1904 Beaver cruise

 The following description of a cruise in 1904 aboard the Beaver from Brisbane across Moreton Bay to Bribie Island and back was organised as a social event for members of the newly formed Commonwealth Public Service Association.

1904 Cruise aboard the Beaver

The Commonwealth Public Service Association gave the first of an arranged series of river trips on Saturday afternoon last on the s.s. Beaver, which was extremely well patronised. The object of these trips is to raise funds for the furnishing, etc., of rooms for the Association. 

Bribie Island was visited, the fragrance of the gum trees from the island being wafted across to the Beaver, which cruised along the shores of the island, a pleasant variation on the tobacco odours which Post Office and Custom House officials aboard enjoyed, but which did not ameliorate the tendencies to squeamishness a number of ladies and children evinced crossing the bay. 

From Bribie Island a splendid view of the Glasshouse Mountains was obtained, with their strange variety of contour, from the sugar loaf to the plum pudding. 

The Beaver in 1909
at the jetty at Ocean Beach (Moreton Island) - South Passage
Photo: Queensland Country Life 1.11.1909 p.51

On the return journey Redcliffe was to have been visited, but Captain Bruce announced that the tide was too low, and Lytton must be the landing place instead. A number of young gentlemen, who had hurried off without lunch, had ordered a dinner party at Redcliffe, and the hot banquet waiting its sweetness in the Redcliffe Hotel was a grievously tantalizing thought as the Beaver steamed past this point. 

A thunderstorm caused the idea of landing at Lytton to be abandoned also, and when it became apparent that amusement must be found aboard the Beaver or not at all, lively choruses were struck up. The Premier Band played delightfully throughout the trip, their strains of "The Old Folks at home," as the boat neared Brisbane, being so well rendered as to merit applause.

Young couples intent only on "love's young dream," enjoyed themselves to their hearts content, while forked lightning and angry thunder had a subduing effect on fair weather coquettes, who nervously clasped the nearest masculine thing available. "Its an ill wind that blows nobody any good," and several budding "cases" thus arrived home full blown! Thunder and lightning also appear to produce devout piety instantaneously, for very mundane strains gave place at once to sacred chorales during the storm. Gehrke catered downstairs, and a number of picnic teas were enjoyed, hot water being provided. The Post office, Customs, etc., with sweethearts, wives, and families, formed a goodly array, whose amalgamated public appearance is a novelty. This first chapter is however "to be continued," the Association promise, and the committee having learned by experience that "time and tide wait for no man," not even of the superior Commonwealth brand, the next programme of events will perhaps be carried out more literally than proved possible last Saturday.

REFERENCES

Gossip from Woman's Clubland. Queensland Figaro 1.12.1904 p.9 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85496526

Photo of s.s. Beaver, at the jetty at Ocean Beach (Moreton Island) - South Passage.
Queensland Country Life 1.11.1909 p.51 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article100868648

Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902. An Act for the regulation of the Public Service, assented to 5th May 1902.https://www.legislation.gov.au/C1902A00005/latest/text   

Captain William Bruce (14.2.1869-4.1.1945)
Obituary: The Telegraph (Brisbane) 5.1.1945 p.4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186331557