compass and a book of charts. They negotiated extremely hazardous reefs on their way into Fremantle. As it turned out the fishermen at Shark Bay had already had been mentored by Jack Drinan, a skilled Queensland prawner who was in charge of six trawlers all named Nor but numbered one to six. This was the same Jack Drinan who was shipwrecked on 26 April 1963 and declared lost, but was sensationally found seventeen days later, in the open sea, clinging to the trawler’s refrigerator door. Montford and Messenger were part of the search party. In the company of Drinan and his surviving boats the Friendship R saw out the rest of the fishing and prawning season, while domiciled at the Shark Bay whaling station. In October 1963 Montford and Messenger decided to leave Carnarvon and return to Evans Head by the top end of the Australian continent. In the company of two other boats, the Toowoon Bay and the Rambler, they proceeded along the coastline north to Exmouth Gulf and then east to Darwin. On this leg of the trip, a crisis occurred when, in a calm sea, their engine failed. The sails, gifted by Sydney yachtsman Englebert “Boy” Messenger, were not helpful as there was no wind. Fortunately, Reg Massey, skipper of the Rambler sensed something was wrong, doubled back, found the Friendship R and towed it into the port of Darwin. When all was repaired and overhauled in Darwin the Friendship R set out across the unpredictable Gulf of Carpentaria. They stopped at Elcho Island where they received enthusiastic hospitality from the locals. They were similarly welcomed at Thursday Island. They then proceeded back to Evans Head via Cairns and Tin Can Bay. The Friendship R was the first fishing trawler or similar vessel to circumnavigate Australia. It is considered a pioneer voyage in Australia's history. Messenger left for other pursuits and Rex Montford lived out his life in Evans Head, honoured and respected by the local population. He is buried in the local cemetery. References Sturt, Charles,'Two Expeditions into the Interior of Southern Australia during the years 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831 with Observations on the Soil, Climate and general Resources of the Colony of New South Wales,' Vol 1 London, Smith Elder and Co, 1833, map facing LXXX Map is titled: Map of the Discoveries in Australia copied from the latest M. S. Surveys in the Colonial