PS Industry centenary Apr.11

[Barry]

http://www.murrayriver.com.au/event/2011/1/554/ps_industry_centenary_brochure.pdf
You've been doing a better job of promoting the event than the organisers so far Roderick.

[Roderick Smith]

I'll believe that when people start greeting me:
'Hi, I'm Bill W who had so much trouble organising a Siberia paddlesteamer tour; I've brought the group here instead'.
'Hi, I'm from the Northumberland Paddleboat Club; I have seen more sun in the last 2 days than in the whole previous 2 months at home'.
'Hi, I'm from the Swiss lakes.  I didn't think that it was possible to travel 1000 km in a paddlesteamer today'.

I don't know which tours are full, and which still have space.
For many in this group, it is an unrepeatable opportunity: now or never.

Enclosed:
* A photo via a mailing list, taken by the lockmaster at Wentworth.  I have met him often: he was on duty on one day when I tooke Jessie II through, and he is part of the team which organises Wentworth Junction Rally, and makes sure that river events run smoothly on the day.  This one shows the navigation pass open, and the river at a high level below the weir.  The lock is to the right of frame, redundant.
* To match it, a nearby view taken in July 2010, showing the normal drop of river levels.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Progress report:
Private PS William Randell will not be voyaging from Goolwa to Renmark.
PS Marion is booked out Mannum - Renmark, and is nearly full (or booked out) Renmark - Morgan, but has space Morgan - Mannum.
Because of the complex booking pattern, PS Ruby has some spaces on all sectors.
The preserved steam pump at lock 9 Kulnine, operated by volunteers, should be in steam on Tues.29.3 evening, while PS Ruby overnights there.
At least one boat is voyaging from Echuca: the lifting span at Barham will be raised (by crane).
If the water is too high to get under Swan Hill bridge, the road authority is obliged to move truckable boats around the bridge, at no cost.
Euston lock should be available within the next few days.
There is some doubt still about lock 2 for the upriver boats, but it is expected to available by cruise time.

Anyone who is anybody on the river has finished all recent conversations with 'See you at Renmark'.

It may be tricky getting a cheap airfare now from UK or USA or Europe, but it shouldn't be tricky from NZ.
You can come to Australia any year, and go from base to base.  You will not see a fleet voyage of this scale over this distance for at least 10 years.
I will have a couple of Paddleduckers aboard from day to day, and may yet be the fuel tender for PS Minimus if it voyages from Renmark to Morgan.

We are on the final planning countdown for the most exciting river event since the 2003 Randell Cadell 150th, and the 2001 Source to Sea centenary of federation.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

The frustrations of our forebears revisit the current generation.
After years of too little water, part of the fleet will not be able to reach Renmark, because of too much water.
From upriver:
Murrabit bridge isn't fixed, but can be raised with cranepower because the counterweights are in place.
Swan Hill bridge isn't fixed, and can't be raised (no counterweights).  Small-medium boats are being trailered past the bridge at NSW RTA expense (MV Emu went weeks ago; PV Miralie and PV Iron Dry, which are both single deck, follow this week).
The water hasn't receded sufficiently for Euston lock to be reopened.  That one couldn't have the navpass open, because there was work in progress on a fishladder when the water rose.
From downriver:
Lock 2 is impassable, because the navpass wasn't opened in time.  That is unbelievable news.  At Goolwa, I saw a tinny fleet which had come down from Mildura.  That fleet could bypass lock and weir 2 by venturing into riverside forest, not an option for big boats.
As at this morning, Oscar W's website is announcing that a voyage will run, to Morgan.  Marion's website hasn't been updated.  Verbal news from Renmark is that the celebrations will take place as planned over Fri.1-Sun.3.4.  PS Ruby and the Mildura private fleet will be voyaging as planned.  I am rejigging my own voyage to exploit the continuing high water on Darling River.  Following in the wake of SWPV Dromedary, I will take Jessie II to Pooncarie (200 river km from Wentworth).

Not all is lost.  This is also the centenary year for PS Pevensey, based at Echuca.  The port had never offered or promised to send the boat to Renmark.  Celebration plans have not been announced, but could well coincide with the annual heritage festival in October.  Possibly downriver boats will come upstream, but there is considerable annoyance that it is always downriver coming to Echuca, and not Echuca going downriver.  The last Echuca boat to go downriver was privately-owned PS Etona, in the 2001 Source to Sea rally.  It got to Goolwa and back.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Barry]

As a result of  the navigation problems, and also because of riverbank and wharf problems caused by the high water levels at Renmark, it looks  possible that the centenary celebrations for the PS Industry may be postponed until later in the year. Should this occur, every endeavour will be made to have the OSCAR ‘W’ to make the trip to Renmark at that time.

The Oscar W website suggests that the whole thing might be postponed. I hope they make a decision soon.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's...& yes Barry we would like a decision too..... ....Derek

[Roderick Smith]

Phone calls and emails are running hot.
The event is not postponed.
Oscar W is going to Morgan.
Marion is going to Morgan, then taking passengers by bus to Renmark.  I can only guess that there will be some shortening of the voyage, but perhaps Marion will be a static b&b for a few night, and the passengers will still get the other sightseeing features.
Ruby had a meeting on Wednesday night.
It is going only as far as Renmark.
The upriver section boards on Tues.5.4, for an early departure on Wed.6.4, to reach Wentworth on Fri.8.4.

The Mildura fleet has no trouble, and there is also the Berri centenary to celebrate, so there should be a fleet voyage that far.
The three boats stuck at Swan Hill will stay there.  There was a prospect that the truck which takes boats past the bridge would take them to Mildura, but that may have been a false hope.

I am still juggling dates: I am tempted to cruise to Berri on Monday, back on Tuesday, then follow Ruby upstream, then continue to Pooncarie.
I have my deckie for Pooncarrie.  If I go solo, I will tow his tinnie to carry fuel and as breakdown backup.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Barry]

Emailed the Renmark Paringa Visitor Information Centre to ask the question and this is there reply. So it looks like it's still on.

Good Morning Barry,

 The PS Industry 100th Birthday Celebrations is still going ahead.  Unfortunately Lock 2 will not be open by then so therefore the PS Marion and Oscar W are unable to make the trip to Renmark.  The PS Ruby will still be in attendance and all of the festivities throughout the weekend will be occurring.

 
Thanks,

 
Apryl Norton

Visitor Information Officer

 
Renmark Paringa Visitor Information Centre

84, Murray Ave Renmark SA 5341

Phone: (08) 8586 6704

Website: www.visitrenmark.com

Email: tourist@renmarkparing.sa.gov.au

[Roderick Smith]

Further progress:
The main Berri celebration is in October, so Industry is not going to Berri following the weekend.  The planning now is to go to Berri, and have local cruising there, in October.
My own planning now may depend on the private boats.
* I could come out of the water on Monday, and relaunch at Wentworth, for a Darling adventure.
* I could cruise up with Mildura boats, and some will do the Darling.
* I could cruise up with Ruby, then divert to the Darling.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Planning has shaped rapidly.
I will not be launching at Renmark, and will be hard to track.  Look for a straw boater and a laptop.  I should be able to call Paddleduckers from a mobile, but you may not be able to call me.
Email me at rodsmith @ werple.net.au this week to plan a rendezvous.
I will be launching at Wentworth or Pomona, then cruising to Pooncarie and back over Mon.-Thurs., with Fri.8.4 spare to go down the Murray for half a day to meet PS Ruby coming upstream.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I am loading the car (Sunday morning).  Sunday afternoon to SA.  Monday morning collect Jessie II; Monday 17.00 be aboard PS Ruby, for 9.30 Tuesday departure from Renmark.

Telephone advice is that the Mildura fleet will make much more rapid progress than first planned, and will arrive in Renmark on Thursday, ready for the weekend.

Further advice is that Euston lock will be open from Monday.  MV Emu might get from Swan Hill to Renmark.  I don't know if Iron Dry was roaded to Speewa, but Miralie had abandoned hope.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[stephenf10]

I am loading the car (Sunday morning).  Sunday afternoon to SA.  Monday morning collect Jessie II; Monday 17.00 be aboard PS Ruby, for 9.30 Tuesday departure from Renmark.

Do you know how far downstream the Ruby is going? The Ruby website still has not updated the program to reflect the fact that Lock 2 is closed. My wife and I will be in Renmark (in a caravan) on the first weekend to see the events there, then moving to Waikerie mid-week and Morgan the following weekend and doing one of the cruises on the Oscar W. It would be nice to see some of the fleet get to Waikerie.

Stephen.

[Barry]

Word is that the Ruby is going as far as Renmark. She apparentlly left on Tuesday.

[Roderick Smith]

I left Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, overnighted at Wolseley, then collected Jessie II at Mt Barker, and reached Wentworth at 17.00.
I hadn't heard from my deckie, so I have the boat in the caravan park.
We went aboard Ruby, then had dinner at Wentworth Club.

Tues.29.3: Full complement (11 through passengers, perhaps 11 crew, a lot of general public and a group from a local primary school who had had to write an essay to be selected by their school.  Great weather, 10.00 departure.  Swift current, and through the navpass at lock 10 (and all locks).
We reached lock 9 in mid afternoon, and had difficulty mooring (current and trees).  The preserved steam pump operating for our benefit.

Wed.30.3: 8.30 departure, and a tricky round up, and a rapid passage.  Through 9, 8 & 7 navpassed, then overnight at Lake Victoria Homestead.  A tricky docking, swiping trees.

Thurs. An easy departure.  At Higgins cutting, we took the long course: the current was too treacherous and the cutting has a dogleg.  We met a Mildura boat which had been heading up side creeks.  We paused at Customs House, then moored just below a cliff section.

Fri.1.4: A scenic day, through lock navpass, then into Renmark with a tricky roundup, but an easy docking at Industry's berth: it has moved forwards to the public dock.  The Mildura boats were, and the major triumph was MV Emu.  It had been trucked around Swan Hill bridge in December, and was waitng at Euston.  It came through there on Sunday morning, and did at least one day of 180 km to catch up to the fleet.

In port: Ruby, Industry, PS James Maiden, PV Settler, PV Impulse, PV William Albert, PV Shiralee, PV Tamara Rae, and an assortment of small launches.  I was with a friend from Goolwa in the grand parade this morning.


Ruby is going no further: it leaves on Eednesday for a Friday arrival into Wentworth.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Edito.

I have met one of the people ;waiting for me, with at least thre more to find today.
Dark suit, boater with a baroon band, maroon bow tie and grey beard.

 

[Roderick Smith]

It was a hectic weekend.  Barry should have photos up by midweek.  I caught up with three Paddleduckers, but didn't meet Stephen.
I rode Valaeme (from the same design stable as my own), Ruby, Industry, Shiralee and Settler, had supper on James Maiden, and attended the dinner.  I also chatted with many friends, and Wooden Boat Owners Association had brought in a fleet.
Monday is lay day for Ruby; it leaves on Tuesday morning, to reach Wentworth on Friday.  The slower upriver running will be balanced by running longer days.
Many of the boats have had trouble coming up through navpasses, and some of the locks will be operated specially to help them.

I have changed my own planning, and am doing a one way from Pooncarie, with a mail truck transfer to retrieve the car and trailer.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor