At Launceston Grammar, we often celebrate our school’s rich heritage, but occasionally, the past reaches out to us in extraordinary ways. Over the recent holidays, a remarkable discovery made waves, quite literally.
A message in a bottle, launched into the ocean 66 years ago, was found washed ashore on Flinders Island by a member of the public, Hayden. This piece of Grammar history connects us to alumnus Christopher Pyett, who attended Launceston Grammar between 1955 and 1960.
Christopher kindly shared the incredible story behind the bottle. In 1958, during a voyage from Devonport to Burnie with his father, a sea captain, Christopher prepared and threw the bottle into the ocean. His father, a post-war international sea captain and Lloyd’s agent in Tasmania, occasionally commanded Australian vessels on short-term assignments. On one such voyage aboard the Woniora, Christopher’s bottle embarked on its journey into the unknown.
Decades later, the bottle has resurfaced, carrying with it a piece of our shared history. Christopher, now 81, expressed amazement at the find. Reflecting on the event, he wrote:
“It is really amazing that the bottle—something I remember so little about—should have been out there for something like 66 years! Impossible to believe, really.”
Christopher and his wife, Barbara, extended their gratitude to Hayden for reaching out to share this discovery. The reunion of the bottle with its creator has created a heartwarming story of time, tides, and connection.
We are deeply grateful to Hayden for bringing this story to light, and to Christopher for sharing his memories. It’s a powerful reminder of how the bonds formed at Launceston Grammar transcend time and distance.