![]() ![]() 2Īfter a lifetime of battling the elements and keeping the lights burning, sadly William died only two years later in 1932, at the age of 67. Mr Norgate has reached retiring age and goes out on a pension. Visitors to Booby Island were always sure of a right hearty welcome from Mr and Mrs Norgate, and we all wish them many happy years of well-earned rest after their faithful service. Mr Norgate has nearly 50 years in the Lighthouse Service of the Queensland coast, and over 40 years on the above named lights and is well known and respected by all residents of Torres Straits. having purchased a home in Hastings Street. Mr William Norgate of the Lighthouse Service, who has been in charge of the Booby Island lighthouse and formerly in charge of Goods Island, has taken up residence on T.I. On William’s retirement the local paper recognised his contribution to life in the area: The Norgates spent more than 40 years as the lighthouse keepers, raising four children and moving to Thursday Island in 1930. Sometimes people never visited the other houses. ![]() Despite the generally held rule of ‘keeping to yourselves’ the degree to which meetings occurred differed from station to station. Such careful social management meant that usually only dogs and children were noted as the triggers for community disharmony. Women rarely visited each other casually, and those who did were sometimes remembered as a burden. ![]() The men had to work together every day – a situation either companionable or difficult depending on the personalities. ANMM Collection 00053717.Īccording to a recent study of life as a keeper, this self-enforced separation was common among lighthouse families sharing an island:Įveryone noted that ‘you didn’t want to be in each other’s pockets’ and that casual visiting among the lighthouse families was strongly discouraged. Used daily for nearly 30 years, the log of William Norgate is a testament to his dedication. Although keepers were on call 24 hours a day, they were actually only paid for eight working hours per day: four during the daylight hours and another four at night, which meant ‘a man has plenty of time for himself ’. Everything seems to have needed constant tending. In such harsh coastal conditions buildings and equipment weathered quickly. It is half-sailor, half-bushman with all sorts of trades mixed with it’.ĭaily entries outline the endless tasks William faced: cleaning, repairing, painting, building and of course, above all, keeping the light maintained and burning at night. It is surprising what I have had to put my hand to, I had a lot to learn, but it is the variety of work that keeps it from getting monotonous. During his first year, he described his life on the island to a friend via a letter as ‘having to do everything that wants doing ourselves. William quickly settled into lighthouse life. Image: State Library of Queensland Collection. Although officially unidentified, this family group is likely the Norgates as they were still the keepers on Goods Island until January 1910. But Lizzie pushed through and as William wrote in 1894, ‘She is not very frightened of me and doesn’t cry to go home to her mammy yet ’. As the years passed, frequently William mentions Lizzie’s frail health that seemingly plagued her all her life. She seems to have missed the basics, such as three cups of tea a day rather than the rations which now faced her. Not surprisingly, it seems that William’s wife Lizzie initially struggled to adjust to island life. Despite the hardships of life on a remote outpost, men with a stable family were preferred as lighthouse keepers to single men. The position offered a house and regular income paid by the government and was seen by many as an opportunity to raise their family in relative security. However, once he was married he felt it would a better life for himself and Lizzie in the Lighthouse Service. William Norgate began his life as a keeper in 1893, after spending some years in the coastal pilot service. Goods Island where the Norgates spent 20 years. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |