Norman Frederickson

Norman Frederickson (45) was a Norwegian, single, who disappeared from the fishing vessel Era in the early hours of Friday morning, 31 August 1951. The Era sailed from Geraldton for northern waters on 24 August and Frederickson was reported to be in ill health at the time of departure. In October 1950 he had been charged with being drunk at the Bunbury Train Station, the third time in 12 months. He was fined and lucky not to be imprisoned being labelled ‘idle and disorderly’. This lifestyle may have contributed to his ill health but he had found employment in the fishing industry. Accompanying him on the Era were Leonard Greenmount, Rolf Ottersen and John Roberts. The Era was a registered fishing vessel, G11, and fished for snapper in the Shark Bay region and crayfish in the Abrolhos region. It was also used as a specialist vessel and was one of the forerunners of modern day carrier boats which operate in the Abrolhos Islands today.

On the night of 30 August the Era was anchored in South Passage, a strip of water between Dirk Hartog Island and the mainland. Around 3.00am Frederickson dressed and went on deck. Some time passed and he had not returned so another crew member, Leonard Greenmount went on deck to investigate. He heard a cry coming from the water at the stern of the boat and called the others onto the deck. The three men then launched a dingy and started searching for Frederickson in the darkness. They heard another two cries in the distance but were unable to locate him. The tide was running strongly at the time, around 3 knots. Despite their best search efforts they found no trace of Frederickson.

The disappearance of Frederickson was reported to the Shark Bay Police Station who relayed the message to the Geraldton Police Station. Police Constable E. Rogers of the Shark Bay Police Station led a search along with station hands and residents around Shark Bay. The search continued for four days but it was thought highly unlikely the body would be found due to the fast running tide at the time that he vanished. Sadly the body of Frederickson was never found.

It is interesting to note that the vessel Era had a very colourful, diverse and long life. Built in 1887 in Sydney for Alfred George Milson it was first registered as an 80 foot racing yacht, its poured lead keel weighing in at 23 tons. Its racing career lasted only a few years and it was later purchased by Charles Nelson on behalf of Winter, Brandt & Co of Geraldton and sailed in full racing trim to Fremantle. One condition of the sale was that the vessel be taken out of eastern states waters as Milson could not bear to see it converted into a fishing boat. In Fremantle the Era went under substantial conversion, its counter stern was cut off and a 7273 kg capacity icebox installed. This reduced the length of the vessel to 68 feet. Era was then used as a mother ship to smaller fishing boats in Shark Bay taking their catch to Geraldton and Fremantle.

On 16 July 1928 the Era broke its moorings and drifted down Geraldton Harbour until it hit the viaduct. After several weeks underwater it was raised using drums and underwent a complete refit before being launched back into the fishing fleet. The Era finally sank on 28 April 1958 in South Passage, Shark Bay, where the lead keel remains.