Cheryl Whelan was a Secondary staff member from 2001 to 2011 and died in 2012. As an ordained pastor, she taught Christian Studies, Studies of Religion, Legal Studies and History. 

"Cheryl was very proud of being related to Captain John Korff, and even though her illness meant she couldn't participate in the 2011 150 year celebrations, we had a wonderful view of the parade from our balcony which overlooks the harbour," said her husband Rev Doctor Graham Whelan.

"That harbour is the one Captain Korff sought shelter in in 1847 so it was a very special place for Cheryl to spend the last part of her life."

The Korff Story

In 1847, Captain John Korff (a ship's builder and ship's architect) and his two sons sailed a small 27-tonne ketch, named The Brothers, up the coast with the Bellinger River as his destination.

He had aboard a party of six pit sawyers for cedar cutting.

While awaiting the chance to cross in over the dangerous bar of the Bellinger River, a southerly gale swept up and Capt Korff decided to seek refuge for the small vessel approximately 20 miles north of the entrance.

The Brothers reached the southern headland of Coffs Harbour and remained sheltered there for four days until the gale blew itself out.

While in the waters off this haven Capt Korff's sons, Frederick and Gordon, went ashore on the sandy beach.

On returning to Sydney it is stated Capt Korff reported to the proper authorities that there was a safe shelter for ships in a southerly gale under the lee of the southern headland, or off the island, which he named Brothers Island after the name of his ketch.

The name was given to the harbour and the islands as Korff's Islands.

It was obvious Capt Korff was credited with the discovery of the harbour.

The first official use of the name Coffs Harbour appears to have been made in The Gazette notice of December 24, 1861.