Seaspray

At 9.30am on Tuesday 23 July 1974, the Jurien Bay Police Station received a telephone call from Mr Guy Herbert, Manager of Ross Fisheries, Jurien Bay, who reported that whilst listening to the ‘two-way radio’ used by fisherman in the area, he heard that the crayfishing boat, Seaspray LFBF 576, had sunk after being struck by a large wave about 1½ miles offshore, and about two miles north of Green Head. The skipper was missing, however the crewman had been rescued. Senior Constable Brennan and 1/C Constable Sisson immediately set off for Greenhead.

The Seaspray was owned by Cyril Hutchcraft, of Little Anchorage, the father-in-law of Brent Bickers. It was a 25-foot plywood boat powered by a four cylinder Perkins diesel engine.

On board Seaspray that day, were skipper James Brent Bickers (Brent) aged 27 and crewman Walter George Fennell aged 16 years. The sea conditions on the day were reported as moderate to heavy swells with north-westerly winds at about eight knots, and there were around 10 boats fishing the same area.

On arrival in Green Head, Senior Constable Brennan interviewed a fellow fisherman,

Alfred Pike Waters (Brent Bicker’s uncle) of Green Head, who was the skipper of the fishing boat Odin LFBG 162. He stated that around 9.30am that morning, he was working on his boat about 1½ miles offshore and about two miles north of Green Head.

The Seaspray was about 200 yards north of his position. Mr Waters further stated that he saw a large wave, about 30 feet high, break on the reef just in front of the Seaspray. The skipper attempted to turn into the breaker, but it caught him slightly beam on. When the wash from the wave had cleared, all that was visible was wreckage floating on the sea.

Walter Fennell, the crewman, was clinging to a piece of wreckage and pulled from the water by Mr Waters. However, there was no sign of the skipper, Brent Bickers.

All other boats in the area were contacted by two-way radio and about nine boats attended the scene and started searching the area. Mr Waters marked the area with craypots using marker floats attached.

Walter Fennell was interviewed by Senior Constable Brennan and stated that at about 9.30am, they were pulling pots and were heading to a location known locally as the ‘Dummy Reef’. His skipper saw a large wave heading towards them and shouted for him to hang on as the boat headed into it.

The wave broke over the boat and he was washed overboard and under water. On surfacing, he noticed that the boat was badly damaged and sinking. It sank only a few minutes after he was picked up by the fishing boat, Odin. There was no sign of Brent Bickers who was wearing red waterproof trousers, yellow spray jacket and ankle length rubber sea boots.

At 11.15am that day, the fishing boat Bombo headed out to the scene. On board were skipper of the Bombo, John Craig of Little Anchorage, commercial diver, Eric Christensen of Lancelin, and Constable 1/C Sisson.

On arrival at the scene Christensen dived on the wreck, however Brent Bickers was not found. Weather conditions deteriorated and the Bombo returned to Green Head.

Superintendent Brown of Midland District Office was advised of the accident at midday and the assistance of the Police Diving Squad was requested. At 6.30pm, Sergeant Foster and Constables Vincent and Scupham, Police divers, arrived at Green Head and prepared for diving operations on 24 July.

Eight fishing boats had continued to search the area, and at 3pm on 23 July large pieces of wreckage floated to the surface, including the complete starboard side. Beach searches were carried out throughout the afternoon without success.

Between 24 July and 26 July inclusive, there was a huge presence of civilian volunteers on horseback, motor cycles and four wheel drive vehicles searching the beaches between Leeman and Sandy Cape.

The Police Diving Squad was also still searching, taken to the scene on board the fishing boats, Julie Ann II, skippered by Rockley Heales, and Ross Maureen, skippered by Ross Morphett, both of Green Head.

Unfortunately, due to very rough seas, the diving was limited and the Police Diving Squad left Green Head on 26 July.

Between 26 July and 29 July, the beach searches between Jurien Bay and Leeman continued, the police were again assisted by civilian volunteers and also Inspectors from the Department of Fisheries.

At 10am on 29 July 1974, local fishermen, Ross Morphett and John Aldridge, both of Green Head, reported to the police that they had found the body of a man in the surf, about one mile south of Green Head. The body was dressed in a yellow spray jacket and red spray trousers and was badly decomposed. It was identified by those present as that of Brent Bickers.

The body was transported to the Green Head waterfront, where the Police Van was parked and Senior Constable Brennan advised Brent Bicker’s wife that his body had been recovered.

The body was then conveyed to Moora District Hospital Mortuary by Senior Constable Brennan and Constable 1/C Sisson. Due to the condition of the body and the lack of proper facilities at the mortuary, Doctor Ramsey stated that he was unable to perform a post mortem examination, and it was arranged that the body be transported to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Mortuary for the post mortem to be carried out.

On 30 July 1974, Doctor Hainsworth performed the post mortem and gave the cause of death as drowning.

Brent Bickers left a wife, Carlene, a son Kurt, parents Jim and Gwen Bickers and two brothers, Dene and Claye. He was buried in the Winchester Cemetery, Carnamah on Friday, 2 August 1974.