Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Preserved Paddle Ships => Topic started by: Roderick Smith on July 16, 2007, 07:10:55 PM
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This paddlesteamer is 100 years old in 2007, having been built at Koondrook/Barham.
In various threads, I have described the boat, progress as at 2004, and the plans (subsequently cancelled) for a grand paddleboat fleet from Morgan (SA) to Koondrook (Vic.) / Barham (NSW) over June-July.
PS Ruby's centenary was celebrated at Wentworth Junction Rally over Sat.7-Sun.8.7.
A week later, I was at the restoration site for PS Canally (~4 km upriver of Robinvale, Vic. / Euston, NSW).
The hull has been complete for some time; now all of the deck supports are in place.
There is only a small team working on this boat. I met five. A professional shipwright was arriving later in the morning.
Canally is a community project.
According to research, its construction date was in Nov.1907, and the main celebration will be conducted at Euston Club in Nov.2007. At the least, the decked hull will be propelled to the club using tinnies; at the best, it will be self propelled with a temporary diesel. Although I missed having my boat at cancelled and recent celebrations, I am planning to be on the water for the celebration.
The plans for the progressive work are very authentic.
The boiler will be placed with the firebox to the stern, and the funnel rising through the rear of the wheelhouse.
The upper deck will have four cabins on each side rear of the wheelhouse, the authentic Murray-Darling look.
I was planning to add this to the entry on PS Canally in the APAM List thread, but I have discovered the problem of navigating into the middle of any thread which runs to more than six pages: the entry menu goes 1, 2, 3...10, 11, 12, but after entering at 3 or 10, further moves must be one by one.
The enclosed photo shows all of the supports for the deck.
They are metal, with stepped ends to carry a wooden gunwale.
At the forepeak and stern, a single support runs across both hull edges, with small cantilevers.
Amidships, the supports do not run across the engineroom. Each is cantilevered a long way from the hull edge, but is supported on a row of columns slightly inboard.
To the rear is MV Kookaburra, stranded by low water during a transfer from Swan Hill to Wentworth for a new operator. It is a day boat, set up for lunch and dinner cruises. It had just missed a short-duration rise a few weeks earlier; another rise would arrive within a week. The low water doesn't show in this photo, as the site is only a few km above Euston Weir, and the pool level extends for 60 km.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Hi Roderick,
The Canally is mentioned as being a 'community project', with the Euston Club Ltd. listed as a major sponsor, but do you know which group or organisation actually owns the Vessel.
Thanks,
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I have just had a phone call from the restoration leader, and forgot to ask Leith's question.
He was outlining the plans for the centenary celebration.
The event will be held over Sat.8 & Sun.9.12, fairly low key.
The boat will not be propelled to Euston Club. It will stay on site, and all events will be on site.
The group is trying to have descendants of all four owning families present.
The aim is for a relaxed barbecue and talk fest, with memorabilia and photos to trigger anecdotes. On Saturday, there will be a ceremonial moment with a bottle of champagne.
The water is down; it is too hard for big boats to cruise in from Colignan or from Swan Hill. However, any small boat trailed in will be welcome: steam launches, miniature replicas of larger vessels, unmotored wooden hulls under restoration etc. Jessie II will be there; it would be great to see Breezy, Minimus, James Watt, Rusty, Bunyip... There are two ramps. A concrete one near Robinvale caravan park, and a dirt one near the restoration site (4 km upriver, on the NSW bank). The work-platform barge will be moored to provide some access for low-height vessels to raft off, with a ramp or ladder up the bank.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Messages and phone calls have been flowing.
PS Minimus might be there, but no guarantee.
I have had the greatest difficulty obtaining a contact for a local hire houseboat for a Paddleducker group. Apparently there isn't one.
However, any listee who arrives and stays at a local hotel/motel and drives out will at least get a short cruise aboard my boat.
It is no good hiring at Mildura a week earlier and cruising up: both the water and the hirer won't let you; I guess that the same is true for coming downriver from Swan Hill.
I put out a query via a communal site, which doesn't list Robinvale/Euston, and didn't have it available on the pulldown menu on the query form. The result: friendly river people have responded from marinas at Murray Bridge (Riverglen and Long Island), Mannum (Kia), Blanchetown (Quality), Renmark (Liba Liba) and Mildura (Willandra), all commenting that their boats won't help me this time, but keep them in mind for a future hire. Liba Liba's fleet of sternwheelers is based at Renmark (www.libaliba.com.au). Clearly, this is the one for Paddleduckers visiting the region to use, but you won't be allowed up through Warrakoo.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Five sleeps to go! Can't wait!
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A wonderfull day it was to celebrate Canally's 100th Birthday. Saturday 8th December a attendance of 40 odd people were there to help celebrate.
Celebrations kicked off around 10.30am where Frank Tucker did a talk on Canally's history, Leigth Donovan did a speech on the raising and restoration so far, then members from each family who owned the Canally did a talk about their family members who operated the vessels: Freemans 1907-1920, Freeman & Tinks 1920-1929, Collins 1929- 1948, Chisletts 1948- 1998(including when sunk in May 1957).
It was most interesting to me listening to Barry Collins, son of famous riverman Bill Collins, and Norm Chistlett who skippered the Hero untill she burnt in 1957.
Ken Robertson, a country musician, sang Happy Brithday and also a song he wrote about PS Canally.
Followed by a toast and lunch and drinks. Was a fantastic day, and was good to catch up with a few paddleduckers!
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Hi PD's & great snaps Michael ........."A wonderfull day it was to celebrate Canally's 100th Birthday" :bbq & a :beer or two
Good old OZ timber in the construction :hammer
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I had looked forward to various incarnations of the centenary celebrations, and planned my cruising accordingly.
At the end of a November Darling River cruise, I left Jessie II with Leigh Donovan, who has been the driving force behind the raising and restoration of Canally.
Fri.7.12: I arrived at Leigh's place at 17.00, collected Jessie II, and drove to the Canally restoration site (at 1130 km). Leigh launched the boat on a dirt ramp (intended for houseboats, at higher water), using a tractor. Michael had arrived in time to assist. We left the boat moored there, and drove to Robinvale Hotel for a rendezvous with Murray Whaler, who would be in town too briefly to bring PS Minimus (and just as well: launching and retrieving difficulties). That hotel wasn't serving a meal; we dined at Euston Hotel. Meanwhile, the restoration group was still setting up: signs, canopies, a portable toilet, tables, chairs, flags.
Sat.8.12: The big day built up slowly, guests were on site from 8.00, mingling, looking and reminiscing. The formalities took place from 10.30, and were explained by Michael. PS Canally had been a greyhound: partly the hull design, partly by having a railway boiler and direct drive. The first speaker recalled the nickname of his forebear ('Tearaway'?). Frank related a famous race with Alexander Arbuthnot, which Canally won after giving the other a headstart. One nice touch was brought by Pam Francis (descendant of the Francis of the Francis & Tinks partnership). She is a member of Friends of Marion, and caters for PS Marion cruises (she catered for one on which I was aboard). She brought on loan from Mannum Museum a bottom-end river flag for the day: Canally had worked along both ends of the river. Frank and Leigh provided photo albums and photos of lots of boats: I didn't get time to view them all. Michael brought an album on PS Australien (which I dutifully collected at the end of the day, as Michael had left in the early afternoon to be the engineer aboard PS Pevensey that evening). The day was too hectic to spare any time to cruise with guests.
Sun.9.12: I took Jessie II up to 1166 km, than back via the short cut into Robinvale (saves 12 km, but barely navigable with the water down), down to the lock, then back to 1130 km.
Mon.10.12: Retrieval didn't work. The tractor couldn't get the trailer far enough into the water. The ramps at Robinvale and Euston were too short, with drops at the ends. I faced the prospect of leaving Jessie II at Robinvale for a year. Leigh recalled the old Robinvale town ramp, little used since the 1960s. It worked, and I was out of the water only 2 h late.
Other boats seen:
One of the modern pontoon houseboats to the rear of Michael's picture is a sternwheeler. Another is moored at the upriver end of the shortcut. Moored at the weir, waiting for sufficient water to continue, is PV Black Shag. This had been based at Swan Hill, and was for sale as at mid 2006. It has been sold to somebody downriver, but I don't yet know its new base. MV Maranoa was moored at the upriver end of the shortcut too. I asked the owner if it was built from one of the two railway tenders used for the PS Edwards salvage, and he didn't know.
Ken Robertson has been writing songs for over 60 years. He has a huge range of cds: paddlesteamers grouped by port, trains, aeroplanes and more. See www.kenrobertson.net.au.
Leith asked about the formal ownership for this community project. During the work, the boat is owned by Euston Club, which handles it in the same manner in which it handles three sporting subsidiaries. The club has been a major sponsor (I did eat there on Saturday and Sunday, and thanked the manager on duty). When the work is complete, ownership will be vested in Friends of Canally. Leigh thanked many benefactors: providers of materials, cranes, assistance, special skills.
Yet to come: the contact details on how to become a Friend of Canally.
Enclosed: two photos to complement Michael's.
I'll put up a photo of one of the sternwheel houseboats in an APAM thread.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Good to see some pics coming from the restoration- I haven't been able to find many during my searches for pics on how it was going, so it was good to see some.
Sounds like a great day was had.
Sean
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it is great to see pictures of it.. and i am sorry that i couldnt come.. i would have loved too :D
looks great though
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I've heard today that the Canally sank recently. Apparently the top of one side is sitting at water level while the other is sitting in about 20 foot of water. What a shame! I'm sure she'll come up pretty well though.
Mac
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Haha that doesn't suprise me, her bildge pump system runs twice a day for 5-10 mins to pump out all her water, she needs a good caulk, only the hull just above the water line is caulked. They must have forgotten to fill up the diesl for the generator!!
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OK ! - I must admit that I was a little shocked to hear that she sunk, then again I didn't know that she wasn't completely caulked either.
I'm sure that she we will raised shortly and with minimal damage.
I was also surprised to hear that there's actually 20ft of water so close to the bank.
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I was talking to shipwright Adam Auditori and he said the river droped and one side sat on the bank and the other side went down and filled her up where she hadn't been caulked. She's still under and I'm not sure when they plan on getting her up, as they live off funding.
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By the end of December, a raising plan had been established; equipment had been obtained; a professional salvage diver (based in Mildura) had been engaged.
The tanks have been supplied by a local industry, which makes them for the wine industry. I am not sure if they are designed to hold bulk grapes, or bulk fertiliser or insect spray.
Over the first week of January, flotation tanks were being readied, and placed (about two per day).
On Mon.5.1, the generator for the pump was retrieved from the hull. It had been working as the hull went down, which is consistent with the river-dropping explanation in an earlier post.
Preparation will probably take a further 2 weeks, then the time needed for the raising is uncertain.
The exercise isn't cheap, but the total bill looks like being cheaper than just the hiring cost of airbags for a similar recent exercise.
I called by on Tues.6.1; Paddleducker James was arriving next day (from adventures on PS Marion and SWPV Murray Princess) to spend time working on the preparation.
I enclose a photo taken from the opposite direction from those posted earlier in the thread: looking downstream past the stern, to the diver's barge (which had to come for only about 30 km to this site).
Searching on 'Canally' in the search windows brings up lots of other references, in particular
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2384.92 for more information, and a photo at 2004 Wentworth Junction Rally.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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The work proceeded faster than expected. I visited on Tues.6.1.
By the end of Thurs.8.1, Canally was floating to coaming level.
By Fri.9.1, it was floating properly.
To avoid a repetition, it is to be shifted to a shallow side creek.
Any drop of water would leave it stranded, but not sunk, and the water would rise again in another season.
The level here is governed by Euston Weir, and is usually at pool level.
I have yet to hear if any damage was sustained (unlikely), or how tricky the job will be to pump out remaining mud.
One casualty: the bilge pump. It went down fighting; the water damage to the generator motor may be irreparable, and it isn't a cheap item to replace. It had been retrieved only the day before I arrived, so the condition was still being assessed.
Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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There are several ways of spreading news: telephone, television, and tel a Mike. This time, I am first.
Canally is being relocated to a new base, which I understand will be Morgan (SA).
The tow from Robinvale to Colignan was troublefree.
The journey contines for another 2 weeks. From the people involved, I am guessing that the tow vessel is PV Impulse.
I am not sure what the new source of funding will be, or the source of the new labour pool.
The Robinvale team had dwindled, and was growing older, and was becoming increasingly disillusioned after the sinking, and more recent theft/vandalism.
Euston Club, which had been a major financial supporter, had had to cut back with money to ride through the global financial crisis, and local lack of money after successive drought years.
A photo in the new creek site was attached to
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2475.msg29349#msg29349
With the river way up, the creek was almost as large as the river is normally.
Attached is another on that day.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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They have so far made it to Mildura, estimating about 9km/hr heading downstream. No snags hit yet!!
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Canally always seems to invloved in tandem towing!!
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Both of the progress photos are microscopic: possibly sent to Michael from a mobile phone via an ipod.
Is the leading vessel in this second photo PV Matthew James?
Is the coming together for a purpose, or just an opportunity to voyage with friends?
Is there any way of getting larger views?
Apart from my magazine running late, this is now ski season, when I explore the uppermost reaches of the Murray (Howqua, Delatite, Ovens, Kiewa, and Snowy above the diversion point, which includes Thredbo River). I can't drop everything and scoot to SA.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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There is now a PS Canally page on facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/PS-Canally-Port-of-Morgan-a-new-begining/164385143629337?ref=nf
In the perpetual fragmentation of internet information (the medium has long since ceased to spread or share news, it buries news), I was forced to join.
I did so by anonymising every aspect which I could. Even so, I get messages from facebook 'you may like to make these people your facebook friends'. Frighteningly, they are people whom I know, and who don't know that I am a member.
Hence, when I clicked on the link I could get straight in, but others may not. There are perhaps 100 photos up: a couple of historical ones (Canally was the first boat through new lock 11, Mildura, in 1927); lots on stages of restoration in Robinvale, and about 25 of the current move.
Everything is anonymous, but almost certainly I do know both posters in real life.
One is using 'PS Canally Port of Morgan a new begining' as a posting name; the other is using 'Wall'.
I am reposting the larger version of the two which Michael posted. I could post the whole lot (can anonymous people claim copyright?), but it is too much work.
Here is a hard-work condensation of unreadable facebook, in reverse time sequence.
I don't know which world clock facebook uses: Aha there is one clue: the 16.30 Mon.27.6 lockage was reported at 2.21 Monday, which certainly was not 14 h premature, more like 10 h behind.
added 35 new photos to the album 2009 the Refloat.
Yesterday [ie Tues.5.7?] added 16 new photos to the album Sunk at its mooring.
Yesterday added 36 new photos to the album Rebuilding a great vessel.
Yesterday 26 new photos to the album The restoring goes on by the dedicated team.
added 14 new photos to the album Junction Rally trip a few years back.
added 35 new photos to the album The Restoration by the Friends of Canally.
added 13 new photos to the album Paddle Shaft Bearings.
PV Mathew James tows Impulse and Canally at Red Cliffs.
Sat.2.7 added 16 new photos to the album 1998 Canally is raised from Boundary Bend.
PS Canally was raised from the mud by the Rivers and Riverboat Historical and Preservation Society, Port of Mildura.
Saturday added 10 new photos to the album CANALLY the Early days.
Sat.2.7 at 18.53 (Victoria or USA?)
Impulse has a breakdown, broken drive chain, will re-access the Canally tow on Mon.4.7. PV Mathew James came to assist.
Take a virtual tour of Mildura's history and river www.murrayriver.com.au
Morgan SA www.youtube.com
20hp Marshall portable steam engine made in 1913 in Gainsborough England will go in the Canally. It came from the Edward River Sawmill NSW and was use up until 1967.
Canally was the first boat to go through Lock 11 Mildura in 1927
84 years later it will again go into the lock next Sunday, 3.7.
Thurs.30.6 at 1.43 added 18 new photos to the album Canally Euston to Colignan.
Wed.29.6 at 22.05 PS Canally is now at Colignan, not taking much water and will continue to Mildura on the weekend.
Day 2, Canally is leaving Wemen, and all is going well.
Sat.25.6, 21.25. Paddle wheels loaded on the Canally by crane
Mon.27.6, 17.14 Impulse arriving to take up the tow to SA.
Mon.27.6 at 2.21. Canally has started its trip to Morgan SA. It passed through lock 15 at 16.30 on Mon.27.6 on its way to SA.
It will go on the slipway in Berri for the month of August for repairs and will be in Morgan for the October long weekend
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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What a great facebook page, a lot of photos. Someone's doing a good job at getting that material online, which is great.
If they utilise their social media marketing well they could try and grab some additional funding from members of the public. There are some great 'crowd funding' websites popping up, it's the latest fad for raising money for projects (usually artistic, but now more areas are jumping on board) we're trying to raise money for a show through a website called Indiegogo but there's no reason why some of these restorations couldn't use it as well, and start grabbing some funding from visiting tourists, and the rest of the internet that would be interested in seeing these boats back on the water.
They're more than welcome to employ me to set it up for them, so if any of you pass on this information, feel free to pass on my details too! ;)
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I was emailed on Sunday night: with PV Impulse now repaired, the tow was resuming from Mildura on Mon.11.7.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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It is hard to double-guess the progress, but from a Mon.11.7 start, Impulse should be able to achieve the drop off at Berri, and be back at Wentworth for the Sat.23 & Sun.24.7 Ferguson tractor rally. I am having to skip that. I have a club 50th anniversary event in Ballarat, which could fit with a continuing drive for the Sunday, but I am doing four issues in 9 weeks before heading to China.
Possible progress:
Mon.11.7: Mildura - Abbotsford bridge (afternoon opening), but too late for lock 10.
Tues.12.7: 8.00 lock 10; 16.00 lock 9 and camp out.
Wed.13.7: lock 8 before the lunch break; lock 7 late afternoon; camp out.
Thurs.14.7: Border Cliffs, or a little below.
Fri.15.7: lock 6 at 8.00; Paringa bridge for the afternoon opening (probably too tight), then lock 5 and camp out.
Sat.16.7: Berri early afternoon, or Paringa bridge for the morning, lock 5 and Berri for the late afternoon.
Return
Sun.17.7: Berri in the morning, for lock 5 in the afternoon and the afternoon bridge opening. Overnight Renmark, or push on.
Mon.18.7: lock 6 before lunch, push on.
Tues.19.7: lock 7 in the morning; lock 8 in the afternoon.
Wed.20.7: lock 9 in the morning; lock 10 in the afternoon. Goal achieved, with 2 days in hand.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I didn't get to Wentworth, but I do have an email stating that Impulse was there, so the tow must have been completed successfully.
I guess that the skipper also had to get back to his farm and collect his own entry for the rally.
I am waiting for a list of all the paddleboats which attended.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Just a quick intro/ i am Kevin Myers from Cadell the person behind the relocation to Morgan of PS Canally.
I am also responsible for the Facebook sight and website http://pscanally.net78.net/
Canally is currently waiting to go on the slip at Berri (15th August) to have 20 new planks in the bottom and be totally re-caulked. All entries on the facebook page by "PS Canally Port of Morgan a new begining" are mine.
The Mid Murray Council ( PS Marion) has backed the move of Canally to Morgan with $120,000
Feel free to ask any questions regarding the re-location.
regards
Kevin Myers
Deputy Mayor
Mid Murray Council
(the WALL is a facebook page not a person)
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Hi PD's & welcome Kevin...........we have many OZ members here & great detail of our heritage paddling the rivers..... :breakcomp ...we look forward to reading & viewing the progress in the restoration of PS Canally & many more :kewlpics on http://pscanally.net78.net/
Derek :beer
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Welcome Kevin, you did an excellent job with the coverage of the first-stage of the Canally delivery.
Which vessel will do the Berri - Morgan tow? PV Hebe? One of the privatised government workboats?
I will be in China, and will miss the Industry Berri voyage, and the Canally tow to Morgan, and the long weekend in Morgan.
I guess that you will cover two of the three, possibly three of the three?
SA does a much better job than NSW of having the Murray as a tourist trail: water which is navigable, riverside towns (with that wonderful SA limestone architecture, and great pubs) with boat-friendly moorings, the cliffs sections, and now a judicious sprinkling of preserved steam boats on which an overseas or interstate visitor could base a program: Oscar W at Goolwa; Marion at Mannum; Canally at Morgan and Industry at Renmark. Toss in commercial voyages (sleep aboard and day vessels) and Murray River Queen b&b, and the ability to hire your own houseboat and explore the lot, plus photographing the private vessels: a paddleboater's paradise.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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On Fri.8.3.13, PS Oscar W (which had come from Goolwa) set forth towing PS Canally's decked hull from Morgan to Berri.
River gossip at Goolwa was that the professional shipwright working on the hull (who is based in Echuca) preferred Berri as a work location.
The hull had been slipped in 2011; I don't know if this round of work requires slipping again.
The news comes from member Bruce Perrott (builder of PV Chloe, which is nearly ready to launch). He is having trouble logging on: he can view as a guest, but can't post.
In recent times we have met aboard a PS Marion voyage to Berri, at the PS Melbourne centenary, and at Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival. We'll catch up again at Wentworth Junction Rally, although with no promise that that will be Chloe's maiden voyage.
PS Oscar W towed the Canally hull to Berri, starting off on 8.3, and arriving on 11.3. Crew on Canally comprised the guys involved on the restoration; most swagged it on the deck as the weather was a scorcher with temperate in the mid 40s (deg C) with the nights cooling down to mid 20s. The river was great for an evening tub. Heaps of pics floating around; everybody had a camera on board...being a long weekend the banks of the Murray were lined with campers all busy taking pics. It was quite a sight and a first for me being towed along, waiting for some pics of the whole flotilla.
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I'm wondering why PS Oscar had to come all the way from Goolwa to do this job. Were there no other boats closer to that part of the river that could have done it, e.g. PS Industry or a private boat?
Stephen.
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I was surprised too, but perhaps it is simply total enthusiasm, or available crews? Perhaps this is combined with Oscar's own need for survey slipping (two birds with one stone)? Coming down the river, the hull was propelled by a tinnie; that may not be so simple going upstream.
Oscar also has a special relationship with Cadell school, and likes to put in an appearance to keep in touch with a new wave of students. It was in the reach only last September for the PS Melbourne centenary, but was making a swift return to meet a deadline/commitment somewhere.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Chasing up via the website and the facebook site:
Oscar W will be departing Goolwa on Mon.4.3 and travelling to Berri. Opportunities to travel on certain stages of the journey are available. There will also be some one hour cruises offered at Morgan, Loxton and Waikerie. See www.oscar-w.info.
There are some good photos on facebook, including one coming into lock 2, and hence hugging the bank.
The poster suggests that Canally is coming back in June, and that the Berri voyage is for having one or two planks inserted in the hull. I don't know what will do the downriver tow, but it could be back to tinnie level. https://www.facebook.com/PSOscarW
From the website, Oscar is coming straight back, with short cruises in major towns, and town-to-town cruises available.
Sun.17.3: The cruises will be in Morgan.
There is a lot of enthusiasm from Oscar W volunteers to voyage the river, and a lot of enthusiasm along the river, particularly at Morgan (where Oscar W was based for many years, as the towing vessel for punts). Morgan regards Oscar as its own boat, and any visit is the prodigal son coming home. The relationship with Cadell school extends to not only calling by, but having the crew play team sports with the kids. The end result is that those children have a far greater appreciation of river history, geography and ecology. Perhaps one day a Cadell kid will go through to a master 4?
SA really does appreciate its river asset: good moorings at lots of riverbank towns, and a river on which voyaging is possible at all times, in a range of vessels. The NSW Victoria reach is far less friendly: the greens have made through voyaging as tricky as possible, and most towns don't have good moorings for through voyagers. Mildura is good, and Wentworth is good. Supremely-touristy Echuca is the worst.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I'm wondering why PS Oscar had to come all the way from Goolwa to do this job. Were there no other boats closer to that part of the river that could have done it, e.g. PS Industry or a private boat?
To answer my own question ...
Oscar was going up to Morgan/Cadell anyway on its regular March trip and volunteered to take Canally's rudder, which had been rebuilt at Goolwa, to the Canally at Morgan and then tow the Canally to the Berri slip.
Oscar left Morgan this morning (Tuesday) and should be back at Goolwa on Friday.
Stephen.
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Just a video. It sank on Sat.2.11 night into Sun.3.11 morning.
Canally recently sank at its Morgan Wharf mooring. Channel 7 covered the story on its Sun.3.11 evening news:
<http://au.news.yahoo.com/sa/video/watch/19660978/communitys-despair-after-restored-boat-sinks>
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Canally is floating again, although its 'actual' reason for sinking is almost turning into a contentious issue! Will find the truth out one day I suppose!
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So, what happened to it?
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Lot of missing posts showing the stages of restoration. I'll have to backtrack to fill the gaps.
Roderick Smith, using my second account.
Murray River paddlesteamer PS Canally makes first voyage in 81 years. Sophie Landau ABC Riverland Tuesday 28 June 2022
Video PS Canally travelling full steam ahead after 81 years
Eighty-one years after its last voyage, the historic paddle steamer PS Canally has made a trip down the Murray River.
Key points:
Volunteers in Morgan spent 12 years restoring the vessel to her former glory
The Canally sunk in Victoria after being left to rot following years of important service
More work needs to be done, but passengers may soon be able to ride the historic steamer
Steamers played a huge role in the development and function of river towns, but the Canally could have been lost in the history books if it was not for a group of hardworking volunteers.
Today the vessel headed from Morgan to Mannum before getting some more important works completed, including having its hull recaulked its interior timber framework replaced.
The trip down the Murray was a perfect opportunity to show off the restoration to eager spectators.
Skipper Jim Maywald was at the wheel as the vessel steamed down the river.
"It's a pretty historic day," he said.
"The volunteers have done an amazing job over the last 12 years in Morgan."
A steamboat sits on a river bank, with a rainbow in the background.
The PS Canally set sail after 12 years of volunteer restoration works. (Supplied: PS Canally Port of Morgan)
Saved from the depths
Mid Murray councillor Kevin Myers has been heavily involved in the restoration.
He said when the Canally first arrived in Morgan she was in a "sad" condition.
"In 1941 her engines and other operating gear was taken out," Mr Myers said.
"Then it became a barge again and then it became derelict."
A black and white photo of a steamboat.
Launched in 1907 in Echuca, Victoria, the Canally was used to trade wool on the Murrumbidgee River. (Supplied)
The vessel was used to trade dried fruits between Berri and Morgan before being put to work on the construction of the lock and weir system on the Murray in the early 1920s.
After changing hands and locations in the following years, the once-crucial vessel was left at a mooring at Boundary Bend in Victoria and eventually sank.
Rivers and Riverboat Historical and Preservation Society raised the Canally from the deep water in 1998 and swiftly began restoration of the hull.
A steamboat on a river's edge.
The PS Canally has transformed since 2013. (ABC: Ian Mannix)
In 2010 the Mid Murray Council took ownership of the boat and in 2011 she settled in her new home at the Port of Morgan.
The volunteers worked tirelessly over the past 12 years restoring the steamer to her former glory.
"We're actually over the moon with her performance," Mr Myers said after a test run last week.
"It was like having a new heartbeat with the engine ticking over."
Men at the helm of a historic boat.
Riverland locals watched on as the PS Canally made her way down the Murray. (Supplied: PS Canally Port of Morgan)
All aboard
Mr Myers said it was important to save the Canally in order to honour its importance in the '20s and '30s.
While the finishing touches are yet to be completed, community members and tourists may soon get the chance to experience the restored PS Canally up close.
"Hopefully within the next six to 12 months we'll get it totally surveyed to carry passengers," Mr Meyers said.
"All the people that have been waiting ? then they can all have a ride."
www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-28/murray-river-paddle-steamer-ps-canally-back-on-the-water/101190714