Current Echuca News !

[Roderick Smith]

On this good water, the company has run an Emmylou voyage to Barmah, 60 km upstream of Echuca.
I can't pick up the landmarks from Michael's photo.  I gain the impression that the boat has gone upstream from the bridge.  That is rare, as the bridge piers were built at the wrong angle, not matching the current; taking a big boat through is tricky.
Perhaps it is heading the full 10 km to Barmah Lake and the lower end of Barmah choke?  That is normally a fairly snaggy reach, but medium boats have come through from time to time, including PS Etona heading the whole way to Tocumwal for the bridge centenary.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

This post backdates to when Black Shag travelled to Echuca, but I must say, she's a better looking boat than I initially thought, I only briefly saw her when in Swan Hill many years ago.

[James.McD]

5th of October 2013 - Heritage Festival in Echuca. Saturday night will be another sailpast and fireworks evening.
Our boats will be participating, along with the Port's boats.
Personally, I'll be skippering the Pride of the Murray!

[James.McD]

On this good water, the company has run an Emmylou voyage to Barmah, 60 km upstream of Echuca.
I can't pick up the landmarks from Michael's photo.  I gain the impression that the boat has gone upstream from the bridge.  That is rare, as the bridge piers were built at the wrong angle, not matching the current; taking a big boat through is tricky.
Perhaps it is heading the full 10 km to Barmah Lake and the lower end of Barmah choke?  That is normally a fairly snaggy reach, but medium boats have come through from time to time, including PS Etona heading the whole way to Tocumwal for the bridge centenary.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

PS Emmylou didn't make it above the bridge this time, apart from the flow being too strong at present to navigate safely through the bridge - the water is too high and Emmylou would just scrape in

[Roderick Smith]

Thanks James,
I couldn't pick the backdrop for the Emmylou photo.
When I voyaged to Tocumwal earlier in the year, PV Julie Fay was at the top of the choke, but had insufficient room to come through.  It could now, but it is stranded around Cobram: it can't get under Cobram bridge to head for home, and it can't come back down under Tocumwal bridge to get to Echuca.
PV Black Shag has gone up through the choke, but can't go further upstream than Tocumwal, as it can't get under the bridge.
I am trying desperately to launch at Echuca for the sailpast in the weekend coming, but don't think that I can clear the time.
Michael tells me that I'd get Jessie II up the Campaspe all the way up to the steam-rally site.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

It didn't have Prince Harry or international naval ships, but it did have fireworks, a bridge, paddlesteamers older than the tall ships and probably the water-police boat to represent might & right.
I couldn't attend either event, so Michael's photos compensate.
PV Betsy came from Barmah to join in.
The quartet Betsy, SL St Elmo (from Kerang, trailed), PV Black Shag (from Swan Hill), and PS Emmylou (looking imperious).
Closer view of Black Shag.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[clarkrulz]

The recent PBN (www.slimcoder.com/pbn) has said that the PS James Maiden is to return to Echuca. Is there any way of keeping updated with it's progress or a way of being informed when it is to arrive into Echuca. Also, any more activity on the Etona? Saw it sticking out from behind the Henry Charles on the webcam yesterday and now its tucked in again.

[James.McD]

I can let you know when it arrives in Echuca, but can't keep track of its progress (I'm sure there people that could do the second part).
The Etona was sticking out yesterday because of the North-NorthWest wind and the fact that it's stern line has broken yet again - no activity on Etona to speak of at present - still looking a bit worse for wear.

[Roderick Smith]

You could phone the lockmasters at Euston and Torrumbarry, and phone Wakool Shire for advice re bookings of bridges at Tooleybuc, Nyah, Swan Hill, Murrabit and Barham.
I guess that Barham is currently unavailable during the work.  JM mightn't need a lifting: it is only single deck.  Swan Hill boats moor at Murray Downs Marina, so you might get news of progress there.  There is a note on the charts that through boats have to alert Speewa punt to lower the cable, but I suspect that the draft of JM wouldn't require that, just come through with the punt at rest.  I am not sure of the fuel range.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[clarkrulz]

Having just returned home from Echuca I thought it would be good to share a photo I took. It has the PS Britannia, PS James Maiden, PB Struggler, PB Tooraloora, PB Black Shag, PS Ranger and the PB Billy Tea. I also saw the PS Perricoota, moored behind the PS Britannia, it's a shame that it is not being used I have seen it there for quite some time. I also (regretfully) saw the PS Etona and I am sad that it is in such run down condition. It would be nice to see it moving about some time soon.

[Roderick Smith]

See reply 17 in this thread for the history of how Kevin came to Echuca, and why he has such a strong association with PS Pevensey.
To mark the anniversary, the port renamed the boat PS Kevin Hutchinson for Fri.7.3.14, or for a whole week.
It has been renamed before: PS Philadelphia in All the rivers run.
People browsing older photos or models, will also see the identical (or nearly identical) PS Wanera and PS Ulonga.

This photo was supplied by Commercial Operations Manager Rohan Burgess, taken on Friday afternoon.
It was relayed via Michael, captioned 'Not the Pev, the Kev'.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

This is one of many dotted along the river; they are a major part of river history and geography.  It was the large pastoral holdings which created the need for river transport; it was river transport which made the holdings possible.  The homesteads were built near the river for the essential water to run the house, the home paddock, the kitchen garden, the ornamental garden, the shearing shed, the workers cottages, and to provide some scenery and recreation in the wide brown landscape.  Today, they are landmarks on a voyage: perhaps one per day of travel.  Many boats have been named after the homestead, or both have been named after watercourses (or vv).  PS Perricoota is in private ownership at Echuca.  I have photos of most of the homesteads, and one of Perricoota shows it when PV Florence Annie was moored there.  The article explains the history, and the link to Maiden of Maiden's punt (the Moama part of Echuca/Moama history.  Under this latest operation, the homestead has become a day-voyage destination for both paddlesteamer operators from Echuca: one way by paddlesteamer (40 km by water), lunch at Perricoota, the other way by bus.  PS Canberra conveyed passengers that far on its centenary voyage to Koondrook/Barham in 2013.  PV Pevensey also ran a Perricoota program in 2013.  See reply 44 in this thread, <www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3196.msg35372#msg35372>

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I was invited, but had no time to take my boat, or even go as a passenger.  Here is a 2 min video capturing the mood.
<www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lh3m9y_19I&feature=em-subs_digest>

Regards,
Roderick

[Roderick Smith]

In his time with Paddleducks, James has advanced from secondary-student work experience through hospitality on big commercial vessels to Master 4 on paddlesteamers at Echuca.  What more fitting way to hold his wedding ceremony than aboard his employer's boats?  Three decks of Emmlou, and two of Canberra, are holding the guests with ease, and giving everyone a good vantage point.  The ceremony took place after the close of public cruising on Sat.3.5; in the hour between the ceremony and the shore-based reception, while photographs were taken, guests went for a cruise on one of the two, and passed under the bridge at 17.00,  just as a special passenger train from Deniliquin was crossing.
I have attended a marine wedding before, and am stealing the minister's/celebrant's speech: 'May the voyage of married life be a long and happy one; may the storms be few, and always emerge on the far side into calmer waters, with added experience'.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

PS Etona was paddling up the river on Sun.6.7.14 morning.
Here are two photos from Michael.
I can't recall the work needed, which is now done: mainly replacing some/all tubes in the boiler.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor