Interesting graves in South Australia:
Dao Thanh
At Stenhouse Bay at the toe of Yorke Peninsula overlooking
the sea can be found the lonely grave of a man who caused
a lot of people some problems due to the circumstances of
his death. Some writers could not even decide the poor man’s
nationality and he was originally described as a Tongan
(ie a man from the Pacific island of Tonga) when in fact
he was Vietnamese born in Tonkin (the past name for the
former North Vietnam).
Dao Thanh died at sea after breaking his neck in a shipboard
accident at 6:30pm on 25 March 1940 aboard the SS Notou
on approach to Stenhouse Bay to collect a consignment of
gypsum for Noumea. Although it would seem that the vessel
was in local South Australian waters, the death occurred
on a foreign vessel and this resulted in some difficulties.
Eventually it was decided to bury Dao Thanh ashore with
a Buddist ceremony and there the grave remained unmarked
until the present headstone was erected by the Vietnamese
community in 1997. The death was never registered.
Reading the records gives an insight into the dilemma faced
by authorities and they tell the story as well I can. The
Advertiser 12 Jun 1980 features the story but the
best account can be found in the book by Harold Norandale,
To and about Yorke Peninsula, Coffey Printing,
Stirling SA, 1983 p48.
An unmarked grave here contains the body of a Tongan
seaman who was a foreman on the vessel “SS Tota”.
His name was Dao Thanh Le and he was 27 years of age. On
the 25th March 1940, he broke his neck in an accident on
board his ship. The ship pulled into Stenhouse Bay and shortly
afterwards he died. Permission was given to bring his body
ashore and bury it. A carpenter from the Waratah Gypsum
Company made a coffin and he was given a Buddhist funeral.
This event caused some consternation among the local
JPs who could see visions of Coroners inquests, post mortem
and general bad luck thrown in.
However the ship berthed safely at 9:30 am 26th. After tying
up loading commenced at 11 am and continued without trouble
until finished at 10:30 am 27th. Ship sailed at 11:15 am
direct to Noumea, vessel got fairly well out from Jetty
on leaving, approx. 120 ft. on clearing wharf. Breast rope
was carried along, tide running, slight S.W. wind, sea very
calm. Ships siren blew 3 long blasts just as full ahead
was given which I interpret as a farewell to the member
of the crew left behind.
The death of the Tonganese caused some trouble, as apparently
no person in authority knew what to do, as they had no precedent.
By authority I mean those persons who sit in sumptuous offices
and sip tea, spend the tax payers money and refer to the
office boy when they want to know anything. They live a
shelving life, shelving things on to someone else. However,
by dint of much telephoning, exhausting of patience, and
general gnashing of teeth, we were at last given permission
to bring the chap on shore. Then there was a rush to make
a coffin and we had to be sure it would fit, so a live man
test was made. The Doctor found the neck had been broken.
Meanwhile our carpenter was not feeling so good, nerves
I suppose. Then came the fixing of the corpse in the coffin.
This was done by the Tonganese friends of the deceased.
They performed the last rites according to the Buddhist
religion. Some cards which we took to be money were placed
in the coffin at the head and feet. The coffin lid was then
fixed by our carpenter, who seemed to whack the nails with
unnecessary vigour. The coffin was then carried to the burial
site overlooking the sea. Before being lowered 4 candles
were placed on the coffin and lit, also a bowl of rice and
chopsticks, probably to light his way in the darkness and
feed him when he gets wherever he may be going. After the
grave was filled in, one of the crew said some part of a
litany which ended the proceedings.
This was a sad affair and we don't want anymore of them.
A rail will be erected around the grave and a plate put
up showing name of deceased. Dao Thanh - 27 years - born
in Tonkin.
Every time I see this grave, I cannot help thinking, what
a wonderful place to spend eternity!
Dao Thanh
Le Tonkinios
Died at sea
25-3-40
Lower 2nd plaque:
To commemorate
Dao Thanh
The first Vietnamese to
Arrive at Yorke Peninsula
South Australia
Died on 25-3-1940
Erected by the Vietnamese Community of SA
13.11.1997
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Sources:
Harold Norandale, To and about Yorke Peninsula,
Coffey Printing, Stirling SA, 1983 p48
Advertiser 12 Jun 1980
Photographs by Theresa Jack
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