Jeffrey Sherwell: Caloundra boatie remembered after passing

A beloved Caloundra boatie who ‘lived from summer to summer’ has been remembered for his love of the ocean and his family after his passing at the age of 75.

One of Pumicestone Passage’s old salts and beloved boaties has been remembered for his passion for the water and his extraordinary life following his passing.

Jeffrey Kenneth Sherwell had been known around Caloundra waters as a genuine soul who had devoted his life to seaside living and his family.

Mr Sherwell’s life was celebrated at the Caloundra Powerboat Club on February 18, surrounded by friends, family and boaties who will miss the man of the sea.

The 75-year-old, who passed away on February 10, 2022, had succumbed to complications with skin cancer as well as battling Crohn’s disease his entire life.

His son Dean Sherwell said his father will be remembered for his free spirit and love for adventure.

“My father lived from summer to summer, he would stay in Pumicestone Passage in Caloundra and then as soon the school holidays were up, he would head to Lake Tinaroo in the Atherton Tablelands,” Mr Sherwell said.

“He would do this to escape the sub-25 degree weather.”

Caloundra old salt Jeff Sherwell with his boat ‘Sher Jeff’. Picture: Contributed

His son said the larrikin seafarer had taken to a life on the ocean since the passing of his wife Nola in 1999.

Mr Sherwell had started living in his 16ft boat in the early 2000s and ever since then he was known by all the boaties for humour and expertise on the water.

Some adventures included travelling around Australia, Moreton Bay, the Brisbane River and he even traversed the Murray River twice.

“If a storm was coming and he was going to shelter, everyone knew it was time to get out,” Mr Sherwell said about his dad.

“He was the guy who knew what was going on in the passage.”

The weathered sea captain even had a flat built for him by his son in Caloundra however he would rarely stay there.

“I think he hated the restriction of a house with walls, he would rather live on his boat,” Mr Sherwell said.

“He would say ‘why would I live in there instead of waking up every morning and looking at paradise?’

“That’s just how he was, he would live in his 16ft boat called ‘Sher Jeff, and never wanted to leave it.”

A fond memory of Mr Sherwell his son recalled was when the budding seafarer made the Sunshine Coast Daily.

On January 1, 2006, Mr Sherwell had capsized his yacht on Maroochydore Beach following some tough weather conditions.

Mr Sherwell in the Sunshine Coast Daily in 2006. Picture: Contributed

In the article, Mr Sherwell was saved by more than six lifesavers after he went overboard on his 16ft sailing boat.

It’s believed Mr Sherwell had launched the boat in Mooloolaba before falling off course and becoming trapped in the breakers.

His son said it wasn’t one of his dad’s “finest moments” but that was part of the man he was and the adventures he undertook.

“After that dad mostly stayed in the rivers and inlets,” Mr Sherwell said.

The Caloundra Coast Guard honoured the old salt’s life at his funeral with the ringing of eight bells, with flotilla commander Roger Pearce saying Mr Sherwell was part of a close knit family of boaties.

“Everyone that owned a boat in Bells Creek and Pumicestone knew him,” Mr Pearce said.

“He was just a class guy who lived for his time on the water.”

Born in the suburb of Sunshine in Melbourne, Mr Sherwell’s brother Barry Sherwell said he will miss his brother for living his life “his own way”.

Jenny Sherwell, Mr Sherwell’s sister, said she remembered her brother as a man who “smiled easily” and knew how to have fun.

‘Sher Jeff’ in action. Picture: Contributed

She said he would regale her with his travels on the water where he would lend a hand or an ear to strangers in need because he was “such a good listener”.

“We will never know how many people Jeffrey helped over those decades just by being a kind, caring and listening ear,” Ms Sherwell said.

“I was able to thank him for being a caring brother [before his passing] … Jeff I’m relieved you will no longer have to struggle with ill health, sail on in peace Jeffrey.”

Mr Sherwell was a father to Angela and Dean, a brother to Ian, Barry, John and Jenny and a grandfather to Riley, Mikaela, Seren and Molly.