Hello Good-thanks

[michael]

Well I've finally got my arse into gear to introduce myself to the rest of you abit more formative.
My Name is Michael Snell and I'm from a dairy farm in Merrigum, Victoris,Australia! Although I work in Echuca as a 3rd year apprentice Refrigeration Mechanic and spend alot of my free time around, in or under boats!
I turn the big 21 in July and I saw my first paddlesteamer PS Pevensey at the age of 1. And since they have grown on me.
I started being involved with the boats more at the age of 16 when I spent many school holidays and weekends working on PS Emmylou's steam engine and running it by myself at the age of 17.
Since then I have skipperd, or worked on most boats in Echuca, skipperd the looging barge D:26 aswell as taking PS Adventurous out with friends for camping trips.
I have my own boat 'Bunyip' which is nearing restoraion, and have my eyes set on another project in the near future.
I have never really built any modles as I don't think I have the skill and paitence for all those small pieces!
I have a good knowledge of all the old river steamers but there is always something new to discover.
Please excuse the 'bogan' photo of me but its the 'best' shot of me I've got!

[thewharfonline]

haha nice photo! Truly Australian Michael.

You could always use that photo I took of you on the D:26 too.

[Roderick Smith]

'Bogan' may be Australian slang, or even just Victorian slang.
In NSW, or perhaps just Sydney, the term is 'Westie'.
For UK readers, the best equivalent which I can offer is 'soccer spectator/hoon/hooligan'.
I lack the knowlege of USA slang for an equivalent there.

There are various shots of Michael in other Paddleduck threads:
* In front of PS Enterprise in Canberra.
* On PV Flender Himmel at Koondrook/Barham (this one scored hundreds of views, whereas most of my photos score 2-20).
* On PV Julie Fay near Barooga.
* Helping lower a wool bale onto PS Adelaide (in a period wharfie outfit, not a 'bogan' one), and aboard Adelaide later that morning.

Michael has been one of the significant influences in helping me learn about Murray-Darling paddlesteamers.  I met him at lock 11 Mildura when we were both chasing the Randell Cadell fleet.  At the time, the lock was fenced off remotely; he had picked the best vantage point and I had the second best (elbow to elbow).  The photo appears in my Oscar W post.  He was wearing a Port of Echuca tee shirt, so we got talking, and exchanged a lot of news and e-mail addresses while waiting for the locking.  As I rode into Echuca aboard PV Impulse, Michael was leaning out of PS Emmylou (he was assistant engineer for the day; the main one, suprvising, had a sprained ankle).  Two weeks later, during the annual heritage festival, Michael organised a ride for me on PS Ranger (photo somewhere in Paddleducks), SWPS Adventurous (fell through when the owner didn't arrive) and PS Canberra.  We have since shared knowledge, photos and boating adventures.  The repainting of Jessie II was done in a shed on Michael's father's farm (now the shed in which Bunyip is being restored).  If Bunyip isn't self powered for Wentworth Rally, it is likely that I will tow it behind Jessie II at the rally.

I enclose a less-bogan view of Michael skippering Jessie II on a trio cruise (with PS Ranger and PS Billy Tea) to Barmah Lakes for the annual Barmah Muster horse & cattle event.  Returning, we spent Monday morning with Michael skippering Billy Tea (using my deckhand) while I had Billy Tea's owner aboard my boat with a video camera, obtaining coverage of his own boat (which he had not had the opportunity to do before).

I have a clear view of my screen: the April weather is magnificent in Melbourne, but I am not boating: I am still unscrambling my library, and getting RNV printed in time for a holiday to Myanmar (riding railways for one week, and cruising on Irrawaddy River for the other).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor