Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), Thursday 24 February 1938, page 6


DEATH OF CAPTAIN

S. WILKINSON

Former Harbour Master

at Rockhampton

Captain Stephen Wilkinson former Harbour Master at Rockhampon, died suddenly from heart trouble in Bris-bane yesterday morning. He was a native of Devon, England, and was in his 89th year.

Like many sons of Devon, Captain Wilkinson took to the sea at an early age and after serving his apprentice ship on sailing vessels rose to the rank

of master. One of his first commands was the full rigged ship Geraldine Paget, which was engaged in the East-ern sea trade. With the gradual de-cline of sailing vessels Captain Wilkin-son transferred to steamers, and he made many trips from Devon to foreign ports.

Soon after his arrival in Australia in 1886 he was engaged by the A.S.N. Co. (later the A.U.S.N.) and was captain of the Leichhardt, Alexandria, Corea, and Egmont, which traded along the

THE LATE CAPTAIN S.

WILKINSON.

Eastern coast. He was afterwards ap-pointed pilot in charge at Curtis Is-land, and on the retirement of the late Captain A. E. Sykes became Har-bour Master at Rockhampton, a post that he filled for eight years, until his retirement about 19 years ago. For the past 10 years Captain Wilkinson had resided in Brisbane with his two daughters.

The late Captain Wilkinson leaves two daughters---Misses Lillian and Winifred (Brisbane) and four sons---Messrs Gerald, Acting General Manager for Railways (Rockhampton), Robert (Rockhampton), John (Townsville), and Stephen (Melbourne). His wife pre-

deceased him 23 years ago.

Mr Gerald Wilkinson left yesterday

afternoon for Brisbane, where the fun-eral, which will be of a private nature, will take place this morning.