Introduce yourself

[Murray Whaler]

I would like to introduce myself to Paddle Ducks.      Murray Whaler was the term given to the swagman who followed the river in years gone by. I am a retired engineer which means I'm getting on in years and know little about computers.  Being retired also means I can do what I want to do when I want to do it.  I live in Geelong in Australia.        In my spare time I used to make models with all their fiddly bits but the eyes and hands don't allow it any more.  A few years ago I decided to make a one fifth scale model of a paddle steamer with out the fiddly bits.    Rearch and design took 18 months and a lot of studying of hulls,wheels and steam engines which lead me to a typical Australian three deck passenger steamer (Marion,Ruby and Emmylou)  The three decks gave me full headroom to scale in the "wheelhouse" and lots of doors and windows on the outside to enhance the "model"    Construstion took 18 months and Paddle Steamer Minimus was born.   Dimensions length 20 ft. hull width 6 ft. 10 ft. over paddle boxes reducing to 8 ft. for road transport.     Inside there is some fairly serious engineering with a vertical fire tube boiler (110 psi ) and horizontal steam engine.  We had sea trials on Lale Colac and have steamed on the Barwon River in Victiria and the Murray And Darling Rivers.  Generally we need a crew of two with me attending to the engine and boiler and my wife attending to the helm.  I will post photos soon.

[michael]

Good to see meet you. I saw you cruising around at Echuca at the 05 Heritage Festival, and witness abit of damage when the smaller boats tied up beside you for the blessing. Also saw you at Ruby's 100th but with new paddleboxes.

[Roderick Smith]

Better late than never.  If this intro had come through before Wentworth, I would have come up to say hello.  Wentworth was blessed with a major private paddleboat contingent, plus trailerable steam launches & putt putts which had come a long way to participate: Sydney (plus the central coast), Canberra, Melbourne (plus Geelong & Maryborough), Adelaide (plus Goolwa) and one from Perth.  I look forward to seeing the photos, particularly how Minimus is prepared for trailering.  I am jealous: Barwon River and Lake Colac are both waterways which I have planned for Jessie II cruising, but I have yet to launch in either.  Keep November clear, and be ready to trail to Robinvale for the Canally centenary celebration, complementing Wentworth for Ruby.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor