SAILING 40 kilometres north-east of Townsville on a sea breeze that provided an unforgiving tailwind, sat four north Queensland sailors.
Edward Davidson was joined by his brother-in-law Jo Millard and two friends on the voyage north, with the crew unaware of the alarming weather conditions they were sailing into.
Ed’s yacht ‘The Flamenco’ was well versed on the open waters, but the looming clouds rolling in overhead left its future in jeopardy.
Tropical Cyclone Keith crossed the coast east of Lucinda on January 29 1977, moving back over the ocean to cross again near Cape Cleveland on the 31st.
With five metre waves crashing over the bow, and 50 knot per hour winds, the stricken sailor had no choice but to lower the anchor.
Ed and Jo took turns manning the deck, holding on as the yacht plunged vertically up and down the troughs.
The Currawong 30 was moored at sea, as the cyclonic motion of the vessel grew violent with water slating the crew from both sides.
Before the wind grew too wild the seas began to clear with reports of Cyclone Keith being downgraded to a tropical low.
The Flamenco crew repaired what little mast they had left to route back towards land.
But the nightmare wasn’t over with an incoming radio call from a rescue aircraft describing a shipwreck on the western side of Acheron Island.
First to arrive at the scene the Flamenco crew spotted the top of a mast peeking from the waters alongside Acheron reef.
Calling for survivors, Ed and his crew came across a dead body with two survivors clinging to the cliff face toward the top of the mast.
“We had completely lost our mast, so all we had to offer them was blankets and a bottle of scotch,” he said.
“The entire experience was horrifying.”
But, for Ed Davidson this is just one of many memories to have passed through his hour glass.
Born in Brisbane in 1936 Edward George Davidson was the youngest of three, to parents William and Alma Davidson.
His father worked in the Postmasters-General’s Department in Hughenden prior to the outbreak of World War II when he enlisted in the RAAF.
The young family transferred to Melbourne for 12 months, where William learned his trade as a weather forecaster before being listed to Nowra, NSW.
Ed and his sister Dawn began their schooling in Killarney but it wasn’t long before the family were on the move again to the sunnier pastures of Townsville.
During his final year of school, at Townsville Grammar, Ed applied for an apprenticeship at Graham Burke Pharmacy on Flinders Street.
Much to his parent’s despise, who wanted him to be a weather forecaster, Ed began his four-year apprenticeship that included three years practical work followed by a year at Brisbane Pharmacy College.
Shortly after starting work at Graham Bourke’s Ed met fellow colleague and future wife Marilyn.
But it took four years, working alongside Marilyn, for Ed to build the courage to ask her out.
The Townsville couple were married on July 2, 1960 and are parents to three sons Mark, Michael and Christopher.
Upon finishing his studies at Graham Bourke’s Ed accepted a job at the Rising Sun Pharmacy later transferring to a managerial role at the pharmacy across the road.
In 1963, Ed opened Centre Point Pharmacy in Aitkenvale, the first pharmacy in the western suburbs of Townsville.
By July he had liaised with the Townsville Mater Hospital dispensing scripts for them for the next 34 years.
In the late 1960s Ed applied to the manager of Woolworths Queensland to expand his pharmacy franchise to the Aitkenvale Shopping Plaza, today known as Stocklands.
The lease for the Plaza Pharmacy was granted along with Ed expanding with the Woolworth’s centre to open a cosmetics shop, Image, in the 1990s.
A keen fisherman Ed has travelled to some of the greatest fishing destinations world wide from the Cape to the Reef, Solomon Islands, Norfolk Island and more.
In 1971, he became a chartered member for the Townsville Rotary Club taking on the presidency position in July.
“I took on the presidency just prior to the devastation of Cyclone Althea,” he said.
“We had no communications, no phones, nothing.
“The only way we could communicate to charters was through radio signal.
“I remember spending hours on Christmas day helping set up tarps after roofs were blown off.”
Shortly after purchasing ‘The Flamenco’ with brother-in-law Jo, Ed took over the lease for Stuart Ritchie’s Pharmacy on Flinders Street, until a fire destroyed the library upstairs.
In the early 1990s Ed and wife Marilyn went into partnership for the Airlie Beach Pharmacy, followed by another partnership in Home Hill.
During this time Ed continued his work with Rotary working on major projects such as the Rotary International House and ‘Walk to Inspire’ mission.
“I was the lead driver and escort for the four nurses who walked from Townsville to Mount Isa, under the banner Walk to Inspire,” he said.
“The mission aimed to raise awareness of depression and suicide, raising a total of $160,000.”
Ed brought his fifth and final pharmacy on Thuringowa Drive, which was later bought out by leading pharmaceutical franchise Amcal.
Growing up in the north there is little wonder Ed has a fuelled passion for racing, having raced race horses, trotters and greyhounds over the past 50 years.
Until this year, he had not missed a Melbourne Cup carnival in 37 years.
But outside his many interests Ed is known for his humble nature and generosity, having donated over $200,000 to the Townsville Mater Hospital over the past 34 years.
On Australia Day in 2009 he was recognised for his relentless giving towards the Townsville community and Rotary Club, being listed as an Order of Australia Medal recipient.
Today, at age 78, Ed enjoys his retirement with his wife as well as visiting his children and grandchildren.
