Paddleducks
General => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: Roderick Smith on February 16, 2007, 12:50:15 PM
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Hitherto, I have assumed that my posts have given a strong indication of my background and interests. Although I joined in Aug.06, I haven't put up an introduction message until now.
I am not a modeller. The only marine model which I have ever built was an Airfix plastic kit (1:600 or 1:800 scale) of Brunel's PS Great Western.
I am principally a railway enthusiast, but the marine and aviation hobbies are strong secondary ones (with marine now ahead: it is easier to own and skipper my own boat than it is to own and pilot my own plane).
Marine influences:
* One of my paternal great grandfathers worked for Port of Melbourne; I grew up in the ancestral house in South Melbourne in the 1950s. After school, we would often cycle to Port Melbourne Station Pier to see which ship was flying a Blue Peter, and we would watch it go. This was an era when it was the fashion to throw streamers from the pier to the ship.
* My father had grown up in earshot of the Murray near Swan Hill; he had worked at Port of Melbourne when he came to Melbourne. He was a regular passenger on the bay-excursion paddlesteamers. When my great-uncle died, it was my father's duty to throw the ashes overboard from one of PS Ozone, PS Hygiea or PS Weroona. The captain offered to hove to, and provide the civilian equivalent of full military honours.
* In early family picnics and holidays we crossed the Williamstown punt (steam propulsion) often; I cruised model yachts; I skippered hired pedalos; we rode various coastal and resort ferries to islands and on cruises; I watched waterskiing boats being loaded onto trailers at the end of many family picnics at Tooradin (which also had a lot of classic wooden cabin cruisers moored).
* When we got a bigger car in 1962, and so the ability to tour Victoria by caravan, Murray River towns were regular haunts. I saw the early days of local cruising, and many of the boats before they were modified or restored.
* Through the railway hobby, I have been travelling the world trying to traverse every railway line (~95 countries so far). I have also covered a lot of ferries during these travels.
* I thought that the 2001 Source to Sea event was a wonderful concept. I followed via internet, until I could witness from the bank at Mannum. A friendly enthusiast invited me to join PV Industry for the cruise to Murray Bridge. This was a great day. I then watched the progress on the 2003 Randell Cadell event via internet, and commenced my direct watching at Wentworth, again riding some sectors because of the welcome by friendly enthusiasts.
* As my retirement was approaching, I decided to buy my own boat so that I could join river events like these. I inspected PV Matilda, but settled on a Tennessee river boat (which I renamed Jessie II, after my father's Jessie from his Tooradin years in the 1930s).
* Through my editorship of RNV, and through various internet groups, I have contributed to a variety of online marine groups, and to Australian Sea Heritage (magazine) and Ferries Australia (magazine). Alistair D was one e-contact: he helped me with information on vessels which I have seen overseas; I helped him with Australian research for his forthcoming book on surviving passenger steam vessels. I have even visited his photographic shop in Paisley (but not when he was present).
* Alistair passed on a question relating to PV Thomson Belle, fortuitously a week before I was heading to Longreach on a railway activity. I passed the information to Paddleducks via him, then joined myself. Through Paddleducks, I have met Sean, and have been caught up with his APAM enthusiasm: making our Australian paddlesteamer heritage known to the world.
Enclosed:
An early hint of paddleboat enthusiasm. My family and friends aboard PS Ruby as a houseboat at Mildura in 1966. I am the 17 yo at the helm; the lady beside me is the owner.
A happy reunion: A posed photo (in the same blue roll-neck jumper) at Wentworth in 2004.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Well welcome roderick...ha ha ha :D
regardless of your modeling experience i am sure many have welcomed your wealth of information on paddlers and steam.
thankyou for sharing as I have personally learnt alot through your post's and other's combined
cheers Anthony
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Good to have you with us Roderick :)
Seriously, it's always noce to know a little bit about the people you find on forums, far too many users hide behind handles and don't introduce themselves.
After reading your introduction, I noted that you have travelled on railways in 95 countries, and more especially have also been on many rail ferries - I assume a lot of these will have been paddlers, so can I ask that you tell us a bit more about the European and American paddle ferries you've travelled on? I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the APAM articles on the Aussie vessels, but I'd certainly like to know more about vessels in other countries too - Especially from someone who has actually sailed on them!