On the 16.feb. 2004, while camping in Tasmania, I found a plastic bottle washed up on the beach. I quickly noticed that there was a few rolled up pieces of paper in the bottle. This was very exciting, and I was really looking forward to see what was in the bottle. The letters I found made an enormous impression on me and I would like to share it with you.
The beach on the N-E tip of Tasmania. Click image for large version.
My girlfriend and I were on our second day of our camping trip to Tasmania. We had set up camp close to the beach, and decided to go for an evening walk along the beautiful white beach. We were completely alone, and the beach stretched for miles.
Our good mood was furthered by discovering this bottle. What we found made us both, at first, very sad.
The letter we found read:
Sam William Dowling (13 Sept 1977 – 6 Nov 2002)
We are sailing along the top end of Tassie heading for Hobart, in the “Torres Pearl†(an old pearling lugger built on Thursday Island (Aust)) – 1928. It was then known as the “Sedneyâ€. Phil and Sue Hart are the captains; their sons Toby and Jamie and Sue’s cousin Michael Smith and his girlfriend Tori, are the crew.
As we reach the N.E. tip of Tassie, we shall set this bottle (with its contents Sam’s spirit) free, to travel where it may.
Although Sam only walked on this earth for a short 25 years, may his spirit through this bottle visit many places that he may have wanted to see if he had had more time.
Whoever may read this, Sam died in a motor bike accident Nov. 6th 2002. He was a very gentle soul and many hearts were broken that day. He was the nephew of Sue, and cousin of Toby, Jamie and Michael. He Shared many happy holidays with Toby, Jamie, Sue, Phil, Emily and Jessica Hart in Evandale Tas, when their grandmother Winnie Downling brought him across Bass Strait from Victoria. They all went bushwalking, swimming in the Sth Esk river, exploring the farm, “Trafalgar†and building cubbies.
We All miss you Sambo and send you our love. From the “Maccasâ€, the “Harts†and Grandma and Grand-dad.
Whoever reads this could you Please return this letter to the bottle and send it on its way again. Let us know if you read it.
“The Harts†141 Trafalgar Lane, Evandale Tas. 7212 Aust. Phone 03-63918309. e-mail – middleearth@OzEmail.com.au
I’ll also remember the last waltz Sambo – Love Susie X
The second letter read:
Some of the happiest times of my childhoosd involved you Sam. And it was an honour to be your cousin. TOBY
The third letter:
Dear Sam
Thanks for helping me build my firstt billy cart, and swimming at the basin. Also thanks for scaring me while I was younger with Toby. It helped make me as tough as I am now. Jamie Heart.
The fourth letter:
Dear Sam,
A sad time in all our Lives when we lost you, I’m sailing down the East Coast Of Tassie with Phi,l Suzie, Toby, Jamie, and my partner. Wish you were here with us as it is an awesome experience. I guess you are with us anyway watching over us either that or having a great time with Liam.
Miss ya
Mick
The fifth letter:
Sam.
As you know I didn’t make it to your funeral but I don’t like them much, and I guess you don’t either.
I am really pleased that we caught up at the wedding and both Susie and I were full of the fun we had and esp. enjoyed seeing you kids after such a long time.
Anyway don’t worry we will all see you again before too long and and hopefully share a VB with you again. I [???] you had grown to a fine young man, its no wonder everyone misses you. Phil.
We talked a lot about death, family, friends, love and Sam that night. Although I never met Sam, trough the actions of his friends and family, he made an impression in my life.
We brought the bottle with us on our camping trip. I guess Sam had seen most of the places we went to in Tasmania, so we also brought the bottle back to Melbourne with us. There we gave it to some friends who threw the bottle back in the ocean when they were out sailing of the coast of Australia. I am hoping that the bottle has travelled far, and that its content has influenced many people.
I didn’t bring the bottle back to Europe, but the memories from that beach in Tasmania has followed me in the years since I left Australia. I hope this webpage can further the “travels” of Sam, and serve as a reminder too the value of the people around us.
After posting this entry, I have been contacted by Sam´s family. Here are a few words they wanted included:
Our names are Amy and Harry , Sam’s sister and nephew. We are touched at how beautiful this site is and thank-you for letting us remember how truly special Sam is.To me as a brother Sam was always there, someone who understood everything I was feeling and with a simple laugh or a joke about Dad going grey would make me feel like I was the most beautiful girl in the world. Sure we would have our ups and downs like all siblings ~ Yes I did eat all his rocky road, but I was lucky to have a wonderful brother like Sam! To my great family, my mum, dad older sister and younger brother and my husband and two children who in their own ways carry a part of Sam that I can see every day I thank-you.
Amy
Sam I loved you like a father you shared your subway cookies with me you let me ride your motorbike I didn’t really know what was going on because I was 4 but I still loved you and I always will.
Harry
Sam William Dowling (13 Sept 1977 – 6 Nov 2002)
Emma, Sam´s sisters wedding 2 Nov 2002. Left to right: Amy, Brendon, Emma, Brett, Gayle, Tommy and Sam.
From Susan:
Hi Sambo,
I bet you love your website, thanks to Gunnar. I think he is going to make a great doctor, a heart surgeon I reckon, he’s so good at mending broken hearts.
Well Sambo after we released your bottle about 2 dozen dolphins came swimming beside and in front of the Torres Pearl and they stayed with us for such a long time. Later that night more returned and the phosphorous in the water made them glow, aswell as the spray they sent out as they dived in and out of the water in front of the boat. Michael was amazed at their spectacle, and he has spent many years in boats around Australia’s shores.
Robyn told me that when they scattered Liam’s ashes into the waters off Lorne they also made an appearance. So when its my turn on the wheel, late at night, while the rest of the crew are dozing, and the dolphins come calling I try to guess which one is you, Nanny Ida, Poppy Billy or Auntie Bertie. I think Auntie Bertie has winked at me a couple of times.
Here is a photo of the “Torres Pearl”.
Love Susie. See you on the water.
jøss, for en historie! flott med litt perspektiv på livet, døden, og hva man kan bety for hverandre i disse dager blant kjemiske reaksjoner og anatomiske navn, og tomme nyheter, og overfladisk pop-kultur..
Godt å lese noe med innhold til en avveksling. Gleder meg til sommeren.
takk for at du delte historien, Gunnar
takk for historien, Sam
My son Sam,
Sam was the 2nd eldest in a family of 2 girls and boys. He was so happy growing up in a small village, on 1 acre. He had lots of animals and had fun building cubby huts and playing with his sisters and brother.
We almost lost Sam when he was born due to a cerebral haemorrhage at birth. He was a breech birth.
Luckily he survived and grew into a delightful person. He wasn,t only beautiful to look at, but beautiful
inside.
However, he wasn,t the easiest teenager, as he pushed the boundaries whenever he could.
He had a beautiful girlfriend called Louise and they spent a lot of time together. When Louise wanted to travel and Sam didn,t they broke up.
He was lonely without her and only 4 months before he died ,he met another lovely girl called Lauren.
Sam was in love and even planning on selling his motorbike.
On 2nd November, 2002 we had one of the best days of our lives, at our eldest daughters wedding.
The family alltogether and I remember thinking, that Sam had made it to 25 and I would have him fovever. It wasn,t to be. Four days after the wedding Sam was killed. He was just going through an intersection and someone (who had their licence for 1 week) turned in front of him. He had just left our house 5 minutes before it happened.
We all rushed to the hospital but he died 2 hours later from a ruptured aorta.
I wish he could have met Sophie, Phoebe, Ella and little Sam, his nieces and nephews.
There are moments in life when you miss someone so much, that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.
Dream what you want to dream and go where you want to go, be what you want to be,
Because you only have one life to live and one chance to do the things you want.
Love Mum
My brother Sam.
Hi,
I am Sam’s eldest sister Emma.
Firstly I would just like to say a huge thank-you to Gunnar for finding the bottle and for taking the time to write such beautiful, touching words enabling others to share Sam’s story. Our whole family has been in contact with Gunnar via email and he is a beautiful, caring and sensitive young man. Thank-you for taking the time to reply to each of our emails – we really appreciate it! Please think of us if you ever return to Australia as we would love the opportunity to meet you.
Next, I would like to thank my Aunt/Uncle, Susie and Phil and their “crew†(Toby, Jamie, Michael and Tori). What a wonderful tribute to Sam. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your letters were beautiful – Sam would have thought so too. I wonder if we will hear more of the bottles journey? I do hope so.
Next to Sam, my beautiful brother. I miss you more than words can say. You were a gentle giant and you are irreplaceable. My wedding day was the best day of my life by far – no other day will ever come close. It was the last time I saw you and what a wonderful time we all had!! Who would have thought the worst day of my life would come just 4 days later. At the exact time we got the phone call to say you were gone, Brett and I were discussing how lucky we were, and how perfect our lives were. Life is no longer perfect and will never be again. We have however moved on, each in our own different ways. You have 4 new nieces and nephews and little Harry is no longer so little!! I have Sophie who is now 3 and our very own little Sam who is 15 months. Naming Sam after you was a very difficult but special decision. It means I have a constant reminder of you which can often be difficult but it brings mum and dad such pleasure to hear your name spoken that I know it was the right name to use. Little Sam was born via elective ceaser just 2 days before your birthday. I often wonder if I had delivered naturally would he have arrived on your birthday??? He is also showing signs of being left handed!! Your candle takes pride of place at our family functions. Sophie is just starting to understand who you are. She knows you are Uncle Sam and you are in heaven. She knows heaven is a long way away and that we can’t visit there but she doesn’t understand why yet. Yes, she has other wonderful uncles but she doesn’t have Uncle Sam. We would give anything to have you back. You will never be forgotten. RIP.
To those reading this, please take the time to love those special people in your lives just that extra bit more as you really don’t know when they may be taken away.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal,
Love leaves memories that no one can steal.
Thank you for reading.
Em xx
My name is Elise and I am a friend of Emma’s. I never had the priviledge of meeting Sam, his precious life was taken before I had the chance. But over the years I have listened to Emma share stories of her big brother, that she loved so much. This extraordinary effort by Em’s Aunty/Uncle/Cousins and Gunnar have allowed me to get to know Sam a little better and have also given me a precious reminder not to take our loved ones for granted!! I thank-you all for this xoxox
Hi, my name is Andrea (known to most as Skewsy) and I am a friend of Emma’s. I was deeply touched by Gunnar’s story and the very special actions of his family sending the messages in the bottle. I did not know Sam but he has now made an impact on my life. I hope this story of Sam, his family and Gunnar travel the world a thousand times over and touch many more hearts.
Skewsy
xxx
Tell your loved ones they are loved, even though they know they are!!!
Darling Sam,
Our hearts were broken on November 6, 2002, when Grandma rang with the tragic news that we had lost you, our precious Sambo. We lit a candle and stayed together till morning trying to understand why. Our lives changed that night but we all have many happy and proud memories of you as a gentle, strong, thoughtful and spirited young man. We speak of you often and recognise features or mannerisms in each other that remind us of you. You would be so proud of your beautiful nephews and nieces. Little Harry is so protective of them all. You are always in my heart Sambo, sometimes it is heavy but as time passes I remember more of the happy times of you and your siblings and cousins playing on the beach, in Grandma’s back yard and holidays at Trafalgar.
I love you.
Jenny x
WITH US ALWAYS
My name is Michael Brown, I am Louise’s father. I regard myself as a very fortunate person, having shared a small portion of Sam’s life.
Days and now years continue to pass, the pain felt over the tragic loss will never
diminish, but the fond, happy and joyful memories of the better times with Sam and
Louise will remain with me forever; I thank you Sam, for helping me re-unite with my family after difficult times.
He was certainly one of life’s gentlemen, I think of things that were, but more so, that could have been.
Enjoy your travels gentle soul, memories will always be of a kind, considerate gentle person, so full of life, who touched my family and I so deeply.
Michael
Dear Sam,
How time has flown and it only feels like yesterday that you were still with us.
You were such a gentle and happy soul. You used to come down to Lorne and we always had a great
time with u. You made us smile when u smiled. I remember the time that you came down with Tom on your
motorbike to take a video of the great ocean road. All that was on it were the white lines in the
middle of the road. We had a great laugh.
I am sure that you, Liam and Kate are giving Aunty Bertie, Poppy Billy, and Nanna Ida a run for their money.
Although i’m sure that Aunty Bert wld join you guys.
You left us with a heavy heart but i know that you are still with us. You have made a big impression in life
and it shows by the msg in a bottle that was found.
Family is the greatest gift you can have, so appreciate event moment you have with them.
Thanks for being my cousin Sam. Thanks for being in our life, even if it was just for just a short time.
Its a lot better than not at all.
Luv Nat.xx
I hope your beloved Sam travels to wonderful places. Always thinking of you. Mary.TCF. Geelong
Dear to our hearts you’ll always stay, loved and remembered in every way, every day.
Love you dearly as always, Grandma and Grand-dad.