PS Marion cruises on Aus Day W/E

[Roderick Smith]

For the first time, PS Marion will be crossing Lake Alexandrina with passengers on its way to/from Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival (Feb.15)
In 2013, it had Griff Rhys-Jones (of 'Three men in a boat', and 'Rivers'), who was the festival's special guest.
Spirit of the Coorong has been running passenger crossings for about a year now, after many years of crossing the lake empty to collect passengers at Wellington.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I have just attended a major river celebration: the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone for lock 1, at Blanchetown (SA), subsequently named William Randell lock.
That happened on Sat.5.6.1915.  PS Marion brought the official party as an overnight voyage from Murray Bridge (connecting with a special train).  There were 70 politicians, including Prime Minister Fisher, plus other officials.  Special arrangements were made to hold a much larger group than the normal accommodation.  The holds were lined, and fitted with bunks.  Everyone coped with a spirit of camaraderie.  This was one of the outcomes of the spirit of federation: years of bickering were put aside, with a three-state agreement.  The grand scheme was for 26 locks, but the depression hit.  Only 1-11, 15 & 26 were completed.
Andrew Fisher was Prime Minister three times: 1908–09, 1910–13 & 1914–15.  When Fisher was Prime Minister a number of important projects were undertaken. Royal Australian Navy was established, Commonwealth Bank was set up, Northern Territory was transferred from South Australia to the Commonwealth, the federal capital of Canberra was founded, and the construction of the trans-Australian railway line linking Perth to the other capitals was begun.  [This biography has missed the equally-important river project for reliable irrigation and navigation].  As well as introducing maternity allowances, Fisher acknowledged the need for greater political equality for women.
(http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/fisher)

The centenary was marked to the day: Fri.5.6.2015, and PS Marion voyaged again, and was positioned in the lock for the ceremony.
PS Marion has a range of cruises on offer  to help celebrate a centenary event at Blanchetown on Fri.5.6 to acknowledge the 100 year anniversary of laying the foundation stone for the construction of Lock 1, which was the first lock constructed in the ‘locking of the Murray river’ a project that spanned 20 years, and has proven vital to the survival, development and advancement of Australia.
On 5.6.1915 PS Marion was an integral part of the proceedings and a feature of the day's event. A souvenir publication says that the parliamentary party visiting that day travelled by train and by PS Marion, disembarked on the riverbank at Blanchetown, were greeted by the waiting children and crowd and then proceeded with speeches and the formal ceremony of laying the foundation stone.
This year on the anniversary (5.6), the centenary will be acknowledged with a function and a part reenactment. PS Marion’s involvement incorporates a real sense of history and pageantry to the day and a memorable occasion for the local children and people who will attend and we have scheduled cruises to help celebrate this momentous occasion:
-          3 days 2 night cruise; departing 9.00 Wed.3.6 from Mannum and arriving in Blanchetown on Fri.5.6, including the official Lock 1 Foundation Stone Centenary Luncheon and ceremony at Lock 1.  Bus transfer to Mannum departing Lock 1 at 14.30.
-          Short Cruise Fri.5.6 13.30-14.30.
-          Dinner and 4 h cruise on Fri.5.6, departing 15.30 from the lock chamber and bus transfer 19.30 from Swan Reach back to Lock 1.
-          2 days 1 night nonstop cruise; boarding at lock 1 at 15.30 on Fri.5.6 and arriving in Mannum Saturday 13.00, bus transfer back to Lock 1.
www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-08/harnessing-the-murray-river-commemorated-100-years-on/6529208

Because of the need to be back in Mannum for the annual truck & ute show short cruises, a rare overnight express run was made, and I was a passenger.
I'll have more photos and items to post later.

19150605 Blanchetown (SA): PS Marion at lock 1 and the foundation stone laying.
1915-20: Construction progress.
(all probably SA State Library / Mortlock Library)

[Roderick Smith]

Here are the various plans for the celebration.

Roderick B Smith
retired magazine proprietor

[Roderick Smith]

Today, seven aspects of marking the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone for the first of the Murray weirs & locks.  This one was named after pioneer William Randell; the others were named geographically.  There were speeches from federal and state members of parliament, the ceo of the Murray-Darling authority, and the author of the book (which was launched that day).  I missed the greeting by the local schoolkids, replicating the greeting 100 years earlier.  Many of the crew and guests aboard PS Marion were in Edwardian outfits, and I had mine on too.  The mc was from SA Water.

Roderick B Smith
former RNV editor

[Roderick Smith]

The lock was closed to through traffic for a few hours (only a slight extension of the normal lunchtime break).  PS Marion occupied the chamber during the speeches.  Below the lock, two wooden dinghies had been launched, and two cruising launches had arrived to participate.  Above the lock, PV Murrundi had come the short distance from its Blanchetown marina to berth in sight of the lock.  At the end of the speeches, a free barbecue lunch was supplied (SA Water and/or Mid Murray Council).  Marion ran a 13.30-14.30 short cruise (booked out) for local passengers.  Cunningly, this meant heading upstream to round up, then enter the lock again ready to load voyagers (including me) for the 15.30 downstream departure, express to Mannum.  I was offered a spot on Murrundi, a good vantage point to observe Marion in action with great river-scenery backdrops.  Sturt Hwy is the main route linking Adelaide and Sydney.  This crossing had twin punts, replaced with a concrete bridge c1964.  That bridge developed concrete cancer, and a second was opened alongside c1989.  One of Marion's earliest duties after being restored to active service was to steam to Blanchetown as part of the celebrations for commissioning the new bridge.  I had been through aboard a few years ago on one of the voyages to Berri for survey slipping.

Roderick B Smith
Transport analyst

[Roderick Smith]

This was a rare chance to travel through the night in a paddlesteamer.  Two groups boarded PS Marion in lock 1: the overnight voyagers, travelling through, and the dinner-trip people, who would head back to Blanchetown by bus from Swan Reach.  Both lounges were set up in dining style to supplement the main dining saloon; all aboard could dine in a single sitting.  Although with double crew, and announced as voyaging though the night, there was a layover scheduled from around 23.00 to 4.00.  This extended by 3 h when fog descended, so the total journey was about 15.30 Fri. to 14.45 Sat.  As we cleared lock 1, two cruising launches were lying in wait to escort for a while.  Next day, we passed private PV Tania Ann at its mooring, commercial MV Captain Proud and SWPV Murray Princess heading upstream (with whistling, waving, and cameras in action), and I finished with a photo of the museum's recently-donated PV Mayflower.  It is the oldest paddleboat in SA, and is being restored to an earlier superstructure style, but will not be returned to steam propulsion.  As a diesel, it can be prepared more quickly, and can run with a smaller crew.  It can complement Marion by providing a short cruise for school or Probus groups, midweek.

Roderick B Smith
retired RNV Editor