Thousands gathered when a ship ran aground off Caloundra in the early 1980s, threatening a pristine environment, but none were given a closer look at the unfolding drama than a nine-year-old boy called Alex.
On October 29, 1981, the 213m container vessel Anro Asia struck the sand on the northern tip of Bribie Island, sparking a major rescue operation and creating headlines around the nation — and world.
The 16,336-tonne ship had sustained damage to several bottom tanks while entering Moreton Bay. It was carrying 1100 tonnes of fuel and up to 100 tonnes were released into the sea. Oil reached the shore on Bribie Island and Caloundra beaches, resulting in a week-long clean-up.
Two Chinook helicopters were dispatched from the RAAF base at Williamtown, NSW, and these helped lift 84 containers off the vessel, which eventually allowed tugboats to tow it free.
Away from the spotlight, but providing vital support, were helicopter pilots from City and Country Helicopters, based at Caloundra Airport.
On light and nimble Flying Hiller 12e machines, more commonly used for mustering, pilot training and mining surveys, they transported people and provisions to the ship over five days.
The three-seater choppers also assisted the RAAF operations. As the Chinooks dropped containers at the airport, the “strops” (bands/ropes) supporting the containers were jettisoned and the smaller helicopters would pick these up and fly them back to the ship so the process could be repeated.
On one day, nine-year-old Alex Crawford arrived home from Caloundra State School and his chopper pilot dad Bruce asked him: “Do you want to come for a fly?”
Bruce, now 78, an ex-Navy man and Vietnam War veteran, was an experienced instructor who had some very famous students over the years, including long-serving Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and Aussie icon Dick Smith.
He still lives locally and Alex, now 49, is a popular figure at Caloundra Cricket Club, where he and his son Jett, 18, both play.
“I said: ‘Sure’. I had flown with him before and it was always fun. I had no idea what we were going to do, or how special this was going to be,” Alex told Sunshine Coast News.
“We had one other person on board and flew out to the container ship. The landing spot was on a container on the deck,” he said.
“It was pretty cool. This was the talk of the town and all over the TV. Heaps of people had lined the shore to see this ship that had run aground right out the front of Caloundra and here I was on it.
“It was a pretty dramatic situation at the time and I remember the pelicans and beaches where I used to fish for flathead being covered in oil.”
Alex followed in his father’s flight path and is now a helicopter pilot working in oil and gas in Western Australia.
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The Caloundra Power Boat Club this weekend will mark the 40th anniversary of the running aground of the Singapore-based Anro Asia.
It has a close association with the event that rocked the quiet town as it was used as a communication post until the vessel was refloated on November 6, 1981.
Salvage Pacific Ltd, which was responsible for freeing the ill-fated ship, gave the club a flag from the vessel in recognition of its support during the rescue and this flag is framed and on display.
Caloundra Power Boat Club members came together, along with past Commodore Norm Pardella, to host a free commemoration and family fun day on Sunday.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we are proud of the achievements we’ve made since, and we look forward to the future,” operations manager Shane Anderson said.
“We’ve seen a lot of changes over the years, but one thing remains the same — our community will continue to unite in times of need.”
