1923 Bribie Incident

 The following article describes a medical emergency which occurred in 1923 to a visitor to Bribie Island and the local residents actions in facilitating the patient's conveyance back to Brisbane for medical treatment.

1923 Bribie Incident. Aged Man's Collapse.

An incident of a peculiar nature, but which fortunately resulted in no serious harm to the person concerned, occurred at Bribie Island on Sunday night.

Mr Edward Crammond, of Waterworks road, Ashgrove, aged 61, proceeded to the island by the Koopa on Sunday afternoon. On arrival he spoke to the caretaker of the island (Mr W Freeman), and then apparently set out for a long stroll. Nothing further appears to have been seen of him during the latter part of the that day, but about 10 a.m. yesterday (Monday) another visitor was walking along the ocean beach, on the far side of the island, when he saw an old man stretched out upon the sand, in what appeared to be a serious condition.

He immediately hurried back to the main jetty (a distance of nearly four miles), to secure assistance. The position was explained to Mr Freeman, but as the Koopa was nearing the jetty at the time, it was decided to await her arrival. A member of the Ambulance Brigade happened to be on board, and acting on his advice a horse and cart was secured, and the party set out for the far beach.

When they arrived on the scene, it was found that Mr Crammond was conscious, though suffering from shock, and he was hurried back to the jetty to enable him to be taken back to Brisbane on the Koopa.

The excursion steamer Koopa at the wharf at Bribie.
Source: The Brisbane Courier 23.11.1926 p.18

The captain of the boat had previously promised to hold the boat up for a short period, pending their return, but at 3 o'clock he was forced to cast off, on his return trip to Brisbane. When the party eventually arrived at the jetty, the Koopa was a considerable distance out in the bay, but by means of signals, the captain was acquainted with the position. The boat was stopped, and Mr Reg Campbell, of Bribie, offered the assistance of his motor boat, and with his aid Mr Crammond was taken out and put on board. On arrival in Brisbane, he declined to go to a hospital, and was conveyed to his home.

The action of the captain of the Koopa, in delaying the departure of his board, was very much appreciated.

REFERENCES

Bribie Incident. Aged Man's Collapse. The Daily Mail (Brisbane) Tuesday 24.4.1923 p.8 
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220561687

Photo: The excursion steamer Koopa berthed at the wharf at Bribie. From article: Bribie's Spell. Health and Happiness. The Brisbane Courier, Tue 23 Nov 1926, p. 18