AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-L Archives

Archiver > AUS-NSW-SYDNEY > 2003-12 > 1070779870


From: "Janice Doughty" <>
Subject: [ANS] The sinking of the Greycliffe ....Part 2.
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 17:51:12 +1100


Continuing the story.........

After the Greycliffe, an inner harbour ferry left Circular Quay she made her way to Garden Island, where she would pick up more passengers. As the little ferry pulled away from the Garden Island wharf and made her way back into the harbour, the captain was unaware that bearing down on her was the steamship Tahiti, which had sailed from Darling Harbour. The Tahiti passed by the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and was making up speed. However, it was not until the small ferry was between Darling Point and Bradley's Head that the steamship ran her down, striking her with the bow. The Captain of the ferry had not been aware the ship had been bearing down on her until he heard the two blasts of the ship's horn and then it was too late to take any evasive action.

I cannot remember everything Diana told me that day about the collision and the sinking of the ferry, though I can remember at the time it was very graphic and heart rendering, and my future husband and myself sat spellbound by the story she was telling. The sinking of the ferry was a frozen picture in time, Diana had carried with her everyday since the collision occurred. However, there is one part of the story, which has stayed with me ever since I first heard it. Diana went down with the ferry, however she knew that she had to breakaway and swim to the surface, she was a champion swimmer for her school and knew that she could do it, however as she turned to the glass window of the ferry she could see inside, and what she saw shocked her, it was one of the older girls from her school, and she was floating inside the ferry, she still, had on her straw school hat and her plaits were floating up and her face was close to the glass and Diana could see her mouth moving, 'Hel!
p me, help me'.

Diana was quickly running out of air and pushed herself away from the railing and struggled up, up, up until she broke free to sunlight and fresh air. She knew to get rid of as much clothing as she could, which included her blazer and shoes. She swam towards the shore to get away from struggling people, who she was afraid would grab hold of her and pull her under. Once she broke away from the struggling mass, it was not long before she was pulled out of the water on to one of the small boats which had come to the rescue.

However, what stayed in her mind and touched her, and still brought teas to her eyes, was the school girl whose face was pressed against the glass, and the terror in her dying eyes as she mouthed 'Help me, help me'. Diana at the time was only 12 years old.

Regards,
Janice

This thread: