Alexander Ernest Goodall (1856 - 1931)

NOV 17TH 1931 CAPTAIN ALEXANDER GOODALL. THE death of the late Captain Alexander Goodall which occurred on November 17, removed a well-known identity in shipping and sailing circle throughout Queensland. Born at Kirkcaldy, Scotland, in 1856, the late Captain Goodall was the son of Captain D. M. Goodall and came with his father to Queensland in the sailing ship GOLDEN EMPIRE when 6 years of age. Spending practically all his time on his father's boats, he was appren- ticed to the sea at the age of 10 years and obtained his first discharge from the ISABELLA a sailing ship, in 1869 when only 13 years old. He sat for and obtained his master's certificate at 19 years of age. As chief officer on THE WAVE OF LIFE, a schooner of 73 tons, in charge of Captain Monat, bound from Sydney to Broad Sound, on November 10, 1875, he took command when the captain was washed over board in very heavy weather, which was experienced shortly after the schooner left Sydney. Later he ob- tained his deepsea, foreign-going, and extra master's certificate. In the early days at Tewantin, the late Captain Goodall had charge of Messrs. M'Ghie and Luya's S.S. Culgoa, and remained in charge of this boat for 17 years till she foundered at Noosa Heads. In recognition of the occasion the pas- sengers on board presented him with an illuminated address. Later Captain Goodall joined Mr. James Clark's fleet of pearl fishers, and was engaged in Thursday Island waters for some time. He also commanded the S.S.FLINDERS, owned by Messrs. William Collins and Co., and afterwards he had charge of the S.S. INNAMINKA and the S.S. ALINGA,of the Adelaide Steamship Company, Ltd. The late Captain Goodall acted as pilot for the company for six or seven years when he took the sugar boats into Lucinda Point. His last trip as master on the coast was to take the S.S. WAKEFIELD to New Guinea. Join- ing the Harbours and Rivers Department, he was for 17 years in charge of several of the dredges, and retired about four years ago. During the hey day of the Brisbane aquarium at Hemmant, Captain Goodall was in charge of the ferry boat NATONA. Besides holding No. 1 ticket on the Queensland Marine Board, the late Captain Goodall, who had the record of having saved in all about 12 lives from drowning, had been publicly recognised on two occasions for his bravery, receiving the Victorian Humane Society's certificate in June, 1883. This certificate was presented by the late Marquis of Normanby. He also received the Royal Human Society's certificate accompanied by the Sir William Clarke Medal (the first given in Queensland), in 1885, for having saved the life of Ernest Simmonds at Noosa. The late Captain Goodall married in 1878 Miss Cassandra M'Ewan, the eldest daughter of Pilot Thomas Forsyth M'Ewan, of Broad Sound. Of a bright and jovial disposition, he had endeared himself to a very large circle of friends. Prior to his death Mr. Gavin Rankin, of Annerley gave two transfusions of blood in an endeavour to save his life. He is survived by three sons and two daughters, one son, Corporal Colin Goodall, a member of the 26th Battalion, having been killed on active service, two other sons having also served in the Great War. Three brothers and one sister (Miss Annie Goodall of Milton), and nine grandchildren also are left.