They would even cut the mould off and eat the bread, she would make a new batch every second day. Her children recall the stores coming onto the island, and the smell of the apple boxes in the crates with straw.
Jessie also learnt to make ginger beer and beer. Jess had let her stores run down because they were due for a shift change so she had to cook fried scones and jam, as all they had were the chicken’s eggs and flour, but no butter, for a month. Once this happened, and a stores boat could not land for a month, frustratingly they could see the boats coming towards them and then being unable to land, finally turning around and leaving again. Jess was the only person who at that time successfully grew flowers on South Solitary Island, petunias and carnations, as her husband made a wind break to help them to grow along with the root vegetables.įried scones and eggs were the staples if the stores did not come. There were giant oysters also on the island and fish was a main component of everyone’s diet. The stores boat coming in was always an exciting event.
She had to make sure she kept a good food store that could last months in case there were any storms or problems with boats bringing stores out. They would throw a rope out to tie the mailbag to that had the food inside, as the mailbag was waterproof.
LIVE IN LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER JOBS CODE
They would place their food stores order via Morse Code in the evening and fishermen would bring it out to them once a fortnight. The Tulk Family Swimming at South Solitary Island, Picture courtesy of Coffs Harbour Regional Museum. They lived there for 5 years and she remembers her time living on South Solitary Island fondly and that she and the children loved it on the secluded island. Jessie was 33 years of age when she moved to South Solitary Island with her 3 children and husband Mr Wilfred Reginald Tulk after he was offered the job of lighthouse keeper. ( Berzins, North Coast Women – A History to 1939, P. “Dolly Lee” also owned one of the early banana plantations in Coffs Harbour in the 1920s, and worked “like a man” all day, supplying bananas to local stores, she would even “chip” down the plantation when the bananas were ready and carry them on her back.
Her mother “Dolly Lee” (Margaret) was a renowned cook, and worked at the Pier Hotel while Jessie was growing up, as did Jessie once she was 14 years old. Jessie came from a family of hard working women. But Jessie Tulk and her daughter Mercedes Sauerstein tell the tales of how the island was never boring or lonely and there was excitement and plenty of activities to keep them entertained. The assumption of it being hard work is correct. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on a small island? Many people might assume that living on South Solitary Island with only your children and husband for 5 years would be hard work and lonely. This month is the the 140 year anniversary of the South Solitary Island lighthouse.
South Solitary Lighthouse Keepers and Families circa 1935, Right Back: Jessie and Wilfred Tulk, Picture courtesy of Coffs Harbour Regional Museum 07-4467.
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