IT is apparent that hardship and tragedy, particularly in the early years, were part of the lives of light keepers and their families.

Very few keepers that I researched escaped without some degree of emotional trauma, major accident or family dilemma.

David Robert William Gow suffered more than his share of hardship and personal sadness as reported by his granddaughter, Helen Hemmons.

Before becoming a lighthouse keeper David was an engineer on the Presbyterian Missionary vessel Dayspring 111.

Life’s miseries began for David when the vessel struck an uncharted reef off New Caledonia on 16 October 1896.

Two lifeboats were adrift for many weeks at sea before David arrived home in November 1896, much to the joy of wife Sarah who had given him up for lost.

David and Sarah’s second child was born on the day of David’s return.

After this life changing episode David searched for a more stable job and commenced his duties as a Trainee Light Keeper at Nobbys Newcastle the following year.

Shortly after his appointment to Seal Rocks light in 1903, 18 month old daughter Sarah died from diarrhoea and convulsions

David took up the position of Principal Keeper at the Outer Light, Point Stephens in August 1907 where tragedy struck again, with the death of second child Robert from Spinal Meningitis on board the S S Hawke sailing to Newcastle for medical treatment.

In 1910 David took up the position of Principal Keeper on South Solitary, where again misfortune struck with the death of his eldest child, Selina Lydia, from typhoid/enteric fever and haemorrhage perforation.

Unable to be buried on the island, owing to the shallowness of the soil, Lydia was placed in a bathtub and interred in concrete.

Lydia was finally buried at Sandgate Cemetery (Newcastle) on 25/11/1912.

Sandgate Cemetery put a probe down into the grave to verify that concrete had been used.

The finding was verified.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE