The Beachport-Rivoli Bay Lions Club has recently undertaken a special project with members gathering to repair the structure covering Lanky’s Well at Beachport.
Lanky Kana was an Aboriginal man who was used as a tracker by the South Australian Police force in the 19th century.
“Since the foundation of the State of South Australia on April 28, 1838, the South Australian Police Force used a number of Aboriginals to assist in the capture of felons avoiding capture,” Lions club publicity officer David Snook said.
“Aboriginals have the ability obtained over thousands of years to track and hunt animals, even in difficult terrain for their very survival.
“They were able to follow these tracks or signs that for the most part, were invisible to the white colonists.”
Mr Snook said, having established a police station, a well was dug approximately half a kilometre away for water for the horses, as that was the main mode of transport back then.
“Lanky Kana also undertook the care and watering of the horses as he had a liking for animals and camped by the well in the scrub,” he said.
“Lanky Kana died in June 1904 and was buried in a remote corner of the Beachport cemetery and was for many years largely forgotten until the late Tom McCourt built a cairn to mark the spot where Lanky lay to rest.
“Mr McCourt, the previous owner of the property Burkes Island, had travelled extensively throughout Australia and became an avid collector of Aboriginal artifacts and a keen observer of Aboriginal customs. His son Steve eventually donated the items to the Beachport Museum.”
Mr Snook said Lanky had since been recognised by the South Australian Police Force with a ceremony which was held in July last year. His grave has since been enhanced by the local Boandik people.
“The work the Lions club has done in restoring and covering of Lanky’s Well is truly professional with a new roof which allows the viewer more light to see into the well and mesh walls to prevent vandals from throwing objects down into the well,” he said.
“A significant amount of rubbish was removed before the project was completed.”
