IT WAS in the early evening of Sunday March 15 1959, that a cyclone had built a huge sea with crashing surf and whitewater breaking across the entrance to Port Stephens.
The sea was rolling into the Port as far as Corlette.
Conditions on the water were extremely hazardous.
Sydney based, Italian owned trawlers had been lying up out of the gale in Seal Rocks waiting for the sea to abate. The swell continued to rise, forcing the boats out of cover into the deeper water.
The trawlers headed south and the decision was made to enter the safety of Port Stephens.
One, the “Porpoise”, originally owned by Joe Arblaster, made it through the dangerous break at the entrance into the relatively calm water of the Port.
The 56 foot “Italia Star” followed and unfortunately a huge wave swamped the boat and the following wave rolled her over.
The sole survivor, Carmelo Musumeci, 23, was rescued by a police launch after swimming for almost a mile.
His two crewmates were never found despite extensive air, sea and land searches.
To no avail, locals Les Yabsley and Bob Saddler shone a blazing spotlight throughout the night, into the boiling water off the deck of the “Viking”.
The third boat in the fleet, the “San Fransisco”, stayed out in the deep water.
Wisely she would not approach the port and headed for Sydney, arriving three days later.
Following the tragedy, local fishermen Teddy McLeay and “Bubby” Monin took about and attached ropes to the “Italia Star” and salvaged her.
The trawler was repaired on George Kennedy’s slip at Little Beach.
By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE
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