The disappearance of the Beaumont children from Glenelg  Beach on Australia Day 1966 was a harrowing event in the history of our State. The parents of Grant, Arnna and Jane, as well as the entire population of South Australia were desperate for their return, and were prepared to do anything to get them back safely.

This included paying top dollar for renowned Dutch psychic Gerard Croiset to be flown over to aid in the investigation. From the moment of his arrival however, his ‘readings’ changed from day to day, with the Dutchman offering up no substantial leads during his stay. Just as he was on the brink of being exposed for the shyster that he was, he thought he had come up with a fool proof ploy: he claimed the children were buried under a fully functioning warehouse, not far from the Beaumont estate. Croiset thought the pressure was off, as there was no way the police would dig up the warehouse.

He thought wrong.

Such was the desire of the public to save these kids that $40,000 was quickly raised to pay for the demolition and excavation of the building. No remains were found, and Croiser; exposed, fled back home to the Nederlands. Two important things can be gleaned from this episode. Firstly, ‘psychic power’ is COMPLETE and UTTER bollocks, and you’re better off eating your money and then attempting to ‘read’ the excrement one day later than hiring a ‘psychic investigator’. And secondly; never under any circumstances trust a Dutchman.

- Ken Bell | Art Robin Tatlow-Lord