Sam Isaacs facts for kids

Samuel Yebble Isaacs (born 1845, died 1920) was an Aboriginal Australian hero. He was a skilled stockman, which means he worked with cattle. He also farmed land in the South West of Western Australia. Samuel is famous for helping to rescue people from a ship called the SS Georgette in 1876. He did this brave act with a young woman named Grace Bussell.

Samuel Yebble Isaacs: A True Hero

Early Life and Work

Samuel Yebble Isaacs was born in 1845 in Augusta. His father, Saul "Sam" Isaacs, was a sailor from America. He came to Australia on a whaling ship. Samuel's mother, Darinder, was a Wardandi woman. She gave him the Aboriginal name Yebble.

Sadly, Samuel's mother died when he was born. He was then looked after by Anne Dawson. Samuel grew up on the Dawsons' farm called Westbrook. From a young age, he worked for white settlers.

Around 1860, when he was about 15, Samuel started working for the Bussell family. He first lived at their Ellensbrook home. Later, he moved with them to Wallcliffe House. Samuel became a stockman for the Bussells.

Even though he could not read or write, Samuel was very good with animals. He was known for his amazing skills with cattle. He was also an expert at riding horses. He could handle teams of bullocks, which are strong oxen used to pull heavy loads and timber.

The Amazing Rescue of the SS Georgette

On December 1, 1876, Samuel was looking for cattle. He was in the hills near the Bussell family's home. He saw that a ship, the SS Georgette, was in trouble. The ship was sinking!

Samuel quickly rode 20 kilometers back to the homestead. He needed to tell everyone what was happening. A 16-year-old girl named Grace Bussell went back with him. They both rode their horses down the steep cliffs. They went into the water to save the passengers.

Samuel went back into the water many times with his horse. Grace Bussell returned to the beach. Samuel told her to do so because he felt her horse was hard to control. Together, they saved about 50 people in four hours. They then took the rescued passengers to the Bussells' home to recover.

Grace Bussell received a silver medal for her bravery. Samuel Isaacs received a bronze medal. In reports from that time, he was called "Grace's black servant." This shows that his bravery was not fully recognized.

The government of Western Australia gave Samuel 100 acres of land. This land was called Ferndale. He was the first Aboriginal person to receive a land grant like this in Western Australia. Later, this land was divided among his three sons.

Life After the Rescue

In January 1867, Samuel Isaacs married Lucy (Major) Lowe. She was an African-American woman who came from the United States. Samuel and Lucy had six children together.

Samuel Isaacs died on July 14, 1920. He fell from his horse sulky, which is a light cart. This happened near a place called 19 Mile Well, now known as Metricup. He was coming home after dropping off his son, Henry. Henry was going to join the army. Samuel is buried in the Busselton Pioneer Cemetery.

Remembering Samuel Isaacs Today

Samuel Isaacs is remembered in many ways. In 2021, a new area near his land was named Yebble in his honor.

Other places named after him include Isaacs Road in Margaret River. There is also Isaacs Street in Busselton. Yebble Drive in Vasse is also named for him. Isaacs Rock, a rock 220 meters off the coast, also carries his name. You can also find memorial plaques and a mural in the South West area that honor him.