The Author, the Photographer and the Elusive Sea Captain

In this 150th anniversary year of the S.S. Georgette shipwreck disaster off the south-west coast of WA, author Marcia van Zeller and photographer John Bowskill reveal the contradictory accounts of this historical event.

Over several years, John and Marcia have been sharing their research and perspectives on aspects of the Georgette disaster, including the popular legend that 16-year-old Grace Bussell and Aboriginal stockman Sam Isaacs rode horses into the waves and helped passengers to dry land, and the tragic figure of Captain John Godfrey, who was much maligned in the colony after the Georgette disaster and later took his own life.

In this illustrated talk they reflect on how accounts of the past are dominated by the testimonies of literate, wealthy and powerful people.

Their presentation will also include a demonstration of an interactive AI-assisted module developed by John Bowskill, allowing the user to 'quiz Captain John Godfrey' on his life and work.

Presented by the authors in association with Totally Lit and the Shipwrecks Museum.

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