IT would be fair to say that one man in the history of Broughton Island reached legendary status – the Greek fisherman Dimitrios Georgis Karageorgis.

Known to all as ‘Kerosine Tin Jim’, the gentle giant lived on the island for 49 years where he trapped lobsters, cared for the island’s goat population, imported chooks, tended a vegetable garden, set his kerosene lamp up as a light for returning fishermen after dark and welcomed all visitors to the island.

Jimmy did have a home in Nelson Bay, however he preferred to remain on the island with his friends – the fairy penguins, sting rays, goats, sea eagles and skinks. Official records of the man are unable to inform us as to when he arrived in Australia and where he was born. Unfortunately, he did not leave a family on his passing in the 1970s.

Big Jim will be remembered by those who were fortunate to have met him as a kind and generous man of amazing strength.

A true character.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE