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COSSACK RE-OPENS AMID CELEBRATIONS (1979, June 14). Hamersley News (Perth, WA : 1969 - 1987), p. 16. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214547359
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The spirit of the late 1800s was revived when Cossack was officially re-opened as a historical and recreational centre on Sunday May 13 by the Premier of Western Australia, Sir Charles Court.
This ceremony was the first in a series of events organised by the Way '79 Reobourne Shire Committee.
As the major event of Way '79 in the Pilbara, the re-opening celebrations ran from May 13–27.
Had the Chairman of the Cossack Town Council in 1875, Mr. William Shakespeare Hall, been present he would have been both proud and a little astonished.
As an estimated 1500 people streamed into Cossack, cars jammed the streets and parking became almost non-existent.
Proceedings commenced with a re-enactment of the landing of the Withnell family by the Wickham Amateur Theatre Society.
John Withnell, his wife Emma, John Hancock and his sister Fanny rowned in from the imaginary Sea Ripple, and received a bigger welcome than their counterparts in 1864.
Following several speeches, Sir Charles Court unveiled a plaque commemorating the occasion and Cossack was officially re-opened.
The occasion was enhanced by the presence of a number of descendents of the Cossack pioneers dressed in clothes typical of the times.
Among them was Mrs. Margaret Wilson (William Shakespeare Hall's grand-daughter), Joan Wallace from Queensland, Mrs. Hancock, and Mr. J. Edney (Edney family), A.G. Withnell and Mrs. Nancy Taylor (John Withnell's great grand-daughter), Edgar Truslove, Mrs. Penny Davy (R.J. Schell's grand-daughter), various members of the Thompson family including Mr. and Mrs. Dowling and Mrs. Philippe from Victoria.
A pioneers luncheon was held for the descendents in the Cossack customs house on Tuesday May 15 with approximately 150 people attending. Roasts, trifles, pies, pickled onions and cheese were all prepared and cooked in traditional pioneering style.
'Of Barque and Battleship', a play written my Mrs. Margaret Hamilton of Perth and performed by the Dampier and Districts Repertory Company was a highlight of the Cossack celebrations.
The pilbara Regional Administrators office commissioned the play with financial and technical assistance from the Way '79 Entertainment Committee and the W.A. Arts Council.
Taking the form of a narrative interwoven with re-enacted scenes, the play brought to life many of the major events in the history of Cossack.
The play opened on Wednesday May 16 with a full house and ran until May 19.
A unique setting was provided by utilising the verandah alongside the customs house with the seating being out in the open air.
Minor misfortune struck on the third night of the play when rain poured down just beforeI would suggest reading through the Gerrit tutorial or other documentation, to get more of an idea of how Gerrit works. It's a bit of a different system to what most people are used to! curtain time. But 'the show must go on' and with the adaptability of the pioneers, seats, lights, sets and sound equipment were transferred into the customs house. The large audience were not disappointed although the rain dinning on the tin roof created background effect with a difference. On Saturday May 19 and Sunday 20, activities were provided for family enjoyment. Local arts and crafts, a treasure hunt, and old pistols were displayed while overhead the Whickham Skydivers and the Pilbara Soaring Club performed their skills.
During the mornings of the school holidays, earth games were conducted for the children down on Settlers Beach.
Sunday May 27 saw the final two events. A 'Fun-Run' from the Whickham to Cossack got underway at 9am. More than one hundred and sevent men, women and children lined up at Elders, Wickham, for the run. Ray Purdue of Port Hedland was first across the line of the 11.5km course in forty minutes twenty eight seconds. He won and air ticket to Sydney to compete in the City-to-Surf race in August. Deidre Criddle was the first woman across the line and to prove that age is no barrier, even four year old Simon McGill completed the run.
In the afternoon, a combined thanksgiving service led by representatives of the Ministers Fraternal was held in the Cossack customs house to round off what had been a successful two weeks of many and varied events.