by ons 77ste uitgawe van OVERdeBERG. Hierdie is jou ware gemeenskapskoerant wat jou positief ingelig hou. Ons stuur weg van die negatiewe en kies om die positiewe nuus en ander gebeurlikhede uit die Overbergstreek met julle te deel op ‘n weeklikse basis.

No.10, 5th Avenue, Arniston

Ons het hiérdie week weer ‘n lekker besige en propvol uitgawe vir julle en dit is ‘n voorreg om week na week die Overberg se nuus en gebeurlikhede aan julle te bring. ‘n Restaurant in Swellendam behaal ‘n pragtige prestasie wat ons op bladsy 3 met julle deel en ons gaan kuier ook weer lekker in die kombuis met twee vingerleklekker resepte op bladsy 4 vir julle om te probeer.

Gaan loer gerus ook in op bladsy 4 by ons unieke gemeenskapsdagboek, waar jy jou gebeurlikheid gratis kan plaas. Kontak ons gerus daarvoor. Ons bring aan jou die nuutste rondom die COVID-19 inentingsprogram hier in die Overberg, asook informatiewe grafieka rondom COVID-19.

Ons berig ook oor die uitbreiding van die ‘Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust’ se grondgebied op bladsy 7 en 8. Dan is daar ook ‘n bydrae oor die walvis wat uitgespoel het langs die kus by De Hoop en dan gaan kyk ons hoe die geskiedenis herhaal word met Leeus wat bome plant op Hermanus.

Email: blueskyarniston@gmail.com www.blueskyguesthousearniston.co.za Phone: +27 28 445 9010 Cell: +27 71 418 6209 See our Nightsbridge listing for availability and bookings.

Adoons-hulle is weer woelig op bladsy 13 met hul kaskenades in die Magaliesberge. Ons publiseer weekliks die nimlike en ook pragtige strokies van wyle T.O. Honiball, waarvoor ons die regte ontvang het. Dit sluit in Jakkals & Wolf, Adoons-hulle en natuurlik die grootpraatstories van Oom Kaspaas Breekwater. Dié stories was vir baie jare deel van die geelbladsye van die Landbouweekblad.

Ons uitgawe word weer oudergewoonte afgesluit deur Jimmy Herbert met nog ‘n uiters interessante deel van die Overberg se maritieme geskiedenis.

Geniet die uitgawe, bly veilig en gesond dan gesels ons weer volgende week verder.

Special offer

Groetnis!

“The trials on the road to world harmony are no greater than the courage of those who accept the challenge.”

Carl Lewis

2

R995.00

per room per night for two people

Breakfast included.

Direct bookings only.

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

3

Oraloor All over

Meanwhile in Swellendam...

A message from them to you...

Third Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Africa!

First of all we want to thank each and every one who has supported us through these last 15 months. Thank you to every person who bought our take away meals when we couldn't open, and everyone who dined with us when we could.

We are grateful to our staff that has been by our side and whom we have fought to keep employed.

This pandemic has pushed us to our absolute limits. Financially and morally it has been the most testing time we have ever had to face. It's a bittersweet moment. Receiving such an important award and yet our industry globally is in a very unstable and trying period.

380 000 L dam with Rubber Sealant

The original Liquid Rubber

Click below to view

Click below to view

We are a small, family run business, but we have great passion and determination. We hope that some day soon we will be able to thank you in person for your support and for the time you took to write a review.

We are humbled, we are proud, but mostly we are so grateful that we can still do the job that we love.

“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”

Germany Kent overdeberg2020@gmail.com

3

4

Kombuiskuier Jacques Louw

Geurige moussaka

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021 gaar. Voeg dan die tamatiepulp, geblikte tamatie, pietersielie, kruisement, kaneel en peper by en prut stadig vir so 10 minute.

Verwyder van die stoof.

Droog die eiervrug af met absorberende papier. Sprinkel olyfolie in plat bakplaat, en pak die eiervrugsnye daarop. Bak die eiervrug vir ongeveer 5 minute aan ‘n kant, en plaas dit weer op kombuispapier. Smeer botter op ’n oondpan en pak die helfte van die eiervrug op die bodem (enkel laag). Plaas die murgpampoentjies bo-op die eiervrug, en dan die vleismengsel. Herhaal die proses tot die bak amper vol is. Verhit dan die oond tot 180°C terwyl jy die kaassous maak. Verhit die botter in ‘n pan oor lae hitte.

Voeg die meel/Maizena bietjie-vir-bietjie by en roer vir 2 minute.

Verwyder dit van die hitte. Voeg die melk by en roer dit in. Plaas dit terug op die hitte. Roer dit stadig tot die sous dik en romerig is en effens borrel. Verwyder sous van die hitte, en klop die kaas in gevolg deur die lig geklitste eierbeslag. (Klits dit vinnig want jy wil nie roereier hê nie!) Voeg die sous bo-oor die eiervrug- en vleismengsel, en skud bak ligggies sodat die sous egalig bo-op versprei is. Bak vir 40 minute tot die bolaag bruin is en kante liggies prut. Haal dit uit die oond en laat dit vir 10 minute rus.

Bedien met ‘n gekapte-spinasie-en-lemoenwiggie-slaai.

Bestanddele: 500 g eiervrug 4 middelslag murgpampoentjies 600 g beesmaalvleis 1 groot ui, opgekap 500 g gekapte geblikte tamatie 400 g tamatiepulp (passata) 1 eetlepel gekapte pietersielie 1 eetlepel vars gekapte kruisement ½ teelepel fyn kaneel ¼ teelepel growwe swartpeper 2 eetlepels olyfolie sout na smaak Kaassous:

Foto’s & resepte: RSG Resepte

90 g botter 1/3 koppie Maizena of koekmeel 2 koppies melk 2 groot eiers, waarvan 1 geklits 1 koppie gerasperde Cheddarkaas

Lekker lemoenkoek Bestanddele:

3 eiers ¾ koppie strooisuiker Metode: 1½ koppie koekmeel 1½ teelepels bakpoeier Sny die punte van die eiervrug af (ek verkies om skil te behou) en ½ teelepel sout sny dit dan in 1 cm dik snye. Sprinkel beide kante van eier-vrug 11 eetlepels melk liggies met sout (om die vog te absorbeer) en plaas in ‘n bak vir 1 3 eetlepels botter uur. Sny die murgpampoentjies in skywe en braai liggies. Verhit ‘n pan met olyfolie en braai die maalvleis en uie oor lae hitte tot Sous: 1¼ koppie suiker 1 koppie water 1 koppie vars uitgedrukte lemoensap 3 teelepels lemoenskil, gerasper 2 eetlepels botter knippie sout Metode: Kook die melk en botter saam, en laat dit effens afkoel. Klop die eiers en suiker goed saam. Sif in ‘n ander bak die meel, bakpoeier en sout saam. Voeg dit by die eiermengsel. Vou die melk en bottermengsel in by die meel-en-eiermengsel. Voeg die beslag in ‘n ringkoekpan, en bak vir 20 – 25 min teen 180°C. Sous: Kook al die bestanddele saam, gooi die sous oor die warm koek in die pan. Laat die koek rus totdat dit al die sous absorbeer het.

4

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

Gemeenskapsdagboek Kontak ons by 065 686 2204 (WhatsApp) om jou gebeurtenis gratis hiér te adverteer.

Contact us by email at overdeberg2020@gmail.com to advertise your event here for free.

5

Community diary

Ons hou jou positief ingelig!

Kontak ons gerus vir die volgende:  Interaktiewe advertensies  Interaktiewe nuusbriewe  Logo-ontwerpe  Facebookbladbestuur  Laagste kostes

Toesighouers benodig

WhatsApp: 0656862204 E-pos: overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Matriekeindeksamen Hoërskool Overberg, Caledon 19 Oktober tot 7 Desember 2021 Vereistes: 1.) Nie jonger as 25 of ouer as 65 jaar wees nie.

2.) nie ‘n ouer of enige verwantskap met enige gr.12kandidaat hê nie.

3.) in besit wees van ‘n graad 12-sertifikaat of minstens vlak 4 (NQF) 4.) ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse burger wees.

Stuur ‘n e-pos aan admin@hsoverberg.com indien u sou belangstel.

Die skool sal u dan kontak.

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

5

6

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

Overberg COVID-19 Vaccination Weekly Update Up to the 26th of July, we have vaccinated 38 760 persons in the Overberg District, this includes health workers (as part of the Sisonke trial) and educators.

We urge any citizen 60 years and older who has not registered, or have not received an appointment, to please go to their closest public vaccination site for assisted registration and vaccination. The first dose for 60-year and older remains the highest priority at the moment. This age group is our most vulnerable and we need to do everything we can to protect them, by ensuring their immune system can fight off severe illness by being vaccinated.

 Vaccination of the bedridden in their homes.

Temporary service delivery changes at Health facilities Although we can see a slight decline in active COVID-19 cases our facilities are still under pressure and needs to continue reducing the amount pf patient contact in our facilities. This means certain non-emergency service will be scaled down.

Changes in the current service delivery offering include: Non-urgent outpatient appointments will be postponed, and patients given alternative dates; Non-urgent elective surgery will be postponed, and patients provided with a later date; Patients who are in hospital but are stable will be discharged for further management at home or at an intermediate care facility; Outreaches from Districts and Regional hospitals will be suspended; Patients are urged to only access the Emergency Centre for emergencies. Non-emergencies to access healthcare services at nearest clinic.

We understand this might be an inconvenience to some, but it is important to remember why we are doing this – to ensure we have sufficient capacity to provide emergency medical care to those with life-threatening conditions and those who are admitted with COVID-19.

Photo: Gurswin Prins/CAM Communication

Roché Butler Communications Officer Overberg District Western Cape Government: Health +27 28 214 5833 (Tel); +27 68 074 2455 (Cell)

The EVDS system will continue to allocate available appointment slots in the following order of priority: Priority 1 - people 60 years and older requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine; Priority 2 - people 60 years and older requiring their 2nd dose of Pfizer vaccine; Priority 3 - people aged 50 -59 years requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine; Priority 4 - people aged 35-49 years with a valid appointment SMS, requiring their 1st dose of Pfizer vaccine.

As usual, a limited number of walk-ins (over 60s will be prioritised) will be accommodated at the vaccination sites. Not all vaccination sites will have equal capacity on the day to tend to all appointments or walk ins, and our total vaccinations will be guided by local demand at that specific site.

When visiting a vaccination site please remember your identification document, if you need to receive your second dose, please remember your vaccination card received when you got your first dose. All vaccinations sites in the Overberg will be operational on scheduled dates between 09:00 - 14:00. It is not necessary to queue at vaccination sites earlier than operational times.

The Department has identified several areas where there is low registration and uptake of vaccination. We are working with a range of partners to on innovative initiatives through which we can take vaccines to the vulnerable communities, making vaccination easier accessible for them.

These outreaches and community mobilization drives include:

 Outreaches to old age homes to administer second doses;  Outreaches to remote farms;  Vaccinations at chronic clubs;  “Boots on the Ground drives” where Community Health Works do door to door registrations;

6

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

New Conservation Easement Area With a new conservation easement signed, the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust (ORCT) takes a step closer to realising a conservation dream: To protect and restore the entire length of the Sout River (Salt River) in the Overberg forever.

The new easement, called the Vogelrivier Conservation Easement, brings 2581 hectares of natural habitat into the ORCT’s Conservation Easement Programme, to be protected in perpetuity. This site is important for many reasons, in particular given that it includes the De Hoop Vlei, a declared Ramsar site.

This property also provides a crucial corridor between the vlei and the eastern Rûens.

7

Chris Martens, Fynbos Trust Managing Director, who is responsible for managing the Vogelrivier property (also known as Koleskloof farm), says it was bought for conservation purposes by Peter and Claudia Krcmar in 2016. “It’s an incredibly important piece of land in terms of biodiversity.

The property adjoins the De Hoop Nature Reserve and is part of the De Hoop Vlei, which makes it a highly valuable conservation site.

The vlei and surrounds should be well managed both in its headwaters on Vogelrivier as well as the portion on De Hoop Nature Reserve. It’s a Ramsar site on the De Hoop side, but not on our side. So by signing this easement, we’re showing our commitment to the long-term conservation of the site,” Chris says.

Continued on page 8

Babiana patula

Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB

Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB According to ORCT Director, Odette Curtis-Scott, with the new signing, the ORCT is taking a large step towards reaching their dream.

“We had already secured much of the headwaters of the Sout River through the signing of the Kleindam easement, as well as some important sites along the river (Kykoedie and Keykas easements) Now with Vogelrivier, we have secured the end of the river, leading into the De Hoop Vlei. We’re slowly bringing the pieces of the puzzle together. Our dream is to work with farmers to bring the whole river into this level of protection and restore it.”

The easement site has been identified by both CapeNature and the Table Mountain Fund in its Climate Corridor Action Plan as a vital biodiversity site.

Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

7

8

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

New Conservation Easement Area Continued from page 7 The well known De Hoop Nature Reserve is also designated as an Important Biodiversity Area by BirdLife South Africa. The easement therefore secures the only remaining privately-owned section of the De Hoop Vlei.

The farm is home to a significant number of threatened and endangered species. Botanical gems such as the Endangered Erica radicans ssp. schlechteri, the Rare Erica sperata and the Near Threatened Jamesbrittenia calciphila all occur here.

It’s also a wildlife hub, especially for bird populations.

Chris Martens (right) of the Fynbos Trust signs the easement with the ORCT’s Grant Forbes.

Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB The Fynbos Trust was started by Peter and Claudia Krcmar, and through their funding support, the property is being carefully managed, with invasive alien plants being cleared along the vlei. Chris says, “In fact, the funding support of the Krcmars has been enabled by far-sighted German fiscal policies, which allows them to spend money in South Africa for conservation purposes.”

With the latest conservation easement signing, the ORCT now has around 6000 hectares of natural habitat included in the easement programme, including 3600 of Critically Endangered Renosterveld that are therefore protected forever.

Photo: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust/FB

Source: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust

According to Chris, the property was named Vogelrivier “because it’s an important site for birds, especially for Paleartic migrants, such as Grebes, several visiting and resident waders and waterfowl, and nomadic species such as Flamingos and Pelicans.” A number of interesting terrestrial bird species have also only been recorded on this property, such as the Whitefronted Bee-eater and Olive Bush Shrike.

Mammals such as the Endangered Cape Mountain Zebra, Vulnerable Cape Leopard, Near Threatened Cape Clawless Otter and a range of threatened bat species are also found here, many moving between the De Hoop Nature Reserve and Vogelrivier.

The total area signed into a conservation easement consists of 2088 hectares of De Hoop Limestone Fynbos, 170 hectares of Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands and 129 hectares of Critically Endangered Eastern Rûens Shale Renosterveld.

Maak Radio Overberg fm deel van jou besigheid se bemarkingstrategie!

Kontak ons vir ‘n pasgemaakte lugtydpakket!

028 424 2877 (T) admin@radiooverberg.co.za (E) 8

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

9

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

9

10

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

Gentle Giant comes to its final resting place

In 1949 Hermanus had the touring All Black team as visitors.

Residing at the Marine Hotel the team was actively involved with numerous events in our town, and the one that we treasure most was the planting of a grove of gum trees.

Photo: Hermanus Old Boys/Hermanus High School/FB

When history repeats itself...

Incredible (yet sad) to witness this magnificent specimen of a Humpback Whale on our shores. Although we are still investigating how it died, it’s inspiring to know that these giants are still out there below the blue surface of our oceans.

Photos: De Hoop Collection Nature Reserve/FB Photo: Billy Stickland (Inpho Photography) “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

In 1949 Hermanus had the touring All Black team as visitors.

Residing at the Marine Hotel the team was actively involved with numerous events in our town, and the one that we treasure most was the planting of a grove of gum trees. Most of these trees were taken out to make space for buildings, but two of these still remain on our school grounds.

This week, now 72 years later, the touring British and Irish Lions team repeated history. Lions flanker Hamish Watson and Duhan van der Merwe (wing) took the time out of their busy schedule to assist with our tree planting!

Source: Hermanus High School/FB

“We keep thinking history happened to someone else, but history is where we came from; what happened before us is how we got to where we are.”

Kameron Hurley 10

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

11

Photo: Lighthouse 2 Lighthouse Ladies/FB “If adventure has a final and all-embracing motive, it is surely this: we go out because it is our nature to go out, to climb mountains, and to paddle rivers, to fly to the planets and plunge into the depths of the oceans…

When man ceases to do these things, he is no longer man.”

Wilfrid Noyce

As jy graag jou besigheid in OVERdeBERG wil adverteer, kontak ons gerus vir die nodige inligting. ‘n Verskeidenheid opsies is beskikbaar teen die laagste pryse in die Overberg.

WhatsApp by 0656862204 of overdeberg2020@gmail.com (e-pos)

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

11

12

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

12

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

Adoons-hulle

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

13

...daar doer in die Bosveld

13

14

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

As julle graag gebruik wil maak van ons WhatsApp groep, kan julle net die QR-kode skandeer met julle slimfone.

Ons plaas slegs weekliks die koerant se skakels waar dit gelees kan word daarop. Julle kan ook nuus en foto’s aanstuur op hiérdie platvorm.

14

overdeberg2020@gmail.com

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

15

“STRANDROOF” ALONG THE OVERBERG COAST: QUEEN OF THE THAMES 1871 Some passengers whole-heartedly believed that the loss of the ship could mainly be attributed to one woman. Captain George MacDonald, the Master of the Queen of the Thames, and whose wife accompanied him on the trip, openly and shamelessly fancied and endeavoured to befriend and court one of the young female passengers. Intoxication and this madness that only a desirable woman can cause in a man jointly appeared to have taken over all of Captain MacDonald’s upper faculties to the point that he neglected most of his essential duties.

One unidentified female diarist, affectionately referred to as "Grandma" by her companions, noted that before the ship was at sea ten days, the more sober-minded "began to be disgusted and indignant with Captain Macdonald's behaviour". She went on to diarise that Macdonald's elderly wife, who "almost worshipped him in his own fancied superiority to herself", began to be "neglected and his whole attention given to another lady".

"Grandma” claimed that even on the beach Macdonald, who tried to sleep off his stupor, "seemed still besotted by his lady friend".

Some men did not scruple to say that, to carry on this philandering, he neglected his duty and that this lady had wrecked the ship. The loss of baggage and want of discipline and order was also attributed to the intoxication of the Captain. The belief was that had he placed some officers in command to protect the baggage of the passengers, it would have been possible to land all of it. The best proof of this was that a few days later one passenger went out to the ship and saved his own chest from the bottom of the hold that was still perfectly dry. This he did for a full three days after the wrecking, on the Tuesday (20 th March) during spring low tide.

It appears that a day or so after the wrecking, while utilising the abnormally low tides experience during a new moon and the lack of order, the plunder started. It was narrated that during the day the boats were employed to land a portion of the baggage.

So great was the disorder that prevailed during the latter part of that Sunday and the following day that much of the luggage brought to shore proved to have been broken open and plundered. In a newspaper report ten years later (1881), they wrote, “It might be remembered that with the Queen of the Thames crew waded out to her at low tide to rummage the luggage and indulge in their favourite vice of drinking”.

It is remarkable that the amidships section of the Queen of the Thames stands to this day for even on that Wednesday (22 nd March 1871), a storm came up and the sea became extremely rough. It is reported that the sea was breaking at least two miles outside the wreck. It could be seen that huge waves were breaking completely over the vessel. The men were lashed to the tops of the three lower masts, not daring to descend to the deck on account of the massive seas.

Over the last 146 years, her place of rest must have been exposed to many such great storms. Yet, to this day, a portion of the majestic Queen of the Thames can clearly be seen from the space satellites.

JIMMY HERBERT Retired lecturer: Stellenbosch University (1977-2013) Writer & Specialist in Maritime History and Archaeology

In next week’s issue...

Mr. Lane, formerly a merchant at Melbourne, declared that the locks of the drawers in his cabin had been forced open and articles of jewellery belonging to himself and his wife stolen. He and others who went back and went on board described the hold as representing “a ransacked city”.

Treasure map or not? overdeberg2020@gmail.com

15

16

Vrydag 30 Julie 2021

History of the Overberg Jimmy Herbert “STRANDROOF” ALONG THE OVERBERG COAST: QUEEN OF THE THAMES 1871

The purpose of all this technology and fineness was to demonstrate and prove the feasibility of making the run out from England, via South Africa to Australia and back in the shortest period of time ever yet accomplished. The trip around the Cape was The Queen of the Thames was not only rated as one of the preferred by passengers to the blinding dust, sweltering heat and finest ships in the world at that time, but to this day, she sluggish route through the Suez Canal. Furthermore, a speedier was the classiest ship ever to be lost on our Overberg passage ensured the much sort after, faster communication coastline. (mail) between colony and home.

What makes the “strandroof” of the Queen of the Thames special is that most of the looting was done on the ship itself, while she was still standing undamaged in her full glory. Yet sadly, irretrievably fixed upon a sandbank at Ryspunt some 20km east of the town of Arniston.

Due to strong headwinds, the Queen of the Thames was compelled to use her engine the whole of the passage making her canvas sails of not much use to her on her first journey to Australia. The trip took her only 55 days. The Australian press reported that "even the most bitter opponent of this line could not but confess that the voyage had proved a decided success.”

Everyone had only the highest praise for the living on board.

The passenger list for the homeward voyage reflected both the ship's popularity and faith in the success of the Cape route. Cargo for the return voyage was valued at "upward of £100,000" and consisted of molasses, 80 pipes and 264 casks of tallow, 102 bales of hides, 8208 cakes of copper ore, 415 blocks of antimony, 1698 bales of wool, £7000 worth of gold dust, 3000 sovereigns, and other articles of merchandise, which were stowed in the ordinary way with the wool being on top.

In 1870, Devitt and Moore, one of the leading shipbroking firms of London, launched an ambitious experiment. The aim was to demonstrate the practicality and economic viability of steam over sail for a regular route back and forth between England and Australia via the Cape of Good Hope. It was an enterprising move.

The S.S. Queen of the Thames was chosen to be the forerunner of the new line. At the time, it was postulated that once the three products of the nineteenth century ‒ iron vessels, screw propellers and compound engines ‒ were combined effectively in the mid-1860s, the ultimate triumph of steam over sail, in both cargo and passenger trade, was only a question of time. Capitalising on the latest developments in steamship technology, Devitt and Moore launched the Queen of the Thames on the Clyde on 11 August 1870.

Those acquainted with shipbuilding considered this ship to be as fine a steamer of its class as had ever been launched on the Clyde. Built by the celebrated firm of Robert Napier and Sons, the Queen of the Thames registered 2607 tonnes gross, and boasted three decks and three masts. She was classed A1 at Lloyds. With a length 322.5ft, breadth 41.1ft and depth draft 20.5ft, she was supplied with powerful engines built according to the newest and most approved principle of construction.

1871-YOUNG-HEAD GOLD-SOVEREIGN Exactly within a month from the date of her departure on her homeward voyage, the vessel was helplessly wrecked.

She left Melbourne for London on Saturday, 18 February and struck the ground on Saturday 18 March at exactly 01h20. Attempts to back her off proved fruitless.

As the weather was good and the sea calm with first light (approaching spring low tide), all the passengers and crew to the With a normal horsepower of 400, she was capable of exerting number of 315 souls were safely landed. In this same time, three an actual working power of 2000 horse. The Queen of the boxes of gold [1,000 sovereigns per box] were carefully landed Thames had both engine and three sails (see picture) and was and sent to Bredasdorp on a dray. expected to be able to travel at the rate of 13 or 14 knots per hour.

Continued on page 15 16

overdeberg2020@gmail.com