History

JIMMY NO-LEGS Hagan

In the early years of settlement of Bribie Island, with only a handful of residents, several of them were unique characters that left their mark.

On my regular Heritage walks and talks, everyone is always fascinated to hear about a man affectionately known as Jimmy No-Legs. He was James Hagen who lived at Bongaree for 30 years, and his 100-year-old cottage is still a prominent and attractive site today. Jimmy was born in Brisbane in 1889 and grew up with his parents and two brothers Jack and William. Before he was 21 years, old both his parents had died, and at age 26 in 1915 he enlisted in the Army to fight in World War 1. He nominated his brother Jack as next of kin, with whom he was living at the time. Within a few months, Private James Hagen left Australia aboard a troopship to join the 52nd Battalion and arrived at the battlefields of France on a wet and cold January day in 1917.

WAR IN FRANCE

The conditions of war, living in deep, cold and waterfilled trenches, rapidly took their toll. Within just 6 weeks, Jimmy found himself in a field hospital being treated for his rotting flesh. He was quickly shipped back to England and spent nine long months in hospital with “Trench Foot” while Doctors fought to save his feet and legs. Eventually, a decision was

By Barry Clark Bribie Island Historical Society

made to amputate both of his legs below the knee, to save his life. Months of recovery and

rehabilitation followed, learning to walk on new artificial wooden legs, before eventual discharge from the Army in June 1918. Back in Brisbane, he worked hard to adjust to a new way of life, but never really mastered his artificial legs. With the help of his brother

Jimmy Hagan after amputationUK 1918

Jack, who worked at the Lands Department, Jimmy decided to move to the new settlement of Bongaree, on Bribie Island, where life might be easier and basic.

In the 1920s Bribie was just starting to develop as a tourist destination, with regular visits by the steamship Koopa. Bribie was flat, with no stairs or traffic to deal with, the land was cheap, and the arrival of regular visitors created basic business opportunities.

LIFE ON BRIBIE

Jimmy Hagan selected a small piece of land, on the water beside Shirley Creek, and built a little cottage from available driftwood and local timber. It seems that having no legs was no limitation to his mobility or dexterity and he managed to do most things without much help. He rarely used his wooden legs, but strapped thick pads over the stumps of his legs, and pulled himself around very effectively. He had a small boat, which he got into directly from his house because in those days Shirley Creek was much wider and deeper than it is today. Shirley Creek was the northern limit of Bongaree development, with just a single plank bridge as the crossing. Jimmy was a regular visitor to the steamship Koopa, rowing over to the jetty in his little boat when she came in, as there was no Hotel on Bribie, and there was a Bar aboard the ship. He was a keen fisherman and enthusiastic drinker and always carried a horn or megaphone to attract attention if required. Stories are told of him sometimes having a drink too many and using his megaphone to tell people just what he thought of them. Some thought it was appropriate to say the corny line that he was “Legless”.

JIMMY NO LEGS

Jimmy looked for ways to serve the community and made rainwater storage tanks for new house builders. Affectionately known by all as Jimmy nolegs, he was a much-loved character for the 30 years he lived in his little cottage. He saw the settlement of Bongaree develop significantly during those years. The first road was built across the island by Bill Shirley in 1924, and in 1935, when Bill had become honorary Councillor, a wooden road bridge constructed over the creek beside his cottage, that now bears his name. Jimmy was never married and had few possessions, so when he died in 1953 at the age of 63, he was buried with his brother Jack in Toowong cemetery and his cottage passed to his extended relatives. The family have continued to use the cottage for holidays since then, and the Sisters of Graceville Convent had access to it for holidays when locals would refer to it as the “Nuns House”.

JIMMY”S LEGACY

Soon after I established the Bribie Island Historical Society, and the new Seaside Museum opened in 2011, I accessed Jimmy’s military records and spoke to his great-niece Louise Wiltshire to see what photos or memorabilia remained. She kindly agreed to loan Jimmy’s special small low chair to the Museum, where it remains on display to this day, with his life story. Go and have a look.

There have been several limbless people on Bribie over the years. One, whose memory remains visible in an interesting old building, is Pharmacist John Rowcroft, who after a long and chequered career established the first Chemist shop on Bribie in 1952 at the age of 80. John had lost one leg in a bicycle accident many years before, but few people even realised that.

His original Chemist corner store stands empty today, on the corner of Queen Street and Third Avenue behind the Bribie Island Bowls Club. Over the years, it has been several different general stores and shops, known as Macs Corner and Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In 1961, Don Mullen bought the Chemist business. Don is a well-known and much loved Bribie identity who had Chemist shops around Bribe for 30 years and is still active in the community today. I might write the story of Chemists on Bribie in a future edition.

- Hagen Chair at Museum

MORE BRIBIE HISTORY

The Historical Society meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6; 30pm at the RSL Club. We have inspiring guest speakers, and visitors and new members always welcome. You can see many more articles on our Blog Site http://bribieislandhistory. blogspot.com or contact us on bribiehistoricalsociety@ gmail.com