Echuca news

[Roderick Smith]

I left home (Melbourne) at 10.30 on Sun.22.7, had a quick lunch at one of the four pubs in Rochester, and arrived at Torrumbarry just too late to get a good photo of the second cruise of the day coming up through the lock.  By the time I had run to a vantage point, it was steaming out.  Michael & Mel were aboard.

The third cruise had a smaller complement (~25 passengers), including one of the owners.  Below the lock, the boat cruised for 4 km.
The trips had been advertised in the local newspaper (Riverine Herald, published in Echuca); most of the passengers were local (Echuca, Torrumbarry, Lockington, Cohuna).

These programs run at short notice.   The water had been suitable a week earlier, but the operating program was already committed.
There have been only two similar deployments previously: 2003 & 2004.
Somewhere I wrote up the Source to Sea fleet, in 2001, which had to commence in Mildura because of insufficient water upriver.  A substitute fleet did run from Echuca to Torumbarry, and PS Emmylou was dropped in the lock, but then raised again.

Mon.23.7 was the magic day: the upriver voyage.  The night had been chilly, but the van transfer from Echuca to Torrumbarry was warm.
There were about 12 passengers, plus three crew.  We left on time at 9.00, as the sun was breaking though cloud.  The river was ours, with sun on revived vegetation from recent rain.  In the lower stages the boat was making about 10 km/h; as the day progressed and it was more in the current than the pool, this dropped to 8 km/h.  Most of the passengers alighted at Deep Creek Marina, where the stop was about 12.30-13.15.  First the boat stopped at the pumpout pontoon on the riverbank for the passengers to alight (and to pump out the sullage tank), then it entered the marina to dock at the launching ramp to load some extra wood from the owner's utility truck.  Another passenger boarded.  The arrival at Echuca was around 19.15, the last couple of hours having been in darkness with the twin headlamps lighting the banks.

Canberra is rather an unsung hero in Murray River history: since being built (1912), it has always been operational: as a fishing vessel, then as a tourist boat at Mildura from the mid 1940s, then as a tourist boat at Echuca from the mid 1960s.  The current fitout features polished pine lining boards, and appropriate antique fittings.

The owners and crew are very enthusiastic, and are quite happy to quote for novel charters, including extended-range operation.

Photos have now been posted, in a PS Canberra thread in this forum.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Some photos of around the port today 12 August 207

[ljhall]

Hi Michael,

Good pics, - I check the 'echucamoama.com' website as often as possibe as they usually post a new river image daily.
It looks as if the Adelaide hasn't been used much lately ! - is that right ?
By the way, do you have any engine room & sailpast/fireworks photos to upload ?
Also, any news on the Hero ?
I found an interesting set of historic photos recently, - 'pictureaustralia' website, simply type in 'River Steamer(s)', - many of the photos are in black & white, the modern-day ones are colour, and most of them I have not even seen in books, - well worth a look !

Cheers,

[michael]

Some morew shots from around Echuca today. Found out the name of the steamer at the Abbatoirs, PS Ivy May, but its had its wheel removed and decking placed over, boiler and engine are still in it.
Also went to Stewarts bridge/s river was low enough I could nearly walk across, alot of rubbish down there, and if we ever get a flood, thats whats going to be in it! Also went through Tocumwal this mornning, river very low there and shallow, didn't get out for a better look tho.

[ljhall]

Hi Michael,

The river looks a bit low !!! - what happened to the usual Aug/Sep flush-out this year.
I checked the Echuca/Moama site tonight and noticed that there's a lot of slime on the surface also, don't think it was there last week.

Strange how the Sternwheel from the Ivy-May has been removed and that the stern has been decked in, maybe the owner will add on side-wheels instead.
Do you happen to know if the Cameron of Lochiel has been launched yet ?

Well, I was hoping to come down for Steam Fest again this year, but it doesn't look like I'm going to make it - just not enough time !
Not much happening up here in Brisvegas at the moment ! - the Steam Tug Forceful is still waiting for her turn in the dry dock, - QLD Maritime Museum funds are low and it doesn't look like anything will be happening in the near future.
The Kookaburra River Queens have been sold again - the company that owned them recently went into liquidation, the new owners have been using the River Queen 1 a fair bit lately, mainly on week night dinner cruises and private functions.
The MV Brisbane Paddlewheeler (with a fake sternwheel), has changed hands again also, now owned by BrisVegas Cruises and has been freshened up and given a new diesel engine for it's 30th birthday.

I sometimes wonder what I'm doing up here in Brissie, every time I see a Eucalypt or a Peppercorn Tree or even hear a Corella squawking, I think of Echuca - I can see myself coming back for good some day !

Hopefully that flush will come down shortly, by the way, are there any boats on the slip at the moment ?

Thanks for keeping us posted !

Cheers,

[michael]

Hey Leith, no boats on the slip, there was a houseboat up last week tho.
nothing has happened to Cameron for most of this year, so don't know when something will, I drive past her everyday to and from work.
Went down to wetdock tonight, Adventurous nose is sitting up on the mud and there is alot of 'duck weed' coming down the river, even filled up wet dock.
It was rumoured that there was't to be a Heritage Festival this year, but apparently there will be, haven't heard dates, But Bunyip will be in the sailpast towed by SL Breezy.

[michael]

Had a great time out on the Murray yesterday, beautiful weather, and no speed boats! Launched at picnic point boat ramp, very low river, had to push off the trailer a little. Raised steam, loaded and puffed on upstream. Canoed this stretch back in 2003 on normal river, and I was shocked to see what we were paddling over. The river was about 2m lower and there was thousands of snags, some just under the water. We nudge a couple during the day, got stuck on a sandbar at Campbells landing, then came to a dead end at Pelican Point, with snags along the stretch of deep water and half a foot of water over the sandbar. A fishing tinnie made it through but we turned around as we drew 1.5ft. Passed the boat ramp and couldn't even get to Tarragon Lodge as we were blocked again by snags and sand bars, by then it was 3pm we we went back to the boat ramp and came out. Boiler is fitted with a steam pot so we had steamed dim sims for lunch!

[ljhall]

Hey Michael,

I'm starting to wonder when the Spring Flush will arrive, I knew that the river was low, but to hear that it was 2m lower than in 2003 is a bit of a worry !

In early October last year, I didn't go up as far as Picnic Point, but around Rices Creek Junction and the Barmah end of the Lakes, the levels looked fairly healthy.

Did you happen to see the PV Betsy ? she is supposed to be moored somewhere around Picnic Point.
How far would it be by road from the Barmah township to the Picnic Point Boat Ramp ? - I'm guessing maybe 25 - 30 klms.

Good luck with the Bunyip !!!


Cheers

[michael]

PS Canberra got up on the slip yesterday afternoon, hull pressured washed and today started painting her rubbing batons and doing some caulking, surveyor coming to inspect her Thursday, if all passes she'l go in by friday, hopefully the river doesn't drop anymore or she may need to be pulled off!
Didn't see Betsy, didn't get to far downstream of picnic point

[michael]

Canberra went back into the water yesterday afternoon (Thursday 20th) begins cruising again tomorrow.
Heritage Festival October 6th & 7th 2007, hope to see someone there!

[Roderick Smith]

Despite rumblings within the organisation, and low water, there is a Heritage Festival this year, over Sat.6 & Sun.7.10.
The program is at www.portofechuca.org.au, with all of the favourite ingredients.
I don't know who the celebrity will be for the bridge of steam.
Some boats will be stranded in the wet dock, unable to participate.

I am unlikely to be there, as only a couple of days later I am off for a week of boating in the SA stretch (Blanchetown to Overland Corner & return).

Michael should be crewing a steam launch this year ('Breezy', which featured in its own thread a couple of weeks ago, cruising from Picnic Point).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[paddlesteamerman1]

During the Heritage Steam Festival, my sister and dad took a lunch cruise on the PS Emmylou and as they were passing the slipway area, they took a photo of the 'skeleton' that lies in the water just below the slipway and listening to the commentary from the captain he said it was the wreck of the Cheifton. Is that true? or have some names been mixed up?

[michael]

Its Scottish Chief, an old wooden barge, think it was a wool barge, maybe wrong tho.

[paddlesteamerman1]

Brilliant.. thanks Michael for that info.. I will pass it on  

[paddlesteamerman1]

Also, I just remembered...
At the BBQ on the Pevensey for the Heritage Steam Festival (last Sunday) I was talking in a group with Keith Bailley (CEO Campaspe Shire) and there is now thought of PS Gem coming to Echuca as the Port's fourth boat. Dont quote on this, but I am fairly sure that they were going to get the call from Swan Hill sometime in October.
Would be lovely though!