Photo from The Advertiser, Thursday June 15, 1939. George is 85 in the photo.
Biography from The Advertiser
Sea-Going Settler
Mr. George Jeffery is a tall, grey bearded 84-year-old colonist, who has seen service in many parts of the State. Yesterday, when attending his fourth Commemoration day function at Glenelg, he was in a reminiscent mood. He was born at Yankalilla, one of the earliest settlements in the State. However, when he was five, his parents transferred their farming pursuits to Waitpinga, between Yankalilla and Encounter Bay. When he was 17 he went to Victor Harbor, which was just becoming a busy shipping port, where large quantities of flour were loaded for the eastern States. When he was 20, Mr. Jeffery transferred to Port Pirie, another rising port.
No Beer At Port Pirie
At that time, however, there was no hotel there, he said, although a pannikin of beer could be obtained from a man who had it shipped from Port Adelaide. After travelling on ketches along the coast, Mr. Jeffery, after his marriage, returned to Victor Harbor as an officer of the Marine Board. He lived on Granite Island for about 14 years as harbormaster. He was in the service of the Harbors Board for about 15 years until he reached the retiring age. He then settled at Murray Bridge, but for several months past has been living at First avenue, Cheltenham. Of Mr. Jeffery's 17 children, 14 are still living. They include 10 girls and four boys, three boys having died. Mr. Jeffery has between 40 and 50 grand children, and several great-grand children. The Advertiser, Wednesday 29 December 1937