An Eventful Journey

How Great-Grandfather Hans Edvard Andreasson came to Australia - in his own words!

Needless to say, Hans Edvard Andreasson ‘Falk’, remained an enigma to his Australian descendants throughout his life here. From early on, we were informed that he had been born in the  beautiful village of Grebbestad, Sweden  (see image above) and was a ships carpenter in his younger days.  A much-revered legend was passed down through the family for three generations that Hans had jumped ship after almost losing his life at sea and had walked barefoot from Newcastle, New South Wales to Warwick in Queensland. However, that was about the extent of our knowledge. According to senior members of the Falk family, Hans never discussed his kin or his early life in Sweden. Inquisitive youngsters who dared ask questions were soon put in their place; to ask these questions was considered bad-mannered and disrespectful. People simply did not discuss their private lives back then but Hans certainly sparked some curiosity over the years! 

How fortunate we are that Hans, then known as Hans or Ned Falk, decided to provide some details about his eventful arrival in Australia in an interview with the Glen Innes Examiner in 1934, just four years before he died.  The article from the issue dated 4 Aug 1934, reads as follows: 

NO MONOTONY IN MR ‘NED’ FALK'S EARLY LIFE ON A SAILING BOAT 

To sail the seven seas in an old sailing boat - carry strange cargo between the main countries of the world - look death in the face in a shipwreck near New Caledonia - run away from his boat in Sydney only to walk 450 miles barefooted - These have been only a few of the many experiences of Mr. Hans Edward Falk, of College Hill, Glen Innes. Mr. Falk, who does not appear to feel the full burden of 81 years, was born in Sweden and as a young man joined one of the sailing ships, which carried cargo to many strange countries. 

Wandering about the world as a young man, Mr. Falk told an ‘Examiner’ representative this morning that he had seen India, America, Germany, France, Finland, and Denmark. He had been in England as often as he had fingers on his hands, whilst the boat he was on carried a cargo of ice to Scotland. 

NEARLY SHIPWRECKED 

When he was 26 years of age he sailed from New York for Japan with a cargo of kerosene oil, but he was not destined to see the Far East on that occasion. When nearing the end of the journey the boat ran into a terrific cyclone, which nearly meant the end of all hands. The rigging went overboard and placed the boat at such an angle that the port railing was under water. The vessel was on the edge of a 30-mile reef and all hands expected to find that the boat would be smashed to matchwood at any moment. The skipper was accompanied on the voyage by his wife and so great was the danger at different intervals, that on three occasions, he took farewell of her. 

However, a miracle saved them from being carried on to the reef, and owing to a change in the wind, they were unable to put into New Caledonia. Rigging up what sail was possible they tried to set a course for Sydney, only to find that the rudder had been broken. With the aid of a long spar, tackle, and windlass, they were able to construct a makeshift [rudder] to meet the occasion and it was only possible to get under way after 11 feet of water was pumped out of the hold. It was a very badly battered ship which eventually arrived at Port Jackson. 

A LONG TREK 

Mr. Falk lost everything in the cyclone and when he went on shore, he had only a pair of short trousers and a flannel shirt. He was devoid of shoes, socks, coat, or hat. With £4.0.0 [$8.00] which he received as wages from the skipper, he was able to make some necessary purchases, some of which were obtained from a pawnshop. 

It was then that four of the men decided to forsake the seas for their livelihood and they ran away. They came north to Newcastle by steamer and from there set out to walk. Mr. Falk was wearing a pair of elastic sided boots which were slightly too small for him and it was not long before he was forced to throw these aside. 

From just outside Newcastle to Warwick, in Queensland, a distance of over 450 miles [730km], he walked barefooted and was unable to obtain employment at all. At Warwick, he was employed for a short time by a Scotch lady and Mr. Falk warmly exclaimed, ‘If there was ever a lady, she was one!’ 

After a short time, he found employment in the construction of a railway bridge on the line from Warwick to Stanthorpe and with the few pounds he received from this, he purchased a horse and saddle. A mate joined him in this, but after they had placed all their belongings on the horses, they did not have room to ride. Great amusement was caused in Stanthorpe when the two travellers passed through that centre, Mr. Falk with a young pup in a sugar bag with two legs, a tail, and a head poking out. 

‘We soon decided to throw away our goods’, said Mr. Falk, ‘and with the lightened burden, were able to ride the horses’. 

After putting in three years at Stannifer, he came to the Glen Innes district just on 51 years ago and has remained here ever since. 

There were two other occasions on which Mr. Falk was nearly shipwrecked, once on the coast of Norway on Christmas Eve, and again on the Atlantic en route from Norway to Quebec. On the latter occasion, the vessel went down four hours after the crew ceased pumping, but luckily, a rescue vessel was at hand. 

For 30 years, Mr. Falk has been an enthusiastic member of the School of Arts, and proudly relates the fact that he made the biggest score from a shut hand of dominoes ever recorded in the institution. That occurred in a game against Mr. R. O'Hara when he made 107. On one other occasion, he made 104 against his comrade ‘Uncle’, Mr. George Coupland.

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Great-Grandfather Hans Falk's story continues on the 'Glen Innes NSW 'page. See tab at top.