PS Melbourne centenary (Mildura, Australia)

[thewharfonline]

This is my itinerary for anyone PD's that are in Mildura on Sunday for the celebrations!

Arrive 9:40am Mildura airport and leg it to the river!

12:30pm PS Marion Cruise

2:15pm PS Oscar W Cruise

3:15pm The lovely lady at the Wentworth Visitor Centre is trying to get me on the Ruby for the Centenary Flotilla! (Confirmation may be up to an hour away, it's battle stations at the Wentworth visitor centre today!)

I've seen Ruby whilst she was being restored in wet dock, but otherwise have never been on any of the three vessels. Incredibly exciting!

Don't know what the rest of the day has in store, will float around! (haha)

Depart Mildura airport 10:05am

Can't wait to be back on the river.

[Excelsior]

I'll be driving up tomorrow. Don't have anything planned yet.

[thewharfonline]

Most of the boats have sold out for their various cruises throughout the day on Sunday. You might be able to get onto something. You'll find a few remaining tickets here: http://www.psruby.com.au/index.html or you coud give them a call, and see if there's anything available.

I got onto Ruby for the Flotilla.

[Barry]

Arrived in Mildura this afternoon. I've only seen the Melbourne on the water so far. Got my tickets for the Oscar W , Marion and Melbourne, for the flotilla cruise, organised. Just have to wait now, one more sleep  .

[Excelsior]

Seems the Ruby isn't coming. The Rothbury will be running in her place.

[thewharfonline]

Yeah, I got the call down from Roderick this morning and got myself a place on the Adelaide for the flotilla.

Looking forward to it!

Hope to bump into you all.

Have we done a Paddleducks Australia meet up before?

[Roderick Smith]

As predicted, I had no internet access for the rest of Friday or for Saturday.

On Friday, Adelaide and Iron Dry headed to Wentworth: 9.30 ex Poynton's berth, then the pumpout, then 1 h early for a 14.30 bridge opening.
Coonawarra, which had been at lock 9, came up the Murray to escort Adelaide in.
Flender Himmel was coming up through the lock solo.
In port already were Settler, James Maiden, Maggie May, Oscar W & Industry.
Ruby and Marion came up on the next locking: the first locking together for decades, if ever.
After all of the gossip, we headed to Crown Hotel for dinner, and more gossip.
Ruby had had trouble with the reversing gear; several engineers tried to fix the fault, but couldn't.  It would be a nonstarter on Saturday.  Passengers were transferred to Industry, to return by bus for dinner and overnight.

On Saturday, we started at 8.30, with Coonawarra first out (skippered by Greg Evans, who had run it locally for many years).

We were early at the bridge, Marion had to round up twice to hold.  I was on Industry, and it ran at half pace to get a straight run through when the bridge opened at 11.00.
Industry also went at half pace to follow Oscar at Coomealla pumpout.
We arrived at Old Mildura around 17.00, with lots of rafting off to fit.
I stayed on for the group dinner.

Today I am on the 12.30 Marion, the 13.45 Melbourne and the 15.15 Rothbury replacing Ruby.
I am at McD wifi for breakfast, and haven't been to the wharf yet.  I will check with private friends: I may yet be able to onsell to any Paddleducker who has missed out on getting a fleet spot.





Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Sunday was the big day, and it went brilliantly, in perfect weather.
I got a car spot at 8.30; by 9.30 I think that all parking was taken.
About half the boats were spread along six dock zones.
With the weir out, the water had dropped a metre, making some parts unusable.
There were boats above the houseboat mooring, at the half which was usable, at the public wharf, at the rowing club lawns, at the private moorings downstream., and on the NSW bank.
I was invited aboard Rum Runner, a Tennessee which is almost a twin of my Jessie II.
With a lot of radio chat, the SA boats came upriver from Old Mildura Homestead; the Mildura boats and Swan Hill visitors came downriver from Pointon's moorings, making a simultaneous arrival; the two fleets paraded in front of the crowd for three circuits before docking.  This stage was slow because of the need to raft off other boats to maximise wharf use.
The speeches started just after 12.00, the cake was cut at 12.25, and I was aboard Marion at 12.30 for the 12.45 departure.  I was on Melbourne for the 13.15, and Rothbury (replacing Ruby) for the 15.15 grand parade.
During the day I caught up with six Paddleduckers; four of us had dinner together.  Author Peter Christopher was autographing his book; author Peter Plowman was also there.
Here is the fleet as I remember it:
Mildura & environs, commercial:
PS Melbourne
PV Rothbury
PV Mundoo
PV Avoca (moored, not moving)
Mildura & environs private
PS James Maiden
PV Coonawarra
SWPV Chalka
PV Iraak
PV Kulkyne
PV Evangeline
PV Settler
PV Shiralee
PV Matthew James
PV AFJ764N Maggie May
PV AEV899N
SWPV Risbey
MV Isobel (moored, not moving)

Victoria, commercial
PS Adelaide
Victoria, private
PS Minimus
PV Iron Dry

SA, commercial
PS Oscar W
PS Marion
PS Industry
MV Spirit of the Murray
SA, private
PV Flender Himmel
PV Tamara Rae
PV Amphibious
PV Nuumpii Noongun (former Ronald Henry)
MV Affinity
MV Merri-Linda

26 paddleboats (25 parading; one static), of which seven were steam (plus two steam launches).

There were at least nine wooden boats, most of which had been trailed in (SL Breezy, SL l'l toot, MV Rum Runner, MV Fair Lady, MV Desdemona, MV BP56, MV KV491, MV186S, and an electric canoe).
There were at least three river-cruising launches which had voyaged from SA (MV Blue Wren, MV She'll do us, MV xxx, plus MV Blue Wren 5 which headed clear of festivities).
There were at least 17 other paddleboats in the region which didn't come (traditional PV Impulse, PV Mosquito, PV Lilian, PV Bungunyah, PV Miralie, PV Yarrara, PV Paddle Cat, PS Tarney, PS Ruby, PV Merlin, PV Florence Annie, PV Hyperion [formerly William Albert]; pontoon SWPV Lotus, PV AEN470N; SWPV Oarsome, SWPV Lazaway, SWPV Spirit of the Murray).  PV Shay (from Swan Hill) was on the slip, along with new vessels under construction.
Also part of the action were vintage vehicles, machinery, a Tiger Moth and a tv helicopter.
I had my Edwardian outfit for the day (1912 was not the Victorian era), and was interviewed for tv.  When it was played, the whole Adelaide crew was close to ROFL: they had been running a 'Spot Rod' competition for the whole voyage, and this was just one more appearance.

During the grand parade, boats paused five abreast, with a second rank behind.  Adelaide missed the front cover, I obscured by Melbourne.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I haven't been at the wharf today to see the school charters.
I am working for 2 days, then on Oscar W on Wednesday to Red Cliffs and back to Psyche Bend, then Marion back to Mildura.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

For anyone wishing to catch their own glimpse of Rod, the ABC has some video.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-09/golden-age-of-paddle-steamers-celebrated-in-melbourne/4251610

I was standing to Rod's right, and was rudely not featured in the clip.
Then again I was not in period attire.

You can see Adelaide's Tow Post behind the Melbourne on the cover. That was taken after a little bit of a sprint between Adelaide, Rothbury and Mundoo.

There was a better race earlier between Rothbury and Adelaide during the main flotilla as they rounded up at the Weir. I think we all wished it could have turned into a real race, there's always been a lot of bragging attached to which boat is faster.

Might post some photos later, but a fantastic day on the river, what a great turn out, and good to catch up with some other Paddleducks!

[thewharfonline]

I've just done a bit of a write up on my website.

http://seanbryan.com/2012/09/11/a-magnificent-milestone-for-the-murrays-melbourne/

It's a bit general- but my normal readership isn't particularly river boat enthusiasts.

You'll see a bunch of my photos from the day in it though.

[Roderick Smith]

Tuesday report.
Today, the only vessel in steam is Melbourne on its regular cruises.  Michael had been aboard as assistant engineer on Monday.
Adelaide is tied up away from the port, waiting for its return crew over the weekend.
The three visiting vessels were wooded up today, and school groups came aboard for inspections.
I had a short cruise on PV Iron Dry, conveying interested visitors from Brisbane, then a morning gossip session with the owner of the private steamer.

Tomorrow the pace hots again.  I will get Wednesday & Thursday, but then head for home before the return voyages start.
The weather continues to be magnificent

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[steamboatmodel]

I've just done a bit of a write up on my website.

http://seanbryan.com/2012/09/11/a-magnificent-milestone-for-the-murrays-melbourne/

It's a bit general- but my normal readership isn't particularly river boat enthusiasts.

You'll see a bunch of my photos from the day in it though.

Its good to see you posting on here again Sean. That's a good write up and some nice shots on your website.
Rod I have been enjoying your reports and shots, I am going to have to buy an extra lottery tickes to see if I could win enough to make it down.
Regards,
Gerald.

[thewharfonline]

You can take the boy away from the river Gerald, but you can't get the river out of the boy.

It's good to be back. This whole weekend has really got me back in the swing of all things Paddle Steamer. I'd been away from the Murray for a good 2-3 years now. Terrible crime.

The Melbourne Centenary was the perfect re-introduction.

[Eddy Matthews]

It's good to be back. This whole weekend has really got me back in the swing of all things Paddle Steamer. I'd been away from the Murray for a good 2-3 years now. Terrible crime.

It's good to see you back on a regular basis again Sean..... Welcome home!

Regards
Eddy