Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Preserved Paddle Ships => Topic started by: Roderick Smith on May 23, 2012, 12:27:09 PM
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PS Melbourne was built as a government work boat, based at Echuca.
In the early 1960s, I watched it come through Swan Hill, heading for Mildura to become a tourist boat.
I have been aboard on many occasions, and once shared a locking when I was cruising through Mildura on Jessie II.
The centenary is being celebrated at the start of September, and the river is rallying.
The first commitment was from PS Marion, which is extending a survey-slipping voyage to Berri through to Mildura, with a week spent on local cruising in various combinations. This will be its first voyage to Mildura for over 60 years.
See <http://www.psmarion.com/html/marion_cruises.html>
At this stage, Mannum - Mildura is fully booked.
Only twin share cabins are available, with one cabin available Mildura - Renmark and two cabins available Berri - Mannum.
There are some cabins available for the Mildura - Red Cliffs & return 2 nights 2 days cruise.
PS Ruby will be running in tandem from Wentworth, with a mix of overnight and short cruises. See http://www.psruby.com.au/index.html
PS Oscar W will be voyaging from Goolwa, over 28.8-26.9, with day sectors.
<http://www.oscar-w.info/cruises.html>
From the gossip mill: For once, there could be an Echuca presence. PS Emmylou was willing to commit to a 2001 Mildura voyage (which was prevented by low water), but won't commit this time.
The port is hoping to send a vessel (probably PS Adelaide), subject to council approval. If it goes, a couple of private steamers will go as a fleet. There could well be two vessels available for day sectors. That will be my priority, if it eventuates. I will have my own boat at Mildura for the celebration week, but will not be voyaging. I haven't the time to skipper, and it will be too cold in my boat in this season. I have to work on my magazine on a laptop plugged into 230 V on either a commercial boat, or a friend's boat.
The big fleet of paddleboats based in the Mildura area (from Karadoc to Wentworth) will be out in force. Many have been slipped over winter for maintenance. One likely miss: PV Impulse has sunk at its Colignan mooring. This vessel pioneered the wave of modern construction to traditional styles. With the river dropping, it had been out in the main channel, and sank in 7 m of water. It is insured, but river salvage is not available instantly. When the Canally hull sank at its mooring, it was close to the bank, and could be retrieved by pumping air into grape bins roped to the hull. Impulse had a composite hull: metal above the waterline, planked below. This was common in Australia, as wood above the waterline would shrink in fierce sun, and during low-water layovers. It is speculated that the inferior modern caulking, forced by the green lobby, had proved to be a tempting feed for yabbies (an Australian river crustacean).
As I recommend always, this is the time to venture half way around the world, and be part of the rare action.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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:c002 :41 :16
WHY WHY OH WHY AM I FROM BELGIUM?????
WHY OH WHY DON'T WE HAVE BIG RIVERS LOADED WITH PADDLERS ???????????
enjoy it while you can
gr from The Bombus
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I think of the Swiss and Italian lakes as just around the corner from Belgium, also the fleet at Dresden, and some scattered paddlesteamers into northern Germany, and on to Norway, Sweden and Finland.
When I started flying to Europe, most flights were two stop, and 25 h or more.
Now they are down to one stop, and around 21 h.
I did a quick search: the cheapest operator is China Southern, one stop Amsterdam to Melbourne (23 h); two stops Melbourne - Amsterdam (28 h).
You can fly faster, but for more money.
Here are four more photos of PS Melbourne in different eras.
The one at Swan Hill is probably Mon.30.8.65. Dropping backwards through bridges was standard practice to maintain steerage through a narrow opening in a fast current.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I shall be there for the weekend. I can't do any of the overnight trips but will be going on the Marion, Oscar W and the birthday girl the Melbourne on the Sunday. Yippee!
I shall keep an eye out for you Roderick.
http://psmelbournecentenary.webs.com/ for further details on the event.
http://www.visitmildura.com.au/ for accommodation and info on Mildura.
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Progress news from Mildura: The fleet is expected to have 20 vessels.
Commercial:
Centenarian PS Melbourne.
SA visitors PS Oscar W, PS Marion & PS Industry.
Local boats PS Ruby, PV Rothbury, PV Mundoo.
Private:
Most of the boats moored at various places from Wentworth to Colignan, with one steamer being available (PS James Maiden).
Not yet confirmed:
Swan Hill or Echuca boats, and possibly PS Minimus.
Work has been proceeding rapidly on raising PV Impulse, but I don't know if it is fully out of the water yet, and if the damage can be repaired in time. Two flotation barges were in use: the boat was raised, worked sideways, then lowered again; then the barges were repositioned. That would be tricky in the current.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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As soon as I had posted by best informed guesses, a progress report has arrived from the coordinator.
SA is coming in style: not just the big preserved steamers (in survey for carrying passengers), but private diesel paddle boats. AFAIK, all of those have made the voyage before.
Confirmed:
PS Oscar W Goolwa
PS Marion Mannum
PV Amphibious Mannum
PV Flender Himmel Mannum
PV Tamara Rae Moorook
PS Industry Renmark
PS Ruby Wentworth
PS James Maiden Wentworth
PV Florence Annie Wentworth
PV Settler Mildura
PV Coonawarra Mildura
PV Iraak Nangiloc
PV Evangeline Karadoc
SWPV Risbey Mildura
Ferguson Mildura
PS Minimus Geelong (trailed in)
SWPV Chalka Colignan
PV Shiralee Mildura
PS Melbourne Mildura
PV Rothbury Mildura
PV Mundoo Mildura
SL Breezy Echuca (trailed in)
Likely starters include five more from the local area and two from Swan Hill.
Other possible starters include four medium-large vessels from Echuca: PS Adelaide & PS Hero with commercial survey, plus two private paddleboats; and a further six locally-based paddleboats.
As ever, I say 'Come now, even from half way around the world'. This time nothing can go wrong. The water from SA can't go too low or too high. The bridges from Echuca will be available. The only remaining hazards are fallen trees over a short reach between Echuca and Swan Hill, and the water height through Bitch & Pups (Swan Hill - Robinvale). By the dates for this voyage, the influence of the spring snow melt should be showing, either directly or indirectly.
The local program is pretty well locked in now:
Fri.7.9 Lock 9 to Wentworth. The upstream SA fleet plus local boats going down to welcome them. Dinner at Wentworth
Sat.8.9. Wentworth - Mildura. As for Friday, with more local boats. Dinner at Old Mildura Homestead
Sun.9.9 All day at Mildura for the PS Melbourne Centenary Celebrations (lots of short cruises by lots of boats. Barbecue meal, probably at Mildura Rowing Club(adjacent to the main floating moorings)
Mon.10 & Tues.11.9: Public & school visits to commercial boats
Wed.12.9: Fleet voyage Mildura - Red Cliffs & back to Psyche Bend for the overnight. Lunch at Trentham winery; dinner aboard.
Thurs.13: Fleet voyage Psyche Bend - Mildura. Lunch at Gol Gol Hotel.
Sat.15.9: Mildura to Coomealla/Dareton (ie above Abbotsford bridge, ready for an early-morning opening).
Sun.16.9: Coomealla/Dareton - Wentworth.
Mon.17.9: Wentworth - Lock 9.
The Marion and Oscar W dates are on the websites (posted before). Anyone who plays booking dates correctly has the chance to voyage by steam the whole way from Echuca to Wellington (or vv), using a range of vessels: 1536 km by paddlesteamer in 2012.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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From Michael: 'It's finally official, PS Adelaide will be going to Mildura'.
This will be not just a great gesture, it will be the seed nucleus for private boats to voyage in convoy.
Sell your biggest model, rush to your travel agent with the proceeds, and book for an Australian adventure now.
Here is the planned program for PS Adelaide:
Sat.25.8 Echuca Wharf 9.00 1712 km; 82km; Torrumbarry Weir 16.00, Load wood
Sun.26 Torrumbarry Lock 10.00 1630; 86km; Barham Mill 17.00
Mon.27 Barham 9.00 1544; 19km ; Koondrook/ Barham 11.00
Tues.28 Barham bridge 7.00 1524; 114km ; 10.30 Murrabit bridge; Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement 17.30
Wed.29, Swan Hill, wooding.
Thurs.30 Swan Hill Bridge 7.00 1410; 90 km; 9.00 Beveridge Island punt; 9.30 Speewa punt; Nyah bridge 14.30; Murphy’s Cutting; downstream of Tooleybuc bridge 17.30
Fri.31 Tooleybuc 8.00 1320; 92 km; Bitch and Pups; Wakool River junction; Murrumbidgee junction; Boundary Bend 17.00
Sat.1.9 Boundary Bend 8.00 1228; 104 km; Meilman Station; Robinvale Caravan Park 17.00
Sun.2 Robinvale Pump out & wooding
Mon.3 Robinvale 8.00 1124; 124 km; Lock 15 8.30; Retail Cutting; Tapaulin Cutting/ Island, 17.30
Tues.4 Depart 7.00 1000; 112 km; Mansells block, Colignan, Nangiloc, Psyche Bend; Mildura 17.30 (moor alongside PV Mundoo).
Wed.5 Depart 9.30 888; 56 km; Lock 11 10.00; Abbotsford bridge 14.00; Wentworth (832 km) 15.30
12 km/h downstream: fast for a steamer. Upstream in 2003, the fleet average was 8 km/h.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Excitement is building fast.
I enclose the program for the official day.
My own moves are vague, as (at this stage), PS Adelaide is not taking day sectors.
I plan to have Jessie II in the water, at Mildura, in time to head downriver to follow the downriver fleet into Mildura, then be present on the Sunday, then linger for the local week.
PS Adelaide confirmed too late to be on the official program. I enclose as well three photos of its participation in a previous great fleet: 2003, the 150th anniversary of the Randell & Cadell voyages, as the Echuca fleet meets the fleet from Mildura & Swan Hill; many of those boats had come the whole way from Goolwa. That is the mood and style which will be happening in Mildura 4 weeks.
Some/all of my photos may have been posted before: there are lots of photos of the paddlesteamer on Paddleducks, but even an advanced search brings only a message list, and not the photos attached to the messages.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Have some updates.
Adelaide is coming from Echuca, but missed the Mildura publicity, and seems not to be offering day sectors. I am still awaiting final advice. I have posted its cruising schedule already for the downriver. Upriver, it leaves Mildura with the Wed.12.9 fleet to Red Cliffs, and keeps on going: back home for 1.10, ready for the annual heritage festival a week later. Paddleducker Michael, newly qualified as a marine engineer, has been rostered as engineer for the full downriver voyage. The other Echuca boats have chickened out (Hero, Britannia and Tooraloora). The only surety which I know is PV Iron Dry, joining at Swan Hill. There is the possibility that the downriver sector will be padded by a day, to arrive in Mildura on Thurs.6.9.
The upriver fleet publicity has now arrived. Not everyone can open docx files, although they are way more compact than doc ones. I enclose the text here, and the pdf program for PS Industry. PV Amphibious is also part of the fleet. PV Tamara Rae was listed in an early fleet list; I don't know about other private vessels from SA.
I am still juggling my moves, and whether I will launch my own boat at all (and have 7 days of responsibility), or simply loaf on other boats. One shock was the demand for a $30 registration fee. I am still seeing what benefits I gain from that.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
GRAND FLOTILLA CRUISES FROM RENMARK TO MILDURA
The iconic Paddle Steamer Industry is cruising to Mildura in September and will be leaving in grand style with heritage paddle steamers Marion from Mannum, Oscar W from Goolwa and invites other private paddle and river boats to join them.
It will be the first time in 20 years the Industry has visited Mildura and will be offering day cruises along the way.
This magnificent flotilla will depart Renmark on the 4th September at 8.30 a.m. to make its way to join Paddle Steamer Melbourne for its 100th birthday celebrations at the Mildura waterfront on Sunday 9th September 2012.
“We are thrilled to be going back to Mildura and will join the PS Ruby in Wentworth along with many other riverboats and heritage vessels for the grand flotilla cruise on the celebration day”, said PS Industry Chairman Dave Nattrass.
“The flotilla departing from Renmark will be a spectacle not to be missed by river or by air as we have very limited opportunities to bring all these vessels together”.
“River conditions are perfect and the PV Amphibious will be joining us as will many other vessels along the way to celebrate the P S Melbourne’s birthday party.”
Day cruises on the PS Industry will be offered as follows:
Tuesday 4th September – Renmark to Wilkadene Brewery
Friday 7th September – Lock 9 (near Lake Cullulleraine) to Wentworth
Saturday 8th September – Wentworth to Mildura
Saturday 15th September – Mildura to Coomealla with lunch at the Coomealla club for lunch
[Sun.16.9 - Coomealla - Wentworth]
Monday 17th September – Wentworth to Lock 9
Day cruises will be $60.00 per person which includes a light lunch, Devonshire morning and afternoon teas and transfers included if required.
In addition all vessels will be offering short cruises on the day of the PS Melbounre 100th Birth day celebrations at the Mildura riverfront on Sunday 9th September for only $15.00 per person or you can secure a special heritage tickets which includes one short cruise on the vessel of your choice and the grand flotilla cruise to conclude the day for $25.00.
“It will be the first time the PS Marion has been back to Mildura in 50 years and we believe it will be the largest congregation of heritage and river vessels Mildura has seen for many years”, said PS Marion Chairman Rob Bowring.
“We are hoping many more vessels will join us as we make our way to Mildura and register their vessel to be on display at the picturesque Mildura Waterfront on the 9th September”.
PS Industry will also be travelling in flotilla formation with the PS Ruby, Marion, Oscar W to Red Cliffs on Wednesday 12th September where lunch will be offered at the magnificent Gol Gol Hotel on the banks of the Murray and will cruise back to Mildura from Psyche Bend on the return trip on the 13th September offering another day cruise in this magnificent part of the Murray River.
On the return trip, a short cruise has been incorporated from Coomealla to Wentworth on Sunday 16th September for $25.00
which will take the Industry under the Abbotsford bridge and Devonshire tea is included.
Don’t miss your opportunity to cruise the Murray on board the historic PS Industry and enjoy the Murray River at its best.
For further information and booking a PS Industry cruise from Renmark to Wilkadene contact the Renmark Visitor Information Centre on 1300 661 704 and for all other cruises contact the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 043 or visit www.milduratourism.com or the Wentworth Visitor Information Centre on 03 5027 5080 or visit www.psruby.com.au/ghc.html for more information.
For further media information contact Sandra Daniel from PS Industry on 042 9995005 or email graemedaniel@riverland.net.au.
HERITAGE STEAMERS TRAVEL ACROSS THE NATION TO CELEBRATE THE PADDLE STEAMER MELBOURNE’S 100TH BIRTHDAY IN MILDURA
Mildura’s iconic Paddle Steamer, the PS Melbourne is turning 100. What better way to celebrate than a party on the Murray River with some very special guests.
The largest congregation of heritage Paddle Steamers and riverboats ever seen are attending the PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival from across the nation! Iconic Paddle Steamers from South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria will cruise to Mildura on Sunday 9th September to celebrate the PS Melbourne’s centenary and to reignite their long association with this grand old lady of the Murray.
The PS Melbourne was launched in 1912 and began its working career as a work boat on the Murray River in 1913 and later as a passenger vessel in 1965 under the watchful and passionate eye of the late Captain Alby Pointon. The Pointon family continue to operate the vessel today with the Melbourne being the only Paddle Steamer remaining that cruises daily and is driven by her original steam engine.
“The Melbourne is a major draw card for the Sunraysia area when it comes to Tourism, as well as one of the iconic symbols that all locals recognise.” says Lyn McKenzie, the Manager of the PS Melbourne.
“Locals and visitors alike recognise the sound of the Melbourne’s steam whistle, with some locals knowing what time it is dependent on the duration of the whistle. It is just magical.”
Mildura mayor John Arnold said the Paddle Steamer Melbourne’s Centenary River Festival was an exciting addition to the region’s busy annual calendar of events.
“This is a particularly significant occasion as celebrates the centenary of a vessel that has an important place in both local history and in present day tourism operations,” he said.
“I encourage locals and visitors alike to make the most of this rare occasion to see so many heritage vessels in the one place at the one time and to join in the festivities and celebrations.”
The PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival will feature vessels from across the country moored at the picturesque Mildura waterfront where visitors can take themselves back to the romantic days of steam travel on the Murray River. Forty Five minute cruises will be offered on the day by the birthday girl PS Melbourne, the PS Ruby from Wentworth and her South Australian friends the PS Marion from Mannum, PS Oscar W from Goolwa and the PS Industry from Renmark, just to name a few.
“We are expecting heritage vessels trailered by road or by water to take part in this event and we invite boats to register with us to be a part of this auspicious occasion for both Mildura and the PS Melbourne”, said Event Co-ordinator Ashton McKenzie.
“We have twenty boats registered to date and hope to have many more. It will be the largest congregation of vessels seen in Mildura for a very long time”.
“Our volunteers are very excited to be taking the Paddlesteamer Marion back to Mildura as it will be the first time in 50 years. We are looking forward to celebrating this milestone event with the PS Melbourne and the reunion of many paddlesteamers”, said Chairman of the Mannum Dock Museum Board, Rob Bowring.
“To have so many heritage steam vessels in one place will bring widespread interest from across the Nation and the flotilla of boats will be a magnificent spectacle to see on the river led by the PS Melbourne”.
The magnificent flotilla will arrive at the Mildura wharf at 11.00am followed by the official birthday ceremony at 12 noon and cruises will commence at 12.30pm. Visitors can purchase a special heritage ticket where you can enjoy two cruises for only $25.00 including the ‘Flotilla Cruise’ featuring all of the vessels in formation at the end of the day. The Sunraysia Farmers Market will offer breakfast and bar facilities will be available at the Mildura Rowing Club along with their fabulous riverside BBQ. Steam machinery and vintage vehicles will be on display and the melodic sounds of the Mildura District Brass Band will entertain you throughout the day.
The flotilla of paddle steamers from South Australia will be welcomed in to the Port of Wentworth, where the Murray and Darling Rivers meet on Friday 7 September for a special night which is sure to ‘steam up’ the town. PS Ruby, the flagship of the Port of Wentworth will lead the flotilla as they cruise out through the River’s Junction and upstream to Mildura on Saturday 8 September to join the PS Melbourne. “It will be the first time in over 80 years that PS Ruby and her sister ship PS Marion will cruise together and the flotilla enroute to Mildura will be a once in a life time sight to see” says Bill Brook Chairman PS Ruby.
Come along and greet the many steamers as they arrive in Mildura led by the well-known sound of the Melbourne’s steam whistle at 11.00am and sing Happy Birthday to Mildura’s iconic Paddle Steamer Melbourne at the official ceremony at 12 noon at the picturesque Mildura riverfront.
Entry is free and cruises are now on sale for $15.00 at the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 043 or www.paddlesteamers.com.au and the Wentworth Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5027 5080 or visit www.psruby.com.au/ghc.html .
Don’t miss this unique event showcasing river steam and the romance of paddlewheels on the Murray and over 500 years of River History!!!!! For more information contact the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5018 8380 or visit www.psmelbournecentenary.webs.com
Find us on facebook! www.facebook.com/PaddleSteamerMelbournesCentenary
Event: PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival
Date: Sunday 9th September 2012
Where: Mildura wharf and Mildura Rowing Club
Time: Commences at 8.00 a.m.and concludes at 4.30 p.m.
Cost: Entry is free
Cruise costs $15.00 Adults Heritage Ticket $25.00 (two cruises including flotilla cruise)
$10.00 Children under 16 (Heritage Ticket - $15.00)
Children under 4 free
Cruise Tickets: On sale now at the Wentworth Visitor Information Centre phone (03) 5027 5080 or visit www.psruby.com.au or the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 043 or visit www.psmelbournecentenary.webs.com
Heritage/Wooden Boat Registration: Cost: $30.00
Contact Ashton McKenzie, Event Co-ordinator on 0439 511 744 or
For further media information contact Lyn McKenzie at the PS Melbourne on (03) 50 23 2200 or Deb Alexander of the PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival Committee on 0414 857738.
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It's all happening. As I post on Fri.24.8 afternoon, PS Adelaide is ready to leave Echuca in the morning. At this stage, the only guaranteed fleet vessel will be private PV Iron Dry, joining at Swan Hill.
For the arrival into Swan Hill, locally based commercial PV Pyap will voyage further upstream than usual, and escort Adelaide from the overnight stop at Pental Island into Swan Hill. Some of the local boats may run as escort from Colignan or Karadoc, but a lot of those will have gone downstream already to join the SA boats at lock 9.
I have decided to maximise freedom and flexibility by not taking my own, which isn't paddle and isn't anywhere near 100 years old. Some Wooden Boat Association members will be trailing their vintage wooden launches to the event.
Paddlesteamer Adelaide departs Port of Echuca Wharf
At 9am this Saturday (25 August) PS Adelaide will set off on her biggest journey in over 50 years.
Adelaide, the oldest wooden hulled paddlesteamer in the world, will depart from the Port of Echuca
Wharf for the first leg of her 886km trip down the mighty Murray River. Destination is Mildura and
Wentworth to help celebrate fellow paddlesteamer the PS Melbourne’s 100th birthday.
Port of Echuca are inviting the local community to come and farewell PS Adelaide as she departs.
The wharf will be open from 8.30am for those who wish to wave her goodbye.
Port of Echuca manager Mark Blunden said, ‘We have arranged for Rev Eric Smith to conduct a
Blessing of Safe Travel and the Echuca Federal Band will also play as the PS Adelaide and the crew
depart.’
It is estimated that the trip from Echuca to Mildura will take 12 days, including two rest days, however
this is nearly doubled when bringing her back upstream. To make the trip the PS Adelaide will have
to go through three locks, over two wire punt crossings and four bridges will have to be lifted. It is
also estimated that Adelaide will require approx 3 tonnes of firewood per day.
Mr Blunden said ‘Adelaide is being crewed by volunteers and without the support and
sponsorship of local businesses this journey would not be possible. We would like to thank Telstra,
Hip Pocket, Add Print, Mitre 10, Dulux and Hunter Wharf & Barge for their support, especially at such
short notice.
Telstra has come onboard and will equip Adelaide with the most up to date
telecommunications to ensure the vessel is contactable at all times and so the crew can keep the
community up to date on the adventure through the Port of Echuca’s Facebook and a dedicated Blog.
For links to these sites please visit www.portofechuca.org.au.
On Sunday 26 August the PS Adelaide will be steamed up by 7.30am, ready to go through
Torrumbarry Lock at 8am. Locals are encouraged to drive out to the Torrumbarry Weir Day Visitor
Area to watch as the vessel moves through the lock chamber.
Itinerary:
Day 1- Saturday 25 August Echuca Wharf at 9am to Torrumbarry Weir (82km)
Day 2- Sunday 26 August Torrumbarry Lock to Barham Mill Bend (86km)
Day 3- Monday 27 August Barham Mill Bend to Barham-Koondrook (19km)
Day 4- Tuesday 28 August Barham-Koondrook to Swan Hill Pental Island (114km)
Day 5- Wednesday 29 August Rest day in Swan Hill- PB Iron Dry joins Flotilla
Day 6- Thursday 30 August Swan Hill to Tooleybuc (90km)
Day 7 Friday 31 August Tooleybuc to Boundary Bend (92km) [past Bitch & Pups rapids, Wakool Jn & Murrumbidgee Jn].
Day 8 Saturday 1 September Boundary Bend to Robinvale (104km)
Day 9- Sunday 2 September Wood loading and rest day.
Day 10- Monday 3 September Robinvale to Tapaulin Cutting/Island (124km)
Day 11- Tuesday 4 September Tapaulin Cutting/Island to Mildura (112km)
Day 12- Wednesday 5 September Mildura to Wentworth (56km)
Please Note: Itinerary is subject to varying river heights and may change at any time without notice.
When in Mildura, the PS Melbourne’s Centenary River Festival will be held on Sunday 9 September
and is a celebration of the iconic Paddle Steamer Melbourne's 100th Birthday. This milestone event
will be held at the Mildura Wharf where the Melbourne will be joined by over 20 vessels, including
heritage steamers from South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, not seen together for over 50
years.
If you would like further information on the PS Adelaide’s expedition, please contact the Port of
Echuca on 03 5482 4248.
For further information contact:
Belinda Owen
Phone: (03) 5482 4248 0439 067 886
Email: b.owen@campaspe.vic.gov.au
52 Murray Esplanade
Echuca, Vic, 3564
T: (03) 5482 4248
F: (03) 5482 6951
E: enquiries@portofechuca.org.au
W: www.portofechuca.org.au Page 2 of 2
For PS Oscar W to be leaving Murray Bridge on Wed.29.8, it must be leaving Goolwa on Tues.28.8.
It will catch up with PS Marion, which leaves Mannum on Tues.28.8.
Paddleducker Michael is the engineer for the whole Echuca - Mildura run. Telstra has fitted the boat with a satellite phone, but I don't know about satellite internet. Any phone messages which come through I will be able to relay.
Saturday update: a photo.
Echuca: PS Adelaide is ready for a 9.00 ceremonial departure, and is carrying a birthday greeting from Port of Echuca to PS Melbourne. 6.58, Sat.25.8.12. (Michael Snell)
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Day 1 with PS Adelaide.
The text came from the port at 9.35, relayed via Michael at 15.37, while still on the water.
I allow 7 h for the 80 km Echuca - Torrumbarry downstream; 8 h upstream.
There should be no need for wooding up before the overnight stop.
PS Adelaide is off and cruising, but itinerary has already changed!
It was a foggy start to the day, however many Echuca-Moama locals ventured out to the Port of Echuca Wharf to bid farewell to the grand lady of the river.
While the crew were preparing for departure and visitors were arriving, the Echuca Federal Band played high on the redgum structure. Uniting Church Minister Eric Smith conducted a Blessing of Safe Travel and Shire of Campaspe Kevin Simpson wished everyone farewell. Those who braved the early morning were treated to a ride on PS Pevensey as she cruised with PS Adelaide for the first 20 minutes.
As Adelaide departed town paddlesteamers such as the PS Canberra and PS Emmylou, who were steaming up for their daily cruises, blew their whistles and waved support.
Adelaide will stay overnight at Torrumbarry (Saturday night), ready to go through the Torrumbarry Weir at 8.00 Sunday 26 August.
As expected the scheduled itinerary has already changed. Adelaide is now scheduled to go under the Barham-Koondrook Bridge Monday 27 August at approx 13.00.
My moves are either to be at Barham for the bridge, then overnight, giving me Murrabit bridge on Tuesday too.
Or, I will be in position at Swan Hill Tuesday ready for the Pyap cruise to escort Adelaide into town.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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This won't be quite online realtime information, as you might expect with urban public transport, but it won't be too far out for all practical purposes.
PS Adelaide left Echuca at 9.15, spent about 15 min at Deep Creek pumpout, and reached Torrumbarry at 17.15: 8 h for 80 km. This was easy going, in pool the whole way, and remarkably snag free (a legacy of being the reach for the major annual Southern 80 waterski race, which does the section upriver in just 1 h). The wooding was done promptly, and the accompanying photo from Michael was taken at 17.45. When I phoned him at 18.30, he had finished the evening engineering (clearing the fire and the ashpan). A wood fire isn't banked overnight. Michael will be up at 5.00 to light a fresh fire for the new day.
The water below the weir is well up: while the boat will use the lock, it won't have to be dropped. Aha: this is a modern weir now. I guess that there is no navpass.
Belinda, from Port of Echuca, is a passenger: she is updating a Facebook page. I have yet to find it.
Those who have never been to Australia could well have trouble envisaging the geography, or even the magnitude of the achievement in today's river environment. I have scanned the title-page map from Maureen Wright 'River Murray charts'. This is carried by all boaties, and is available at multiple outlets along the river. I don't know how you would obtain one mailorder overseas, but it is a good book for armchair voyagers to obtain. The section scanned shows what Adelaide is doing coming downriver to Mildura, and what the SA boats are doing, coming upriver from as far as Goolwa.
In earlier times, I have had Jessie II tied up at that jetty, and have boarded PS Canberra there for a journey through the lock and back, and then the journey to Echuca.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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G'day from PS Adelaide
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Michael's greeting came as I was preparing the progressive news of the day, Sun.26.8.
Enclosed: A photo at 7.43, with the shire president alongside to greet & farewell.
A photo at 8.18: through the lock, but with no drop. I have never seen Torumbarry like this.
Sure enough: there is no navigation pass, but the water is at the same height on each side of the weir gates.
This weir replaced an earlier one, of Dethridge style, which had been on the left of this view. Water was coming under the weir foundations. This weir is vital for irrigation, so the money was found to replace it, while keeping the lock in the the same place.
That lock (26) is at 1629 km. I have a further message at 12.08 that Adelaide is at 1588 km: 41 km in just under 4 h, so the average is 10 km/h rather than 12 km/h.
I may not yet be joining the chase until Swan Hill, where there is a rest day. I'll make up my mind at midnight tonight: it is an 8.00 start on Monday if I want to watch the bridge passage at Koondrook/Barham.
Normally, the problem at Torrumbarry is that water downstream is navigable, but there is insufficient depth for a big vessel to get over the lower concrete apron at the lock.
Enclosed: two hitherto-unposted photos of PS Canberra approaching the lock on a special excursion when the water was sufficiently high. It was deployed there for two weekends, making local cruises. I was on the final cruise of the miniseason, and stayed aboard for the afternoon into evening return to Echuca: magic, cruising under floodlamps.
The third shows Jessie II on my first attempt to go through. The gear cable broke as I entered the lock; I had to abort the voyage. While the lockmaster went to collect his tinnie to rescue me, the wind blew me gently to the Victorian shore, steered by the row of safety buoys.
I don't have a photo of my successful passage (Dec.11), as I was too busy steering and preparing ropes and fenders. I guess that I could get over the sill in any water, but would have to hoist the motor and walk the boat in on low water.
A later update: Michael phoned at 18.14, as Adelaide had just tied up at Barham (above the bridge). There was a large crowd waiting to greet the vessel, so the crew were about to offer them an onboard inspection. 105 km from Torumbarry in 10 h: 10.5 km/h average. Monday morning is wooding for a 13.00 or 13.30 raising of the bridge. The first plan was to spend the night just below the bridge. The boat may push on and camp out, and reach the Murrabit bridge opening early. My own plan now is to leave home on Tuesday afternoon, have dinner at Kerang (covering another of the hotels there for my pub hobby groups), and spend the night at Pental Island caravan park, meeting the crew. On Wednesday morning, I will drive into Swan Hill in time to be aboard the PV Pyap cruise: Swan Hill Pioneer Village at 9.30 to go upstream to meet/greet/escort. This will be a public cruise.
That evening there is a dinner at a restaurant adjacent to village, also a public event.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Here is the start of the vaguely real-time progress, commencing at Barham on Mon.27.8.12 morning.
This is my favourite time on the river: waking as the sun rises, mist will be rising from the water, fish jumping, and cormorants swooping. Usually completely peaceful, although often a fishing tinnie has powered past, heading to a favourite nook and a fallen redgum. In the heart of Barham, it will have been less peaceful. That bridge carries a lot of semitrailer traffic of irrigation produce in containers, heading to Melbourne markets or export docks.
The river is up even more than when I came through in Jessie II: I could get under either the main span or a side span. On this water, even I would need a small lift of the bridge.
A set of photos is at <www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2510.msg9659#msg9659>, taken on the day of the bridge-centenary celebrations, on much lower water.
In this telephoto view, the superstructure at the left may be local boat PS Barham, but it wasn't at that mooring on my last two visits. Adelaide is moored near the boat ramp, but the ramp will be well under water. However, its access road may be the means by which wood will arrive in trucks. At some point, the local volunteers who have cut and delivered wood will be given a short cruise as a gesture of thanks. The bridge opening is set for around 13.00. Although opening is free, it must be prebooked, and only certain times of day are approved. With schools and shops on each side of the water, morning and afternoon sessions must be clear of peak traffic. Usually the council sends a team of five: one for each restraining clamp, and one to operate the hydraulic lifting mechanism (the pump comes in on the council truck). It is quite swift. Adelaide has a tow pole above the wheelhouse, and will require a full lift today.
In the early 1950s, PV Coonawarra was built for the Echuca - Swan Hill tourist run, but was relocated after only a couple of seasons: the water was too unreliable. It would have required the bridge to be raised for every passage. It did make a sentimental return around 1990, and the owner said 'never again, we did too much damage to the superstructure, hitting overhanging limbs'.
Port of Echuca is maintaining a Facebook site of the voyage.
<www.facebook.com/pages/Port-of-Echuca/152836151414831?ref=hl>
Enclosed also: some of the photos from the bridge raising for the 2003 Randell Cadell 150th anniversary fleet, not posted hitherto. Citizens gathered, and local schools were assembled to witness the rare event of the raising, and the nature of the fleet passing through. This reach is not allowed for commercial houseboats, and private ones would come through only rarely.
The views show PS William Randell (one of the vessels which had voyaged from Goolwa, SA), PV Tamara Rae (from Wemen, Victoria then; it is now based in SA), and the crowds of onlookers while workers bring the span down again.
I have added two of Jessie II at Barham in Dec.11, when the water was lower. I had no trouble going under the main span.
The wharf where I tied up is close to where Adelaide is moored in the top photo in this post, but must be well under water. It was damaged, and out of use. All the filling had been washed away, and the metal protruded badly. I had to be very careful to have the fenders set, to avoid being bashed onto the metal whenever a speedboat passed. Adelaide could well be moored above it, but perhaps upstream of the remains, for easy wooding access.
~13.40 update. There was a trial lifting of the bridge around 10.30 or 11.30, then it was lowered again. It was raised from around 13.10. Two houseboats, which had been waiting for this known opportunity, went through. Steam launch St Elmo, which is based in the nearby major town Kerang, was in the water, and circled upstream. If it did go through, it had to return promptly; even it would need the bridge raised, and it had to get back to its trailer. The owner had it launched for the bridge centenary, and has attended various rallies (most recently the Echuca Queen's Birthday pageant). In traditional river style, Adelaide backed under the bridge to give steerage, and the ability to power back upstream if anything was going wrong. As well, a tinnie was attached to the bow to keep it inline. The result was a hitch-free passage, watched by crowds from both banks. There was 2 m clearance above the tow pole. As planned, Adelaide has tied up just below the bridge, giving the crew town facilities again for the night. There will be an early start on Tuesday, for a 9.30 bridge lifting at Murrabit (where the hydraulic works, no cranes needed).
16.00 update. 36 km to Murrabit bridge would need a 6.00 start for a 9.30 bridge opening, which would need a ~4.00 boiler lighting. Adelaide has left Barham, and is covering some of the distance this afternoon. There is no civilisation along the way, so it will be a campout night.
Evening update. Adelaide came downstream for about 2.5 h to a bush camp. Michael has described the section as 'narrow and snaggy', which is what I found in Dec.11. I have added the final photo of the day, with the setting sun highlighting the boat beautifully against our Australian river landscape. I hope that those from other lands can gain the same sense of serenity which we enjoy when on the river.
The new day will commence at 7.00, and I am now on target for a rendezvous on Tuesday evening.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Tues.28.8.12 progress.
The section which I found tricky in Dec.11 was tricky for Adelaide too: narrow and snaggy.
The 9.30 lifting at Murrabit was simple, again backing through. Michael took a photo at 9.34, and phoned at 9.37 as the boat rounded up to continue into easier water.
The continuing run is 67 km to Pental Island caravan park, so I predict a 16.30 arrival.
The Murray lifting-span bridges were built in different eras, and there are considerable variations in design. Three have been removed after replacement with modern bridges; one has been replaced, but retained for pedestrians.
The Murrabit one was built in the 1920s as a combined rail & road bridge. It has metal girders for the approach spans, not wooden trusses.
The railway was closed in the 1950s, but the tracks were intact in 1972.
See <www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5647.msg30655#msg30655>
Enclosed: five photos from 2003, one of the marathon in the same reach, and two from this morning. I didn't take a photo of Jessie II passing under the bridge. The annual Murray marathon canoe/kayak fundraising rally starts at Yarrawonga, comes out of the water at Torrumbarry, and launches again at Murrabit for the final day, finishing at Swan Hill. This avoids the snaggy section, which is also remote for the land-based support teams. I caught up to the final day, making a later start than I had expected. I had to dawdle and stop to stay behind the rear safety boat.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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The Oscar W was missing from its usual place at the Goolwa wharf this morning so I'm assuming it's on the way to Mildura.
Stephen.
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I am out the door only 40 min late, but should be on internet at Swan Hill on Wednesday afternoon.
I had an email at 14.40 from Michael: the boat has passed the upper end of Pental Island.
Yes, Oscar had to leave by this morning. On Wednesday morning, it is running a public sector from Murray Bridge.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Hi PD's..... :whistle & thanks Roderick for the images
36 years ago....we crossed the bridge @ Murrabit ...but didn't see any paddlers ...in those days the bridge had a set of STOP & GO lights
:nono ....the Roads & Traffic Authority had the timing for light changes set to 15 minutes :41 ...........Derek
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Tuesday: late start, then delayed in heavy traffic, dinner in Kerang, Pental Island after all but one of the crew had gone to bed. It had been a long day, with a tricky section at the start.
Wednesday: Magnificent weather, cup of tea with the crew, then I drove into Swan Hill to be on the full PV Pyap welcome cruise at 9.30, also joined by PV Iron Dry.
Back in port, the mayor gave a welcome, there was a barbecue lunch, then a later high tea while Adelaide was upstream at the pumpout and loading wood. Lots of locals were present through the day, and many had riverboat links: there many and varied conversations.
Evening was a special dinner at the adjacent Spoons restaurant.
Belinda has given me approval to use her photos for Paddleducks, but I will be transferring only a limited selection. Unless you have a Facebook profile, you can't view the page there, but there are also photos going to the port's website.
A lot of the news is implications of the bridge not being ready. The best hope is a Friday departure, and Saturday is the latest which still allows participation in Mildura. I don't know what the effect will be on the program.
Post edit: I found the cord.
I also spoke with the bridge engineers. The test last night was successful. The scaffolding will be removed today, and opening for departure tomorrow (Friday) is now likely.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Here is a message from the organising committee today:
South Australian paddle steamers, Marion and Oscar W are now on their way to Mildura for the grand reunion of heritage vessels associated with the PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival on Sunday 9th September.
The Oscar and the Marion will join up with the PS Industry, PB Amphibious and other riverboats at Renmark on Tuesday 4 September and depart in flotilla formation from the Renmark Wharf at 8.30.
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Deb Alexander on 0414 857738 or 180degrees@internode.on.net.
Deb Alexander
PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival Committee
And earlier press released:
MEDIA RELEASE
30th July 2012
GRAND FLOTILLA CRUISES FROM RENMARK TO MILDURA
The iconic Paddle Steamer Industry is cruising to Mildura in September and will be leaving in grand style with heritage paddle steamers Marion from Mannum, Oscar W from Goolwa and invites other private paddle and river boats to join them.
It will be the first time in 20 years the Industry has visited Mildura and will be offering day cruises along the way.
This magnificent flotilla will depart Renmark on the 4th September at 8.30 a.m. to make its way to join Paddle Steamer Melbourne for its 100th birthday celebrations at the Mildura waterfront on Sunday 9th September 2012.
“We are thrilled to be going back to Mildura and will join the PS Ruby in Wentworth along with many other riverboats and heritage vessels for the grand flotilla cruise on the celebration day”, said PS Industry Chairman Dave Nattrass.
“The flotilla departing from Renmark will be a spectacle not to be missed by river or by air as we have very limited opportunities to bring all these vessels together”.
“River conditions are perfect and the PV Amphibious will be joining us as will many other vessels along the way to celebrate the P S Melbourne’s birthday party.”
Day cruises on the PS Industry will be offered as follows:
Tuesday 4th September – Renmark to Wilkadene Brewery
Friday 7th September – Lock 9 (near Lake Cullulleraine) to Wentworth
Saturday 8th September – Wentworth to Mildura
Saturday 15th September – Mildura to Coomealla with lunch at the Coomealla club for lunch
Saturday 17th September – Wentworth to Lock 9
Day cruises will be $60.00 per person which includes a light lunch, Devonshire morning and afternoon teas and transfers included if required.
In addition all vessels will be offering short cruises on the day of the PS Melbounre 100th Birth day celebrations at the Mildura riverfront on Sunday 9th September for only $15.00 per person or you can secure a special heritage tickets which includes one short cruise on the vessel of your choice and the grand flotilla cruise to conclude the day for $25.00.
“It will be the first time the PS Marion has been back to Mildura in 50 years and we believe it will be the largest congregation of heritage and river vessels Mildura has seen for many years”, said PS Marion Chairman Rob Bowring.
“We are hoping many more vessels will join us as we make our way to Mildura and register their vessel to be on display at the picturesque Mildura Waterfront on the 9th September”.
The PS Industry will also be travelling in flotilla formation with the PS Ruby, Marion, Oscar W to Red Cliffs on Wednesday 12th September where lunch will be offered at the magnificent Gol Gol Hotel on the banks of the Murray and will cruise back to Mildura from Psyche Bend on the return trip on the 13th September offering another day cruise in this magnificent part of the Murray River.
On the return trip, a short cruise has been incorporated from Coomealla to Wentworth on Sunday 16th September for $25.00
which will take the Industry under the Abbotsford bridge and Devonshire tea is included.
Don’t miss your opportunity to cruise the Murray on board the historic PS Industry and enjoy the Murray River at its best.
For further information and booking a PS Industry cruise from Renmark to Wilkadene contact the Renmark Visitor Information Centre on 1300 661 704 and for all other cruises contact the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 043 or visit www.milduratourism.com or the Wentworth Visitor Information Centre on 03 5027 5080 or visit www.psruby.com.au/ghc.html for more information.
For further media information contact Sandra Daniel from PS Industry on 042 9995005 or email graemedaniel@riverland.net.au.
29TH August 2012
MEDIA RELEASE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA RIVER BOATS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO
GRAND PADDLE STEAMER REUNION IN MILDURA
Heritage paddle steamers and many riverboats are now on their way from South Australia and Victoria to join the PS Melbourne for its 100th birthday celebrations in Mildura on Sunday 9th September at the PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival at the picturesque Mildura riverfront.
The PS Oscar W from Goolwa and the PS Marion from Mannum departed yesterday from their respective river ports and the oldest existing original, wooden hulled paddle steamer in the world, the PS Adelaide, left Echuca on Saturday 25th August.
Chairman of the PS Oscar W, Roly Bartlett said, “Crew are in high spirits. Our Lake crossing was speedy and not rough. The cook says the trip is fantastic and the crew think the cook is fantastic so on day 2 all is looking good”.
“It could be 100 years since Ruby and Oscar were in the same place during their working lives , hence we are looking forward to this amazing reunion of old vessels to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to the PS Melbourne”.
“We had many residents of Mannum waving goodbye to the Marion as both the passengers and the community were excited to see the Marion going back to Mildura after 50 years”, said PS Marion Chairman Rob Bowring.
“The flotilla leaving Renmark will be a spectacle but when we reach Wentworth and join up with our sister ship the PS Ruby whom we haven’t been with for over 80 years, it will be a reunion to celebrate. The Marion and the Ruby were both part of Murray Shipping Company in the 1900’s”.
“When we arrive in Mildura on the 9th September, with the PS Melbourne leading us joined by the myriad of other vessels, it will be truly amazing and an historic sight to see”.
On the 4th September, the South Australian vessels including the PS Industry and the PB Amphibious will congregate in Renmark to leave in flotilla formation to make their way to Mildura at 8.30 a.m. from the Renmark wharf.
“If my father, Alby Pointon was still with us, he would have been overwhelmed with the amount of boats who will make their way to Mildura to join us for this festive occasion”, said PS Melbourne Manager, Lyn McKenzie.
“Our mother and father’s entrepreneurial skills all those years ago has created an iconic tourist attraction, the PS Melbourne, for the city of Mildura and surrounding region, providing cruises on the magnificent Murray River since 1966.”
In 1955, Alby and Freda Pointon moved their family to Mildura seeking a better climate for their son Robert, along with their foster son Douglas. They purchased a small boating business operating cruises along the Murray on a small launch called the Donald Duck. Their residence was aboard a houseboat called the Isabelle. Soon after their arrival, the notorious 1956 floods surrounded Mildura and while still operating what cruises he could, Alby assisted local residents by transporting them to their flooded properties by boat.
In 1957 they purchased an old paddle steamer wreck, the Mayflower, and rebuilt her to carry 60 passengers. She was re-commissioned in 1958. The Mayflower became too small for the increasing tourist trade and after searching along the river they purchased the Paddle Steamer Melbourne, also as a wreck.
In 1965, he restored her to the magnificent Paddle Steamer she is today and she has been carrying passengers here at Mildura for the past 46 years.
The Rothbury was purchased in 1968 and took a long eight years to restore.
Alby’s unique foresight for cruising on the Murray saw him rebuild three paddle steamers; the Mayflower, Melbourne and Rothbury, and he also brought additional boats to Mildura, the Coonawarra and Mundoo.
The PS Melbourne has become a tourist icon in Mildura and its unique whistle is synonymous with locals each time it departs and returns each day and has brought much joy to the many international, national and state visitors who have cruised on the Murray River with her.
“This is not just a birthday, but a reunion of boats from across three States and portrays the amazing passion and dedication of the many volunteers who have taken the time to bring these amazing heritage vessels to the PS Melbourne’s Centenary River Festival”, said Chris Pointon.
Over 35 river vessels ranging from paddle boats to putt putts will join the PS Melbourne for this milestone event and will line the picturesque Mildura Riverfront stretching from the Mildura Wharf past the Mildura Rowing Club who will be offering wine tasting and a delicious barbecue along with many other food stalls and the Sunraysia Farmers Market will start off the day with breakfast from 9.00 a.m.
The Mildura District Brass Band will entertain visitors throughout the day and will herald the arrival of the flotilla from 10.30 a.m at the wharf. Doug Beasy, Secretary of the Mildura District Brass Band said, “We are delighted to be playing at such a special occasion for both Mildura and the PS Melbourne”.
“Our band dates back to 1890 so it is very fitting to be part of the Melbourne’s 100th Birthday joining two iconic and historic Mildura attractions”.
The PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival is on Sunday 9th September at the Mildura riverfront. There will be vintage machinery displays, wine tasting, food stalls and cruises throughout the day. Entry is free and the grand flotilla led by the Melbourne will arrive at 10.30 a.m. followed by the official birthday ceremony.
Short cruises will be offered to the public at $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children. Cruise tickets are on sale now at the Mildura Visitor Information Centre www.visitmildura.com.au or phone 1800 039 043 or the Wentworth Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5027 5080 or visit www.psruby.com.au/ghc.html .
Don’t miss the largest congregation of heritage vessels and river boats Mildura has seen for many years. For more information visit www.psmelbournecentenary.webs.com or find us on facebook! www.facebook.com/PaddleSteamerMelbournesCentenary
___________________________________________________________________________
Event: PS Melbourne Centenary River Festival
Date: Sunday 9th September 2012
Where: Mildura wharf and Mildura Rowing Club
Time: Commences at 9.00 a.m. and concludes at 4.30 p.m.
Grant Flotilla arrives at 10.30 a.m. followed by official birthday ceremony.
Cost: Entry is free
Cruise costs $15.00 Adults
$10.00 Children under 16
Children under 4 free
Cruise Tickets: On sale now at the Wentworth Visitor Information Centre phone (03) 5027 5080 or visit www.psruby.com.au or the Mildura Visitor Information Centre on 1800 039 043 www.visitmildura.com.au or visit www.psmelbournecentenary.webs.com
For further media information contact Deb Alexander on 0414 857738 or email 180degrees@internode.on.net
Enclosed: two press-release photos
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The bridge at Swan Hill will have a test opening at 10.00 Friday, and it is highly likely that Adelaide and escorts will be through around 11.00.
That is only 28 h late.
I have been able to use today for shopping, and internet access.
Over the coming week, I won't be near many facilities, unless a layday rostered for Sunday slips to Monday (equally, it may be cancelled to regain time).
More news on voyage aspects:
The historic paddle steamer “Marion” is making her way up to Mildura to help celebrate PS Melbourne’s 100th birthday.
On the way upstream the PS Marion will be calling into Loxton on Saturday 1st of September and offering one hour cruises to help celebrate their inaugural “Agriculture Machinery Through the Ages” Parade.
· Departing below launch ramps at 1:30pm and 3:00 pm
· $15.00 Adults $7.50 Children free to children under 4 years of age.
· Licensed bar facilities on board
Proceeds from the cruises will contribute to the on-going maintenance of the PS Marion.
· Entry to the parade is free. The Premier will be opening the event and awarding “Junior Farmer of the Year” as well as opening a Centenary feature at 12:00 noon.
CONTACT LOXTON VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE 08 85848071 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OF THE PARADE & CRUISE BOOKINGS
CRUISE BOOKINGS CAN ALSO BE MADE ON LINE www.psmarion.com or MANNUM VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE 08 8569 1303
The Loxton Mardi Gras along with Loxton’s Old Machinery Group and the Historical Village invite you to join us in Celebrating 2012 as the Year of the Farmer with an ‘Agriculture Machinery Through the Ages’ Parade and a Farmers’ Family Dinner and Concert: Saturday 1st September 2012
A Fun Filled Event for the Whole Family.
Entertainment for Everyone, including a Parade like not seen before in Loxton; a Farmer’s quiz; Local Entertainment; and a Delicious 4 Course Meal showcasing much of which we Produce and Grow Right Here in the Riverland & Mallee. A Real Educational Experience Not to be Missed!
‘Agriculture Machinery Through the Ages’ Parade
Saturday September 1st 10am - The Parade will include agriculture & horticultural machinery of all sorts. It will travel from View and Drabsch Streets, turn left at the Post Office into East Terrace, move down to the Sturt Memorial then travel back up East Terrace, move around the Roundabout and then proceed back down the full length of East Terrace. After the Parade, the vehicles will form a static display till 2pm at the river end of the main street.
Historical Village: will be open from 10am.
The Historic PS Marion: will be steaming in & offering 1 hour cruises, departing 1:30 pm & 3:00 pm $15.00 Adults, $7.50 Children, free children under 4 years of age.
Farmers’ Family Dinner & Concert:
Where: Peace Hall, Bookpurnong Terrace, Loxton
When: 6pm, Saturday, 1st September 2012
Feature: Dessert Baking Competition. If you are a keen cook of a ‘True Country Dessert’ contact Louise Kershaw (8584 6076 a.h.) for an application form. Desserts will assist the meal for the night and will be judged by the people in attendance. Prizes will be awarded. Entry to this competition is free (this a great chance to practice your Show entries this year ).
Cost: Includes a 4-course meal & entertainment, show-casing local produce. Come and try some unique foods home grown in your local community.
Adults $30, Children 3-12 $12, Children 0-2 FREE.
Dinner/Concert Tickets & PS Marion cruise tickets from the Loxton Visitor Information Centre 08 85848071
Tables of 10 are Available and Seats are Limited, so Book Early.
100% of proceeds go back into your local community through Mardi Gras.
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Swan Hill success:
I was at the bridge at 10.00, along with about 12 engineers, and Adelaide was hovering soon after, and locals were assembling. The bridge was taken up slowly, while measurements and clearances and deflections were checked. It wasn't lowered. The houseboat came through first, then Adelaide backwards at 10.40 (being blown sideways), then Iron Dry, and the voyage is off again. I caught up at a local bend, then came back into town briefly for internet and petrol, then head to Speewa punt. My guess is 13.40, but the boat people think earlier. There will be an afternoon bridging at Nyah, but I doubt that Tooleybuc will be reached tonight. I suspect that I won't get internet now until Monday.
Here are this morning's photos.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I don't have time to drive up. My schedule's pretty tight.
I do have time to fly up though, and I just booked myself tickets!
Hence I will be there from Saturday through Monday morning.
I needed a weekend off, and this I think this will be the perfect window.
Hope someone's got a spot on a boat for me. Sean's coming back to the river!
Alternatively who's on what boat for the Flotilla?
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I got some photos on Friday, but not at my two hoped-for locations: Wakool junction and Murrumbidgee junction. The approach roads were under water.
This does not augur well for the Kulkyne reach.
Today (Monday) was magic: great weather and great views. I was on MV Moonshine, from Robinvale to Meilman. Later MV Maranoa joined the fleet into Robinvale.
Regards,
Roderick
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I have added two more photos to Monday's post.
Oscar W is maintaining a Facebook page of its voyage:
https://www.facebook.com/PSOscarW
Marion seems not be posting progress reports.
Today, Tuesday, PS Adelaide left the Robinvale boat ramp at 7.30, called at the Euston pumpout, and made an easy entry into lock 15 aroun 8.20. Iron Dry was about 5 min behind. There was only half a metre of dropping needed, and the boats were away again around 8.40.
I caught up at Happy Landing at 10.40: 24 km in 2 h.
I have come back into Robinvale, then head to Wemen for 13.10.
All roads in HattahKulkine park are closed. I could retrack and head via Sturt Hwy to Tapaulin Cutting, but I really should go straight to Nangiloc, and work in the pub there, then pick up at Colignan tomorrow.
If everything is running well, the boats will push on from an already-long day to reach Mansell's paddleboat property at Colignan.
Are any SA members getting the coverage of the SA fleet?
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Hi PD's ....yes that is interesting Roderick to see Adelaide heel approx 5 degrees on a calm water STDB turn....... :whistle ....Derek
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The software just lost my reply, and no time for another.
The heeling is the effect of current, and I have had Jessie II heeling on such corners too.
Today there has been strong wind too.
The fleet is in Mildura, rest day Thursday, then Friday to Wentworth.
I met two readers of Paddleducks at the wharf, welcoming Adelaide.
Edit: the boat is PV Miralie, the filename has a typo.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Today is a rest day, and I have made my plan and bookings for the next few days.
Mildura is quite abuzz with the event.
The caravan park *at Buronga is booked out for the weekend.
Today's Sunraysia Daily had an article on the arrival: google for the site.
The library has a display on the event.
Meanwhile:
Rare sight as paddleboats head upstream
Thursday 6 September 2012
A fleet of historic paddle-steamers has left Renmark in the South Australian Riverland to head upstream.
PS Marion, PS Oscar W, PV Amphibious and PS Industry are travelling to Mildura.
More than 35 vessels will join PS Melbourne there for its centenary celebrations at the weekend.
An organiser Sandra Daniels said it would be a rare and spectacular river event.
"I probably won't see it in my lifetime again because it's a big thing to organise and it's a lot of work with the wood and the weather and the river's got to be right - if it's too low or too high (it cannot happen) so there's a lot of factors that come into it," she said.
"It's not very often you get all these boats together, it should have happened last year for the centenary of the industry but because of the water we couldn't get it so we're just fortunate that the river is very fast-flowing, we're going to need a lot of wood to get up there."
About 100 tonnes of timber have been placed at strategic refuelling sites along the Murray.
<www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-04/paddlesteamers-head-upstream/4241924>
Today's photos:
* Yesterday, passing the preserved steam pump at Psyche Bend. It is operated a few times per year. The replacement electric pump is right of frame.
* Today: Iron Dry rests beside local boats.
* The library display.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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The momentum is building.
Buronga caravan park is booked out for the weekend.
Thursday Sunraysia Daily had a photo of the Adelaide crew on the foredeck after arrival.
Today's has a photo of four abreast at Renmark: Oscar W, Industry, Marion & Amphibious.
I posted from Mildura library on Thursday morning.
In the afternoon, PS Minimus was launched at the town ramp, and cruised locally (including being the first steamer in the 5 yo marina).
Historic MV Isabele came from Karadoc to Mildura.
PV Matthew James (the former Lady Augusta replica) positioned.
There are also two stylish river launches here from SA: MV Blue Wren (from Mannum) and a hired MV Blue Wren (from Murray Bridge).
Today I am on the water all day, to Wentworth.
My next internet chance may not be until Monday morning.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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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.
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I'll be driving up tomorrow. Don't have anything planned yet.
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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.
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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 :).
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Seems the Ruby isn't coming. The Rothbury will be running in her place.
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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The weekend, particularly the social aspect of it, has got me seriously thinking about how to get myself a boat. I've started looking into the feasiblity of purchasing one of the boats that we were talking about.
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We should discuss this more. Have you made it back down to Melbourne? How did your Wentworth leg go?
I must admit I also got out my Parsons to start looking at which boats (in '96 mind you) were potentials for restoration...
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Yep, back in Melbourne. I ended up leaving on Monday as nothing was happening. Wentworth was ok, had a look through the photos at the little museum they have there. Took a couple of pictures of the Ruby & got on my way.
I'm considering driving up to Echuca on Saturday for the day to have a look at boats.
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Tough life! Sounds good.
I liked that little museum in Wentworth- Dad had gone to check out the jail, while the rest of the family looked at the museum. A lot of Parson's photos. Wasn't bad for a small museum though.
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The pictures weren't bad. I think that they're all from the Godson Collection, but there were some that the State Library of SA don't have online.
Also, found this on youtube. Watch out for Roderick!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJl_hkB1fXE
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I'm standing just left of screen to Rod, they filmed it as we were boarding the Marion. They didn't want to talk to me though. :(
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Backtracking to the photos not put up when I was away from internet. I am not sure of the bit on the boiler: Michael did explain it. Is it the feedwater heater?
Something noted by the crews of other boats: they are all geriatric (most over 60); Adelaide had a youth crew (most under 30).
Today: PS Adelaide on the Mildura - Wentworth sector, on Fri.7.9.
Re the sudden mass enthusiasm for owning a paddleboat: I'll put something up in the full-size thread.
I am back home, but the events continue.
Commercial voyages Mildura - Coomealla on Saturday, and Coomealla - Wentworth on Sunday.
Marion heads for home, but possibly not in convoy (or maybe with Industry).
Oscar leaves on Saturday, and zooms: a Tuesday evening event in Loxton.
Adelaide leaves on Saturday or Sunday for Echuca.
Private Settler is taking the opportunity to voyage to SA.
As I left Psyche Bend on Thursday afternoon, Amphibious and Settler were still moored there.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Here is the second half of the Wentworth. It was an exciting and emotional entry: after months of planning, everything had happened, and the two halves of the fleet were meeting. Adelaide's crew believe that this was the first time in the Darling since the boat was built. However, it did spend time at Paringa, and almost certainly would have called at the port during both transits.
Ruby and Marion were together for the first time in decades, and their joint locking may have been a first.
As Adelaide arrived, most of the boats were in port already; Coonawarra came out to welcome the upriver boats; Flender Himmel was coming through the lock solo; Ruby and Marion followed on the next locking.
A large crowd was present. The levee bank was decorated with words Adelaide, Industry; Ruby; Marion, Oscar W (I couldn't fit them all into one frame).
Gossip was swapped, and crews & passengers moved to dinner in Crown Hotel (filling the function room, and taking over the bistro too).
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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The big South Australian boats have left Mildura. Oscar left yesterday and Marion and Industry today (Sunday). We watched Marion and Industry arrive at Wentworth late this afternoon along with Amphibious, Kulkyne, James Maiden, Flender Himmel and Settler.
What a great week!
I heard a rumour that Ruby's gear problems have been fixed but she is still sitting quietly in her wet dock at Wentworth.
Stephen.
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I have heard the same story, that the problem has been fixed. Scuttlebut is firmly against Wentworth Council for not fixing the fault earlier. It had been quite evident when I was aboard Ruby to Renmark in Mar.-Apr.11. The consistent story is that it was a lubrication problem with the valvegear.
James Maiden was returning to its mooring, about 10-20 km up the Darling. Settler is voyaging with the SA boats. Perhaps Kulkyne is too? Its normal mooring is at Karadoc, upstream of Mildura. Rather cunningly, it seems that Oscar provided the Saturday Mildura - Coomealla public journey, and Industry provided the Sunday Coomealla - Wentworth journey.
I continue with my gapfilling photos, with eight for this post, and seven for the next. I then pick up with the midweek mini rally (12 boats as a reduced fleet: most places in this world can't even muster 12). I have to finish reporting this grand voyage before the fleet gets home, and before I leave for a USA holiday.
My selection is designed to give a cheap version of the holiday which would otherwise have cost GBP1000 in airfares alone. Clearly, I am not just putting up portraits of the many participating boats, but am trying to give a vision to overseas readers of our Australian river conditions, scenery and history. In this selection, the Wentworth water tower is a distinctive setting, and shows the achievement of PS Adelaide. I also include a better view of the apex of the Darling & Murray junction, where two mighty rivers form one larger mighty river (think Mississippi Missouri, or Rhine Maas, or Irrawaddy Chindwa). It is one of the few places on the river where there is a cardinal marker. It was here in 1956 that two mighty floods became a mightier one. It was also a site considered in 1901 for the future national capital, being almost the epicentre of the existing state capitals. The final one in this selection shows the boats bunching because they were early for the opening of the lifting-span Abbotsford bridge, linking Yelta (Vic.) & Curlwaa (NSW). In mid frame is a floating raft: this houses a salinity-measuring device, powered by a solar panel, and feeding back to Murray Darling Commission for analysis, and comparison with data from numerous such devices along the river.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I have to keep the pace up, in order to finish before the voyagers are back home.
This concludes the Sat.8.9 coverage, and the last few of this infill interleaves with the opening few which I posted at the time. This day concluded at Old Mildura Homestead, with a major dinner for crews and passengers.
Pumpouts exist at lots of places along the river: important for environmental protection, and well accepted by the river community. Vacuum hoses are used on large vessels; there is also a simple hopper for smaller boats using portaloos (eg mine), or even fishing tinnies using just a bucket for the day. They are less common on other waterways, but now exist on Lake Eildon (popular with houseboats) and the Gippsland Lakes. Rules for retention have changed in SA. Hitherto only blackwater had to be retained; greywater could be discharged. Now greywater may have to be retained as well (AFAIK, a requirement on Sydney Harbour). Because of short hoses, there were problems for some of the boats this time. PS Adelaide had to skip the Euston pumpout (hose length of the pumpout), and made a downriver entry to the Mildura one in order to get the outlet tap within reach of the pumpout house. I did watch a novice with a hired houseboat make a downriver approach to one near lock 6, and overshoot completely; he rounded up and made a proper upriver approach.
I am also including modern houseboats with paddle propulsion. None appeared at the Sunday festivities.
The helicopter photo was prepared for an aviation group. It seems to be a privately-owned Robinson, but must have been carrying a tv crew. It added to the sense of occasion, and provided some good photos for tv and local newspapers.
Without being identical, Rum Runner is very similar to my Jessie II: same motor, hull, handling and sound. The current owner is converting it from poptop to full cabin.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I must admit that the PS Melbourne Centenary was the first such event that Iv'e attended, despite working on the Pevensey for a few days in May last year, I still didn't make it to her Centenary.
It was good to catch up with other PD's also, although it was hard trying to squeeze a few years of goss into just one night.
One of the highlights of the Melbourne Centenary for me, was bringing the Industry back under the bridge on the downstream run, she's very heavy on the steering, much harder to control than the Melbourne - which I steered when I was probably about nine (under the watchful eye of the late Eddie Hazelman).
Purely from a spectators opinion - it would have been good to see all 24 Paddle Boats out for the grand flotilla, but after a stint at the helm of the Industry, I can appreciate that the 19 or 20 Paddle Boats that were out, was quite enough.
Although it looked like a slow river, the current was surprising, being stronger than I first thought, so we had to keep a close eye on the boats immediately behind us, particularly when rounding up.
We didn't go to Wentworth on Mon 10th, but started driving back east via Swan Hill, Echuca, Cobram, Yarrawonga & Albury.
(Off topic news)
Swan Hill - the Gem is afloat in her pond, but is leaking and being pumped regularly, her deckhouses look quite good, hopefully the hull will be given some TLC soon.
The Pyap looks very smart, but the evaporative air-con. on the roof looks a bit grandiose.
Echuca - 100912
Emmylou, Canberra & Pevensey cruising,
Pride of the Murray on the slip (bow first and further up the rails, because the Ada Barge has been shifted , didn't see the Eclipse (hull & paddleboxes), but she is still there somewhere.
Tooraloora, Britannia, D26 Barge, Struggler, Perricoota & Ivy - May all moored in the Wet Dock, whilst the Billy Tea was out for a paddle.
Perhaps the biggest news at Echuca at the moment is that the Etona could be steaming again soon, - fingers crossed. I heard on good authority that there has been some work done already, and that her owner hopes to have her steaming in time for an All The Rivers Run 30 th Anniv. event sometime near the end of the year, apparently held down near Perricoota.
The other news that's been talked about lately, is the fate of the PS Edwards hulk.
I can confirm that her steam winch was purchased but as a condition of sale, the rest of the boats remains went with it, some of the machinery is being donated to the Port of Echuca, with the Hull apparently being offered to the new landowner, it will be interesting to see what happens from here.
Has anyone heard any news on the PV Babbler ? - built by Peter McLeod about 10 years ago, originally named the Elizabeth, and sold to Russell Anderson during 2004.
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I have covered the Monday and Tuesday laydays in earlier posts. The visiting boats were wooded; schoolgroups came aboard for inspections.
Wednesday reminded me of my theatre hobby: the excitement of final night, leading the stripping of the set and the theatre bare.
The lawns were empty; the moorings quiet.
Even so, the midweek adventure mustered 12 paddleboats moving: 11 left Mildura, but Melbourne was on its normal public cruise and rounded up; Miralie joined in at Red Cliffs. It had not been part of the weekend action, because its owner was skippering one of the larger vessels.
The plan was for the Ruby & Marion to take overnight passengers, with lunch at Trentham Cliffs winery, and Industry and Oscar W to take day passengers, with lunch at Gol Gol Hotel and a bus return to Mildura. Ruby was out of action; its passengers went aboard Industry.
I was aboard Oscar W.
Today's set shows most of the midweek fleet in action, and docking at Gol Gol Hotel. 18 months earlier, I had planned to moor there for lunch with Jessie II. The water was much higher, but not sufficiently high to tie off to the bistro verandah. There was no place to tie up and climb off, so I skipped lunch there.
I also post to and write for pub groups, and have been building a folio of pubs which look over waterways, with top priority to those which are on the water, or have only grass (not roads) separating them. This is one such.
I include one of an Australian waterbird which we take for granted, but with which overseas readers will be unfamiliar: a black swan.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan
Post edit: There are pictures around of the 1956 floods in Mannum. Mannum Hotel had the bar flooded, and was trading from the upstairs balcony. A boat is tied to it.
This video shows the pub, but not with a boat. It does show a boat at the rear of Pretoria Hotel.
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhHbxJmY3AE>
This site shows the flood and the verandah, but without a boat: <www.hotelmannum.com.au/history.htm>
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Already the rally is taking on an air of unreality: did this really happen? As I post, it was a week ago that I was still on Oscar W arriving back at Mildura, for a bus back to Psyche Bend, then set forth for home after 18 great river days.
After lunch on Wednesday we continued past various moored vessels, then beyond Psyche Bend to Red Cliffs to round up, then back to Psyche Bend. The group which restored and maintains the steam pump there had it in action. There was just one complement of overnight passengers: from PS Marion. This was a night for crews to relax and mingle. There was a catered dinner under a picnic shelter there, followed by a quiz night, and then games testing boating skills (mainly ropes).
Post edit: The Bruces Bend photos show PV Merlin (which didn't participate in the events), and barge Reliance.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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This selection concludes my participation in the centenary events. I was offered a day spot on Marion while it was so remote from home. We docked at Gol Gol with ease, but had trouble getting off. Docking at Mildura was also tricky. Upon the return to Mildura, I caught the transfer bus back to Psyche Bend to collect my car, and exit via Red Cliffs to Calder Hwy and home. I will have a few gap filler photos to post yet, and some scans of the newspaper coverage.
As I post, Oscar W isn't quite home. A message on the Facebook site: into Renmark Tuesday, and out Tuesday afternoon. That would put it through the early afternoon bridge opening, and still an afternoon locking, but at best Berri for the evening, and not Loxton for the planned event. I rang lock 1 (Blanchetown): Oscar was through at 15.00 on Friday. That hints at a bit more on Friday, a long Saturday, and a Sunday crossing of the lake, to be home for school-holiday cruising.
Marion is either on Berri slip, or positioned to go up.
Industry is home.
Ruby is reportedly fixed.
Checking with lock 15: Adelaide hasn't left Mildura yet, probably still waiting for a crew.
Private boats are at home in the Mildura area, or setting forth to SA for their own grand adventure. Iron Dry is sticking with Adelaide.
Owners of smaller boats are swapping emails to organise a Christmas - New Year mini fleet from Echuca to Tocumwal & return.
Post edit: even as I was typing, Adelaide was away from Mildura, and made 60 km in 9 h on the first day.
That hints that it could make a grand entry into Echuca on Sat.6.10: into the heart of the heritage festival, with a suitable audience to welcome the return. Equally, it could be slower and miss. However, as compensation, the gossip is that PS Etona will be running for this year's festival, marking a major anniversary of the filming of 'All the rivers run'.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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The return of PS Adelaide to Echuca is less ceremonial, but the greater achievement: current is knocking speed to 6 km/h, 60 km days; it is munching through wood.
The boat left Mildura on Saturday, and must have taken 2 days to Mansell's Colignan (100 km) for wooding. It may have pushed on, to save an hour next day.
By Monday night, it was at Wemen: that looks like 78 km, but Retail Cutting saves 6 km over the marked distance. This is another wooding stop.
The plan is to move again on Thursday, probably 2 days to Meilman (looks like 108 km, but Bumbang Cutting saves 12 km). This will be another wooding stop.
This voyage must be replicating the mood and conditions of 140 years ago.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Today, PS Adelaide was leaving Wemen in the morning: ~7 h to lock 15 Euston, and into Robinvale for overnight.
Enclosed: Two pages of Fri.31.10.12 Swan Hill Guardian, done in grayscale to keep within the 500 kB image size for attachments.
Adelaide's crew were impressed by the size and warmth of the Swan Hill reception, and the hospitality over the prolonged stay.
The voyage from Echuca hadn't been easy: a locking, two bridges, and a very snaggy section. This was a welcome respite.
Swan Hill's own PV Pyap and private PV Iron Dry were out in the morning to welcome Adelaide.
Swan Hill Pioneer Village was a very fitting mooring, with a chance of getting PS Gem into the same view. The boat crew spent time inspecting steam machinery in the museum. There was a convivial dinner held in the adjacent 'Spoons' restaurant.
Another large crowd assembled on Friday for the triumphant opening of the bridge, out of use for overhaul for the last few years.
'Any port in a storm' is an old boating phrase. I took advantage of the camera format to include a related port: Two of PS Marion's engineers maintain and operate steam equipment there. Google for the Nov.12 100th rally, which will be double the size of any predecessor.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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The next five articles.
Shane Strudwick is well known as a Murray lover and photographer; many of his photos appear on a Murray Website, and he has a stunning book available.
I have yet to track the vessel behind Melbourne in the vintage Echuca photo, but for many years Murrumbidgee was in that position. It was an early conversion for the tourist trade, but didn't last long: it burned to the waterline while on a cruise. PV Coonawarra was built to replace it.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Hi PD's .....& thanks as always Roderick for the text & images of our paddlers over the past weeks..... :bravo
I did notice however :shhh ...that the two bottles of OZ RED ned were empty......... we hope they were enjoyed...... :beer .....Derek
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Mon.1.10: Adelaide has reached Tooleybuc in the morning, but the bridge opening won't be until 11.00 on Tuesday.
Picking up: Thursday was to be Wemen - Robinvale; Friday Robinvale - Meilman.
That fits with:
Sat. Meilman - Boundary Bend (60 km)
Sun. Boundary Bend - Wakool Jn (50 km), wooding stop, push on for part of the 36 km to Tooleybuc.
Mon.: the balance, by 9.15.
Nearly 400 km to go, at best 7 more days, and missing the heritage festival.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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From Michael this morning (Wed.3.10.12): Adelaide goes through Nyah 9.00 this morning and into Swan Hill tonight (below the bridge), load wood and through the bridge early as possible Thursday.
Here are four of the final eight newspaper scans. The others will accompany the next progress report.
I posted the cover page of Mon.10.9.12 Mildura 'Sunrayasia Daily' in a two-part post at the time, from Mildura library.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I was phoned from the field: PS Adelaide went through Swan Hill bridge at 7.00 this morning (Thurs.4.10), and is booked to go through Murrabit at 9.30 Friday, then Koondrook/Barham at 16.30 (an unusual time, but it is a school-holiday period, so there are no school buses). Even pushing on long days, and with a convenient locking, that is still 3 days to reach Echuca, just missing heritage weekend.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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On Friday, I was out of the driveway at 5.15, at first light (a common boating move), with an easy run via the ring road and onto Calder Fwy at 5.55, Marong 7.15, Inglewood 10 min breakfast stop, Kerang 8.35 and Murrabit 9.00.
Adelaide was moored there, under the shade of a coolabah tree, while the engineer sang and waited for the gauge to rise. The bridge crew was ready, with the clamps off, but had been instructed not to lift early: at Tooleybuc, a lady had complained to the council when the bridge went up 2 min early. Locals had gathered.
Iron Dry arrived from around the bend; we all sat chatting. One local had been born there in 1936, and had managed the farm on the NSW bank. He recalls there being no trees, particularly along the road and railway. The property owner flooded his land, and all of the smaller trees seen today grew self-seeded. He had helped the operator raise the bridge, when it was a hand-winch job and traffic was still regular.
This bridge was built in the 1920s as a combined rail & road bridge for the extension of the railway to Poonboon (later renamed Stony Crossing). It replaced a vehicle punt at Gonn Crossing, a couple of kilometres downstream. Apart from using metal girders instead of trusses, I suspect that the lifting span is wider than on older bridges. When I photographed the set, I never thought to measure the spans. All locks were built to standard widths, with two standard lengths: 1-10 long; 11, 15 & 26 shorter (but still capable of holding a paddlesteamer and three barges). The railway service was suspended from 1943. In 1972, rails on the approaches and bridge were intact. By 2003, some rails had gone. By 2011, all rails had gone.
The bridge went up promptly at 9.30; the boats came through, and the bridge was lowered again. I waited, crossed back to the Victorian side, and set out to various side roads with vantage points.
Two of the photos show the mud where the level has dropped since the Aug.-Sept. downriver voyage. It looks deceptively solid, but is highly glutinous, and makes docking tricky: sink to your ankles or more, and lose shoes.
It's not a treat to beat your feet on the Murray River mud. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQMeB64Setk>
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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I got to three vantage points between Murrabit and Barham. I could have got to more, but I needed to spend time working on RNV.
This selection shows Adelaide and Iron Dry passing Port Dunbar, which formerly had a very large shearing shed, and a short tramway leading to a loading point onto barges.
The others are part of a sequence in a badly-snaggy section, which required precision steering to wriggle around them while allowing for the current. I had been through here in Jessie II last December, and there were worse parts than this one.
No snags may be removed from the river, but it is possible to drag the worst ones sideways and towards the bank to clear the main channel. Lots of snags are marked, but in the less-travelled reaches they are not marked, and a skipper has to be able to read the pattern of the ripples, and judge which side of a tip is the safe side.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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PS Adelaide passed Cadell on Murray motel nearly an hour ago.
I have the webcam running:
<http://echucamoama.com/river-web-cam>
As I post at 14.29 local time, Adelaide has not come into view. Canberra went downriver about 20 min ago. AA is at the dock. I don't know where Pevensey is, but I suspect downriver to welcome the voyager home.
'The great voyage downstream began with a single splash'.
'The world did not end at Torrumbarry'.
'To travel hopefully is better than to arrive'.
'All's well that ends well'.
In quick succession from 14.35: Pevensey arrived from downriver.
Canberra came back upriver.
Adelaide arrived, and Canberra had rounded up, and came down again as Adelaide docked ahead of Alexander Arbuthnot.
Iron Dry came round the bend, came past Adelaide, then docked in the gap between the wharf and the wet dock, facing downriver.
By 14.46, the emails of triumph were flying.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Backtracking to Friday, here is my Koondrook (Vic.) & Barham (NSW) selection, taken from the NSW bank.
Iron Dry had been here before: as part of the fleet assembled to celebrate the bridge's centenary.
The fourth of this series was my last view of the fleet. This was day 42 for Adelaide. I had been watching online from preparation day 0, and for days 1-4, then joined the chase on day 5. Thanks to Michael and the port webcam, I was still able to keep watching progress to the arrival in Echuca on Mon.8.10: day 45 of this grand adventure.
There was a comfortable 1.6 m of water over the sill entering Torrumbarry lock.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Excerpts from Kenneth Grahame 'Wind in the willows', a book which could well mean more to riverboat owners/operators now than when they were children:
* "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
* "...all this is so new to me. So - this - is - a - River!" "The River," corrected the Rat.
* "Beyond the Wild Wood comes the Wide World," said the Rat. "And that's something that doesn't matter, either to you or me. I've never been there, and I'm never going, nor you either, if you've got any sense at all."
* Sudden and magnificent, the sun's broad golden disc showed itself over the horizon facing them; and the first rays, shooting across the level water-meadows, took the animals full in the eyes and dazzled them. When they were able to look once more, the Vision had vanished, and the air was full of the carol of birds that hailed the dawn.
* Home! That was what they meant, those caressing appeals, those soft touches wafted through the air, those invisible little hands pulling and tugging, all one way! Why, it must be quite close by him at that moment, his old home that he had hurriedly forsaken and never sought again, that day when he first found the river! And now it was sending out its scouts and its messengers to capture him and bring him in. Since his escape on that bright morning he had hardly given it a thought, so absorbed had he been in his new life, in all its pleasures, its surprises, its fresh and captivating experiences. Now, with a rush of old memories, how clearly it stood up before him, in the darkness!...the home had been happy with him, too, evidently, and was missing him, and wanted him back, and was telling him so, through his nose, sorrowfully, reproachfully, but with no bitterness or anger ; only with plaintive reminder that it was there, and wanted him. The call was clear, the summons was plain. He must obey it instantly, and go...It's my home, my old home! I've just come across the smell of it, and it's close by here, really quite close. And I must go to it.
For Adelaide, a grand adventure was completed on Monday. My Wooden Boat Association journal arrived today, with the suggestion that Adelaide had been considering continuing, to be at Goolwa for the wooden boat festival (Mar.13). Other steamers have done the journey before:
* PS Oscar W: Goolwa - Echuca - Goolwa, once or twice in recent years.
* PS William Randell: Goolwa - Echuca - Goolwa, 2003.
* replica PS Mary Ann & PS Lady Augusta : Mildura - Goolwa - Echuca - Mildura, 2003.
* PS Etona - Echuca - Goolwa - Echuca: twice in recent years (the second being 2001).
* PS James Maiden: Echuca - Goolwa - Wentworth.
At the centenary celebration for PS Pevensey, the Goolwa mayor described Goolwa and Echuca as 'the bookends of the Murray'.
My last live view was of PS Adelaide rounding a bend at Barham; I then headed to another paddlesteamer adventure (PS Curlip on Gippsland lakes). Michael and Belinda captured the final stages of the return, and I watched the final minutes on the port's webcam (see the earlier post, out of sequence, but I won't change it now).
Of the Mildura adventurers, PS Marion is still at Berri for survey slipping, which makes the 19-26.10 return to Mannum seem like a separate exercise. Karadoc (Mildura) PV Kulkyne headed for SA, but I don't know how far or for what duration. Swan Hill PV Iron Dry is at Echuca; hoping to reach Yarrawonga before heading home. I don't know the moves of SA boats PV Amphibious and PV Tamara Rae (which may have been tempted to revisit its former Wemen home first). Other adventures in progress include SWPV Dromedary up the Darling, and another proposing to tackle the Wakool. PS Curlip is sitting at Lakes Entrance ready for good conditions to sneak around the coast to Marlo. I'm off to USA, probably with no riverboating, and Jessie II has to wait for November to start a new season: hopefully Barmah - Tocumwal.
My final photos from the 25.8-Sept.-8.10 Echuca - Mildura - Wentworth - Mildura - Echuca adventure.
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor
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Mildura Paddle Steamers business shut down by NSW border restrictions
Michael DiFabrizio September 13, 2020 Mildura News
Even as some rules ease, Mildura’s iconic Murray River paddle-steamers are set to remain docked – all because of where the NSW state boundary starts.
Mildura Paddle Steamers marketing manager Ashton Kreuzer in front of PS Melbourne.
New South Wales border restrictions have brought an iconic tourism business to a grinding halt.
Mildura Paddle Steamers, which typically operates a three-vessel fleet, has been docked because of measures to keep Victorians out.
Murray River is part of NSW and therefore is covered by the state’s permit system, intended to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Mildura Paddle Steamers marketing manager Ashton Kreuzer said the business wanted NSW to introduce an exemption to allow regional Victorians to access the river.
As it stands, even a journey that begins and ends on the Victorian side at Mildura Wharf, and provides no opportunity to disembark onto NSW land, is not permitted.
“We are a commercial business, so it’s not like we’re just ferrying passengers across,” Ms Kreuzer said.
The PS Melbourne, one of three boats operated by Mildura Paddle Steamers, is docked.
In a cruel irony, even though Mildura Paddle Steamers has the option of servicing NSW customers, local accommodation on that side of the border has been booked out by defence force personnel and police officers staffing the border
checkpoints, leaving little room for tourists.
Ms Kreuzer said after the first lockdowns, the business was in June able to begin cruising again at limited capacity – then, a month later, the border closure hit.
“We had an income that was meeting the cost of maintaining the business without dipping into our emergency reserve funds,” she said.
“Whereas now, we’re eating into our reserves and there’s no income whatsoever, but there’s ongoing expenses having these three vessels, they are heritage vessels as well so there are a lot of costs.”
Defence force personnel at the New South Wales border checkpoint at Buronga, near Mildura.
Mildura Regional Development chief executive Brett Millington said tourism businesses had been “hammered” by border closures.
He said about 20 per cent of the region’s visitor market comes from South Australia, which has introduced harsher border measures.
A further 33 per cent came from regional Victoria and Melbourne.
“We’ve copped a hiding on all levels,” Mr Millington said.
Mildura Mayor Simon Clemence has written to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, asking her to allow border residents to make use of the Murray River.
He said it would have economic and wellbeing benefits.
“We’re a river community and for many of us enjoying the river for boating, fishing or camping is part of our lifestyle,” Cr Clemence said.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/mildura/hyperlocal/mildura-paddle-steamers-business-shut-down-by-nsw-border-restrictions/news-story/d139aedc3415f1ef4357e9fa034043aa>
* How ridiculous. Anyone would think the Chinavirus is somehow going to jump off the boat and go ashore on the other side of the river.
* I assume the paddle steamers and houseboats at Echuca are under the same restrictions
* This is absolutely ridiculous all ports are in victoria the boat is in NSW only while it operates and no disembarkation in NSW does the NSW premier want these businesses and tourism to fold
* Australia has this year become an Idiot Country.
* When was the Murray River "given" to NSW?
* The Murray River, as a border, is rather an oddity, especially when the border is on the banks on the Victorian side of the river. Why is it so and why hasn't this been fixed long, long ago?
* Common sense gone missing again,but hey it's alright for the AFL players and Wags to swim in a resort pool in Qld?
* No common sense means no dollars and cents. Pedantic Politicians lurk in every corner of this country.
* There are lots of silly things in place to supposedly protect us but this takes the cake. The power hungry NSW Premier has finally flipped her lid. What has happened to that zone that stretches either side of the Border?
* This can't be true surely, Scomo and Dutton have said border closures are unessasary and shouldn't happen. Oh that's right only when imposed by non Liberal States. Border areas should not be victims of the NSW, SA and Federal Liberal
mismanagement of borders. Open border says Scomo, whilst you can only travel overseas if your Tony Abbott.
* Another rule that’s totally stupid
* How come the NSW premier is not copping it like the Qld one, clearly political. Why should Mildura or Swan Hill be restricted from using the Murray when they have hardly had any cases and none for months.
* Ridiculous..trouble when no commonsense is applied to anything anymore.
* The boaties don't wish to go to NSW, they just want access to the river. Sounds like nit picking by NSW to me.
* Mildura you have to remember your on the west side of the Blue Mountains very few in Politics have ventured over these mountains and have no idea whats on the other side
* same problem at Echuca
* Some businesses in Melbourne haven’t been operating since March, you’re lucky to have ‘emergency funds’
* Is it possible to base the vessels on the northern bank, and operate exclusively for NSW citizens on NSW water? Victorians can wait for a better life hereafter.
Roderick Smith