The historic town of Croki, located on Jones Island, lies 13 kilometres from Harrington along the northern channel of the Manning River. In 1887, a punt service was established to connect Ferry Road in Croki with Ruprechts Road on Mitchells Island.1 The punt was a vital link between the islands and operated for nearly a century.
The years of service though were not without incident. In 1936, ferryman Ernest Garland was awarded a bravery medal for rescuing a two year old boy who fell overboard. Garland undertook this rescue at great risk to his own life as he was unable to swim himself.2 Five years later he conducted a similar rescue at Wingham.3
In 1950, following years of complaints about the unreliable service due to a worn-out engine, the punt was fully overhauled and remodelled. Just one month after its return to service, it flipped and sank when a truck and jinker loaded with logs capsized the vessel. A rope tied to a Council truck manoeuvred the punt back into position days later.4
Without bridges, the islands’ residents relied heavily on the service to transport them to events such as sporting competitions, church services and funerals held at Mitchells Island Cemetery.
The service finally ceased operation in the 1970s with only the remnants of the ferry approaches remaining today.5
Author: Janine Roberts
References:
1 NSW Government Gazette, 30 Sep 1887 [Issue No. 18870701-18870930], xxvi.
2 Northern Champion, 15 Jan 1936, 1.
3 Manning River Times, 17 Dec 1941, 2.
4 Northern Champion, 8 Nov 1950, 1.
5 Suters Architects Snell, Greater Taree City Council Heritage Study Final Report, Newcastle: September 1990.
