When Europeans tried their hand at operating bark canoes it led at times to tragic deaths by drowning, as many could not swim.
In 1871 a young man called Charles Perry drowned trying to cross the Loddon River at Laanecoorie in a bark canoe which had been built and used by a Dja Dja Wurrung man known as Tommy Clarke or ‘King Tommy’.
The inquest into Perry's death found he died accidentally.
Further Information
Transcript of Front Page:
21 October 1871
PROCEEDINGS of INQUEST held upon the body of Charles Perry at Llaanecoorie near Eddington.
Received at the Crown Law Offices 24 October 1871.