Remembering a Tragic Loss: Two Canoeists Missing off Magnetic Island (1962)
In June 1962, bushwalkers John Bowkett and Peter Hetherington set out by canoe from The Strand to Magnetic Island and never returned. Despite extensive land, sea, and air searches, they were never found—leaving a lasting impact on Townsville’s outdoor community.
In June 1962, the Townsville outdoor community was shaken by the disappearance of two young men who had set out on a canoeing trip to Magnetic Island and never returned.
On Saturday afternoon, 16 June 1962, John Raymond Bowkett (24), a married member of the R.A.A.F., and Peter Hetherington (18), a clerk and President of the Townsville N.P.C. Bushwalkers’ Club, departed from The Strand in a 16 ft 6 in yellow canoe. With red sails and paddles, they were bound for Florence Bay on the eastern side of Magnetic Island, planning to visit the Boy Scouts’ camp before returning to the mainland that evening.
When the men failed to return, police were alerted and an extensive land, sea, and air search began. Constable Frame of the Magnetic Island police scoured the rugged coastline, travelling by car to West Point before walking several kilometres along slippery northern headlands. Locals reported seeing a canoe with a bright red sail moored at Arcadia over the weekend, but no confirmed sightings of the men or their craft were ever made.
Two Neptunes from No. 10 Maritime Squadron at Garbutt were deployed, sweeping the coastline from the air at 1500 ft, while light planes from the Bush Pilots and Townsville Aero Club joined the effort. Crash launches and chartered vessels also combed the island and surrounding waters. The father of Peter Hetherington, Mr Arthur Hetherington, personally assisted in the search by travelling around the island in a chartered launch before nightfall.
Despite the intensive efforts, both men were never found and are believed to have drowned.
This tragedy deeply affected the Townsville N.P.C. Bushwalkers’ Club. Peter Hetherington, as president, had been a driving force in the club’s activities and, along with Bowkett, shared a keen enthusiasm for canoe building and outdoor exploration. Their loss was felt across the local adventure and scouting communities, a stark reminder of both the allure and the risks of the sea that surrounds us.
