Frederick Blunt, born at Sandridge now Port Melbourne and known to all as Fred, was the ninth child of Clement Blunt [1824-1899] and Sarah Blunt.
Fred worked with his older brother Clem Blunt (ii) in the yard Clem established in 1898 at Clark’s Slip, now the site of Williamstown’s police station. The yard occupied the site until 1922 and it was here that Fred built EVA GS858 in 1910.
In his youth he was a very strong swimmer and won many trophies and medals at Geelong, Ballarat and South Melbourne. He won a Victorian Breaststroke Championship at the Geelong swimming carnival 20/02/1891, 500 yards open, by 20 yards. For this he won a magnificent silver cup which in later years his daughter donated to the V.A.S.A. as a perpetual Fred Blunt Trophy. Other races he won include the 500yds Golden City handicap at Ballarat in 1894, 500yds Grand handicap at South Melbourne 13th Aquatic Carnival Feb 1892, which he won by two lengths. In later years he was a keen fisherman and lived with his daughter Ruby until he died. Fred was laid to rest at the Williamstown Cemetery.
*Information sourced from the State Archives and the Blunt Family, courtesy Greg Blunt.