Susan.
Perhaps the incident your grandmother spoke of was the capsizing of the launch Rodney when seeing off the US cruiser Louisville in 1938.
SUNK SYDNEY LAUNCH RECOVERED NINE DEAD, 10 MISSING SYDNEY, Feb.14 "Divers to-day located the pbuttenger launch Rodney, which capsized and sank yesterday while travelling down the harbour to bid farewell to the United States cruiser Louisville, and she was partly raised and towed close inshore. The bodies of three girls and one boy were recovered, bringing the total number of bodies found to nine. The fall of dusk postponed the recovery of other bodies till to-morrow. Ten persons are still missing. An official report from the officers of the Louisville to the Maritime Board indicates that owing to the list of the launch they expected that if she turned from a straight course she would capsize. Mr. Rosman, the owner of the Rodney, commenting on the fact that a photograph taken before the disaster showed approximately 90 persons standing on the top deck, when the regulations provided for a maximum of 60, said that when the launch neared the Louisville it was impossible, in spite of the efforts of himself and a deck-hand, to prevent pbuttengers from climbing up to the top desk." The Times, 15 Feb 1938
Though I'm sure there have been many other accidents in the harbour.
regards,
Martin Elliget Fig Tree Pocket QLD Australia
("Susan Jones")
