The Vision
The Vision, pictured loading onions and chicory on Ventnor Beach c1915. It was wrecked off the Nobbies in July 1917. Photo: John Jansson collection.
The Vision: came to grief off the Nobbies
The 22 ton Vision, originally built in NSW, was plagued with mishaps.
She worked in Victorian waters for over three decades and four crewman were lost from her in this time.
It was owned by EF Jansson from 1912 and traded between Westernport and Melbourne.
After trading chicory and onions throughout the Westernport region for over three decades, a crew member named Victor fell overboard, while attempting to fill a bucket of water, in 1912.
In July 1917, near the Nobbies, the Vision ran into a boisterous gale during which she sprang a number of leaks and foundered.
Mr Jansson and his mate took to a lifeboat.
In 15 hours they drifted the full length of Phillip Island without being able to attract attention, and finally struck a reef near Kilcunda.
Both were thrown into the sea and began the long swim toward the shore.
The mate disappeared suddenly.
As the book “Phillip Island in Picture and Story” records, just what happened will never be known, but he appeared to be swimming strongly a few moments before this happened.
After a gruelling experience, Mr Jansson managed to make a difficult landing near Kilcunda, and suffering exposure and exhaustion, managed to climb to safety and reach a farmhouse.
The Vision drifted all the way down to Walkerville.
Its hull was found later in 1917 and was towed to Waratah Bay where it was blown up.