On the 23rd July 1900 there was a severe storm of cyclonic proportions with the wind blowing up to 185 kilometres per hour at times. The storm struck the timber port of Hamelin Bay in the south-west of Western Australia and caused several boats to be wrecked as well as causing severe damage to trees, telegraph lines, railway lines and buildings. In the early hours of the morning the German barque was washed ashore and several men drowned as they attempted to swim to shore. Another seven men were stranded on board the battered ship.
This illustrated book tells the story of the rescue of these men by the Harbour Master, John Delfs, and four other men who rowed a lifeboat out to the stricken Katinka in terrible seas and devastating winds. The story is written through the eyes of John Delfs son, Jimmy.
John Delfs and his crew of four (L. C Peterson, Carl Carlson, S. Neilson, and Frank Johnston) were each awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze medal for the rescue. The Kaiser of Germany also showed his appreciation of the bravery displayed in rescuing the crew of the German vessel by presenting a gold watch with the Imperial cipher and a portrait engraved on the case to Mr. John Delfs, Harbour Master at Hamelin Bay.
Peter Delfs is a Primary School teacher who has taught throughout the state of Western Australia and is currently teaching at Margaret River Primary School in the south-west of WA. Peter's 49 years' experience in teaching 11 and 12-year-old students has taught him the importance of getting their attention through interesting and exciting scenarios in order for them to read books.Peter, who has four sons, lives in a bush block near the beach seaside hamlet of Gracetown and after having built his mudbrick house now spends his leisure time fishing, mountain biking, swimming, particularly early morning, or travelling and camping with his wife to various isolated areas of Australia. Peter also takes an avid interest in his local community and is in charge of the local volunteer Bushfire Brigade that has been involved in many fires throughout the area.While being interested in history, Peter enjoys researching local stories and has included a piece of local history that is not well known in the area in his book Katinka, which was illustrated by his artist wife, Cherry.
