Echuca news

[clarkrulz]

Giant leap in water level right now. Have a look!

[Roderick Smith]

It might be hard for those of you far from Australia to understand why we get so emotional about our river.  It is a fickle mistress, but when the times are good, they are good.  After years of drought, we have at last had a 'traditional' winter.  The river is up: I could now cruise up the Goulburn, except that the water is so high I couldn't get under the bridges.

In the spirit, PS Hero has just taken a load of passengers to Torumbarry, and gone through the lock, the largest vessel to do so since at least 2003, possibly longer.  It is spending a week in the vicinity, then returning to Echuca.

The locks are river landmarks: there is a huge sense of achievement when reaching one.  They do test skippering skills.  I have just been in communication with several owners of steam launches, present at Wentworth in July.  For many, it was the first time in their boating life for passing though a lock: the sense of achievement showed in their writing.

We have also had a late dump of snow in the alps, helping my skiing hobby, and auguring well for good boating into January.  This is the year to tackle the notorious reaches.

The enclosed jpg has come from Michael, from a Wed.1.9 newspaper.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Heres a few more shots from around the area.
PS Ranger had a large tree stump land on it after the river rose and made the bank unstable, only damaged the cabin wall, but she is now on slip getting hull work, she went up after PS Emmylou who went up backwards to have its rudder replaced as the river is too high, nose was still in the water.
PV Struggler, Tooraloora, Britannia and Billy Tea at the southern end of the wharf.

[Roderick Smith]

From www.portofechuca.org.au
Saturday, 2 and Sunday, 3 October 2010
Heritage Steam Festival
Enjoy a magical weekend of family fun at the bustling Port of Echuca.
Both days offer free entertainment for people of all ages, celebrating the rich traditions and heritage that our area genuinely demonstrates. Exhibits on display will include steam engines, horse-drawn carriages, paddlesteamers, vintage cars and tractors.
The highlight includes a Sailpast and Fireworks show on Echuca Wharf on the Saturday night. The evening showcases our region's impressive fleet of paddlesteamers as they steam the river together. Tickets can be purchased for this event from Port of Echuca Gift Shop.

I am planning to launch Jessie II at Echuca East on Saturday; watch everything from a mooring or ashore, then cruise to & from Picnic Point over Sun.-Tues.  Is any one else planning to be there?

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[steve reynolds]

Is this correct? The Wreck of the PS Freetrader C. 1872 is located just a short distance downstream from the Moama Slipway on the Victorian side, her remains lie in a deep hole below where the PV Gemma used to be moored before she was damaged and taken out of the river.

[Barry]

There was the remains of hull showing near the slipway in July when the water level was down. Forgot to ask what it was when we took the canoe back.

[michael]

Apparently but under alot of mud, aswell as any other wreck that remains in Echuca.
The photo's of the wreck near the slipway is the Scottish Chief Barge

[steve reynolds]

Thanks for that, Michael & Barry

[Roderick Smith]

After the conclusion of Wentworth Junction Rally (July 10), the new large cruising launch from Goolwa (MV Emu, see http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5263.msg27618#msg27618) was continuing upriver.  The owner of PV Miralie ran in tandem.  Somewhere in Paddleducks I have a photo of Miralie at Swan Hill, its highest point reached during the 2003 Randell & Cadell 150th anniversary.  By the end of October, the two boats were at Koondrook/Barham: the water was too high to get under the bridge, but there was a problem with the lifting mechanism, and it couldn't be raised.  They did get past, and were at Torrumbarry on Thurs.4.11, to reach Echuca for the weekend.  I haven't hear what the next plan is, but continuing to Yarrawonga (where a weir blocks navigation) would be achievable.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

News relayed via Michael: as at Friday night, the two boats were still in tandem, had cleared Tocumwal bridges, and were 72 km from Yarrawonga.  They should be at Yarrawonga tonight (Sat.13.11).  Emu qualifies for a fairly rare certificate: the boat has traversed the full Goolwa - Yarrawonga voyage (and in a single voyage; most people jigsaw over multiple shorter voyages).
Spirit of the Coorong has done not only that, but the Coorong below Goolwa, and the Murray from Yarrawonga to Albury.
I plan to achieve that too with Jessie II, and then sneak above Albury, hopefully to Hume Weir (a low bridge is more of a problem than water depth).
Hume Weir is now full again; I could cruise a long way up the main Murray arm, and up the Mitta Mitta arm.  That was never paddlesteamer territory.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Here is Miralie and Emu tied up in the WetDock on the return trip home. They made it to Yarrawonga, but decided to turn back and head for home, waiting at Echuca for the river to drop so they can fit underneath some bridges that don't lift anymore.