Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Alfred Edward Percival KEARNEY and Alice Maud nee EVANS

Husband of Rose May KEARNEY nee POLLOCK

BOATING DISASTER.
THREE MEN MISSING.
FATHER, SON AND
HOTELKEEPER.
Portions of Wreckage Found, PORT FAIRY, Monday . — As the result of a boating disaster late this afternoon it is feared that three residents, Mr Perce Kearney,, his son, Mr. Roy  Kearney, and Mr. TV. E. Willson, licensee of the Commercial Hotel at Port Fairy, have lost their lives. The three men left the anchorage in the River Moyne shortly after 1 p.m. in a  fishing boat owned by Mr. Roy Kearney, with the object of fishing for trumpeter. Shortly before 4 p.m. two children at the State school, which is situated on a hill and commands a  view of portion of the south beach, reported that they had noticed a fishing boat near the breakers, but the next minute there was no sign of it. The school is situated about half a mile from the beach. Fishermen were then informed, and immediately a number of residents and fishermen went to the spot. By this time a portion of the wrecked boat had been  washed up on the rocks, including wood from the bow, sails and a broken mast. A thorough search of the surrounding rocks and beach was made, but no trace of the three men  was found. A watch was kept until darkness set in, but with out result. The search will be continued at daybreak tomorrow. A fairly rough and treacherous sea was running the  whole day. The place where the disaster took place is situated about half a mile west from the South Beach men's dressing sheds. About half a mile from the shore there is a long  line of rocks and breakers, and it was near these that, the men were fishing.
The three men are married, with families. Mr. Roy Kearney is a returned soldier.