Scotland Island 500

Loika, the favourite in the inaugural race in 1974

The first race was Christmas Eve, 1974 (the year of Cyclone Tracy). At the time there were two ferry companies servicing Scotland Island and the Western Shores of Pittwater, one company had existed for many years, and at this time was owned by my mate Lawrie Duff. The service had been known as “Church Point Ferry Service P/L”. An ex WWII merchant seaman, Maurie Russell, operated it. To say Maurie liked a drink would be an understatement. Len Duck had been Maurie’s partner in the business, but decided he would rather be an employee than a boss. Lenny didn’t let work get in the way when he felt like downing a “Tooths KB Lager” or three. Originally, Len and Maurie worked for Keith and Sylvia Anna Ada Egan, who, on their retirement sold the business, with three ferries (Elvina, Curlew and Cowan) and workboat “Beaver”, to their two Skippers. “Cowan” was withdrawn from service after being damaged in a collision with a private vessel, eventually being replaced by “Wagstaff”. 

Lawrie worked for Maurie after leaving school in 1967, purchasing the run and two ferries in 1972. He operated as "Scotland Island & Western Shores Ferry Service", his ferries were “Elvina” and “Curlew”. Maurie sold “Wagstaff” to Lawrie in about 1974. Daryl Stewart had been employed by Maurie as a Ferry Master and was to work for Lawrie in his new business. He thought he had a better offer and started up an opposition service, against Lawrie, in partnership with George Bennett, two weeks after Lawrie took over his business. I don’t think loyalty was Daryl’s hallmark. George also owned the Lovett Bay Boatshed and workboat “Balina”. George was a nice enough bloke, although a bit of a personality blank. The opposition service was called the "Pittwater & Western Shores Ferry Service”. It later became the “Pittwater & Western Shores Co-Op", their ferries were the “Grower”, “Promote” and “Helen”. 

Two Ferry services were unviable; eventually Lawrie purchased the opposition service for a token amount. Lawrie’s brother Graham joined Lawrie as a partner in his business. Incidentally, years later (April 1986), Lawrie started “Clarence River Ferries", running between Iluka and Yamba across the mouth of the Clarence River. He purchased the “Grower” for the service, later selling her to an owner in Melbourne who still runs her on the Yarra River. 

I rented a house in Elvina Bay from Vicki Keen and Cyril Shannon (in laws of Ken Beashel) with Graham Duff and another mate, Peter North; both the boys grew up on the Island. We probably only lived there for a year or so then I moved to Ingleside with my girl, Ann Martin. Most of the time I lived in Elvina Bay I was working as a labourer for Ron Stenner, who was managing Beashel's Boatshed for John Morris and George Mottle. Graham was an apprentice Shipwright there; Pete also worked at Beasho’s as a labourer. For three young blokes it was a great place to live, we only had a three minute walk to work, but still managed to be late regularly. Ron used to come up and throw rocks on the roof to wake us up. People still talk about the parties. I purchased the ferry shed at Church Point and the barge service, workboat “Beaver” and a 54’ timber punt from Maurie in 1974, and delivered building materials and machinery to the Island and Western Shores. I traded as "Church Point Ferry Service", although I did not have any ferries. Sounds a bit silly, doesn’t it? Len Duck had worked full time for Maurie and worked part time for Laurie and occasionally for me. Lawrie and I didn’t make much money, but hell, we had a lot of fun. 

The opposition service employed Dave Baume, son of radio personality Eric Baume, as a Ferry Master. Although Lawrie and I did not get on well with either Daryl or George, Dave was a good bloke. Lawrie had a black kelpie cross named Diesel and Dave had a lovely little dog, Connie, a bit like a small German Shepherd. Diesel was a top little dog, although not the sharpest tool in the box. My dog was a beautiful Labrador name Mandy. She was fantastic, although everyone says that about their dog. If I was working on the Island or in one of the bays and Mandy wasn't around when I left, she would swim over to Church Point. Diesel would jump into the bay and swim for hours chasing seagulls, if he did this at night, Lawrie had trouble finding him as he was as black as the ace of spades. I don't remember seeing Connie swim often, although Dave said she was fast, in fact faster than Diesel. Over a few beers we all argued about everything and the two Ferry Skippers argued over whose dog was the fastest swimmer. Dave’s ferry (Grower) was faster than Lawrie's vessel (Curlew), Lawrie said Diesel could swim faster than Connie. They decided to have a swimming race for their dogs, from Bell Wharf, Scotland Island, to “the Point”, on Christmas Eve. A few of us thought this was a good idea and joined in. Someone called it the "Scotland Island 500" (apologies to the annual Bathurst 500 motor race) Another mate of ours, Mick Waller, a local high school French teacher, lived on the Island and volunteered to be official starter, a position he held for many years. We had 14 starters and the entry was 1 dozen cans of beer and 1 can of dog food. Winner takes all. 

Mick had stretched a rope between two boats anchored off Bell Wharf and perched himself on a boat at one end, we all went out with our dogs in tinnies, and at Micks signal we were to throw the dogs into the drink and slowly head for the Point. A Pommie mate of ours, Bob White drove his tinnie for Lawrie, John Rossini drove his boat for me, while I called out to Mandy in the hope she would swim like crazy and flog Diesel and Connie. Someone had tipped off one of the TV stations; they turned up to film the "animal cruelty" about to take place. That angle back fired as soon as they saw how the dogs loved it. I think I have the only copy of the footage aired on TV on Christmas Night 1974, which was given to Tony Stackhouse by the TV station. Rudy Krausman’s dog Loika, a big strong male Labrador, was the favorite. Tony decided to run a book. 

Mick blew a whistle for us to start, we threw the dogs off the back of the boats and it was absolute, fcuking chaos. People yelled, dogs barked and the water churned white. Some people tried to bribe their dogs with food. A wonder no dog was run over. When everybody calmed down, my Mandy had won!! I cannot remember who got the places, although Connie and Loika performed well. Poor simple Diesel went off chasing seagulls. I think he was classified as a non-finisher. In reality, Diesel was the best swimmer, although he was probably the dumbest as well. The Yacht Broker from Beashell’s, Vic English, had appointed himself M.C. and presented me with the beer and dog food in front of the cameras, before we set to work to drink the 14 dozen beer. While we partied, so did the dogs, they ate the 14 cans of food. 

Chris Cowper with Mandy, winner of the inaugural 1974 race

Some of the guys picked me up and threw me off the wharf to celebrate Mandy's win. It became a tradition for the winning dog’s owner to be thrown into the bay. That all stopped when one year it was low tide, a good Mate of ours, Bruce Lane, who was the local wharf builder, fell off the wharf while the crowd was attempting to throw the winning owner in. Unfortunately for Bruce the "Curlew" was berthed at the end of the wharf and he landed on a bollard on the back deck and ended up in Mona Vale Hospital, as his penknife had punctured the cheek of his bum. This was not entirely Bruce’s fault, as most of us, including Bruce, were wearing ‘the wobbly boot” at the time. The offending bollard now stands guard beside my front door. 

Mandy won the race again in 1975 and came second in 1976 and 1977. I retired her in 1978. In 1979 I was away with work, Ann, entered her and she came second again. We retired her for good after that. For the 1977 race the Mona Vale vet, Bob Bradley donated a perpetual trophy for the winner, the "Bradley Bowl", Bob also donated medallions for the place getters and engraved all past winners on the “Bowl”. I still have a small medallion engraved "Scotland Island 500 2nd 1977". After a few years the first dog from the mainland won and his owner knocked off the trophy. No one could remember who he was. The bastard! 

I haven't been down to the race for about 15 or more years. I used to go every year, it was a great time to catch up with old mates. As time went on I knew fewer and fewer people. It was so crowded I had trouble finding the few I did know. The last time I went some young smartarse was complaining about all the tourists, I imagine he included me as well. Fcuk me, I was there at the beginning!