Anthony Dwyer
Job Description
2nd Mate, Deckhand
Period
1968 - 1969
Anthony (Tony) worked for the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company for one season, on the Gascoyne under skipper Reijo Simojoki. Names remembered from that time are Joe Gimondo (the little Italian), Snowy (Hendrick Van Duyn), John McNess, George Loe and Paddy Hart.
Anthony saw out the season on the Gascoyne, crewing it up to Fremantle for dry dock, and made the first trip of the next season on the Cheynes 1V, but was offered a job on the Port Hedland tugs so “pulled the plug”.
Reijo Simojoki had ignited his interest in navigation and he was able to relieve Snowy as 2nd Mate before he left the employ of the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company. He later went on and studied for his Masters Ticket which he acquired in 1981.
He has fond memories of his season on the Gascoyne and has penned a little story.
"One incident remembered, the first hunt on the Cheynes 1V we’d shot a big bull but didn’t kill it – still on the fore-runner the bull swam out on the port beam – turned and rammed us springing the port side on the fuel tank. We had to return to port in order to carry out repairs. The skipper was Reijo Simojoki, Mate, George Loe, 2nd Mate Snowy, Engineer John Mc Ness."
Dwyer Anthony