Bossy Jones - The Guardian of the River.

On January 9th, 1936 the Argus Newspaper headlines read:

SAVED FIVE FROM DROWNING

WITHIN ONE WEEK

YOUTH’S COURAGEOUS WORK!

The youth was Bossy Jones. Over the ensuing decades he was to become a popular local identity, well known to many Carrum people and known to all of the Carrum Cowboys. Godfrey Jones was born in 1919, by the time he was 16 years of age he was affectionately known around the district as Bossy Jones. _[1] Bossy lived in Broadway Avenue, Bonbeach, his father Lloyd in his younger years had travelled carrying his swag around Australia he had ridden in rodeos and had been a champion buck rider_[2]. It is thought Lloyd had also at some point in his life been a drover. By the 1950's Lloyd had a wooden leg and could often be seen riding around in his horse driven cart. _[2]

During a recent interview Ivan Guy stated that the event that led to Lloyd having an wooden leg was as follows, 'Lloyd and his mate had been drinking at the Chelsea hotel when they decided they would move on down to the Riveria Hotel in Carrum for a few more drinks. It was night time and they were traveling by horse and jinker when they were hit by a car'. As a result of the accident Lloyd's leg was amputated and that was how according to Ivan he ended up with a wooden one._[3]

In 1936 Melbourne's Argus Newspaper featured several articles about the 16 year old Godfrey ' Bossy' Jones. It detailed how Bossy saved the lives of five people in one week. Apparently, one day early in the week, Bossy saved two people from drowning. The following day, he saved another two people and in the last incident, he had been riding his bike along the road, when he heard cries from beneath the bridge. He dived fully clothed from the top of the bridge and rescued a young girl who was drowning. _[1]

In 1936 Bossy received an honorary award from the Royal Humane Society for his bravery in those rescues. _[4]

Ken Dahlstrom knows all about Bossy Jones and his ability of saving people's lives. He has vivid memories of the day Bossy rescued him. Ken said it was very hot when he decided go for a swim near the mouth of the Patterson river. He said in those days the river was a lot narrower and with the changing tides the waters would rapidly ebb in and out. He said he jumped in but he didn’t realise the tide had changed and the water was quickly moving into the bay. Ken said he lost his footing and was swept out. He said he had trouble keeping his head above the water when he felt his arm being grabbed. Fortunately Bossy Jones had seen what was happening and came to the rescue. He grabbed hold of Ken's arm and brought him back to the shore. Ken said, if Bossy had not been there that day he probably would have drowned.! _[5]

Bossy Jones died in 1980, during his lifetime it is reported he saved 83 people from drowning. In November 2006 an article in the Chelsea News called Bossy Jones, 'The Guardian of the River.' A plaque commemorating his life and bravery is situated at the Beauty Spot overlooking the river.

Author

Carole Ross

Acknowledgements

1. NLA. Australian Newspapers. Argus, January 10, 1936. Retrieved September, 2009. http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/11871855?

2.Ross C. Interview Mike Pearson 2011

3. Ross C. Interview Ivan Guy. June 2011

4. Chelsea Historical Society notes.

5. Ross C. Interview Ken Dahlstrom. 2009

Photos courtesy of

Chelsea Historical Society.