hobart goes hollywood · 2015. 5. 22. · hobart really came to life last june with 10 days of...
TRANSCRIPT
HOLLYWOODHoba rt goes
2 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
Maritime Museum of Tasmania
CARNEGIE BUILDING
Cnr Davey & Argyle Sts.
Hobart, Tasmania
Postal Address: GPO Box 1118,
Hobart, Tasmania 7001, AUSTRALIA
Phone: (03) 6234 1427
Fax: (03) 6234 1419
email: [email protected]
www.maritimetas.org
Open Daily 9am - 5pm
(except for Good Friday & Christmas Day)
Editor:
Bob Petrass
Phone: 6225 1004
Mobile: 044 768 1322
Layout & production:
Ricoh Studio
Phone: 6223 4311
Closing date for our next newsletter is the 16th October, 2009. Please lodge your articles by that date in the box provided at MMT, or email direct to [email protected]
Future closing dates will be on the 16th of months - January, April, July
and October.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 3
editorial
Membership FeesCategories of membership and
annual fees effective each year 1 July to 30 June (including GST)
Individual $27.50
Family $38.50
Concessions: $15.00
Interstate $16.50
Overseas $16.50 + additional postage $8.50
Quarterdeck $25.00 plus $275.00 donation
Life Membership $1000
once only, or 4 years Quarterdeck membership.
Pirate Club $5.00
Hobart really came to life last June with 10 days of celebration for Errol Flynn’s
centenary ( born - Queen Alexandra Hospital, Battery Point - 20/6/1909.)
His daughter Rory and grandson Sean, accompanied by his girlfriend Holland,
fl ew in from America for the occasion.
Rory attended many functions held in honour of her father which included, the opening
of a display of Errol Flynn memorabilia at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, TV and
radio interviews, Australian and American Association cocktail party,
book signings in both Hobart and Launceston, trips on the Windward
Bound and Peppermint Bay cruise, Guest Speaker at an Elderly Citizens
venue in Claremont and at a Rotary Dinner at the Grand Chancellor, a
cocktail party at Masterpiece @ IXL Art Gallery followed by dinner at
a nearby restaurant with all those who helped with the organization
of the celebrations.(after dinner Lord Mayor, Rob Valentine drove Rory
to the peak of Mt Wellington to see the city lights which she said she
thoroughly enjoyed.)
Finally on her Pop’s birthday Rory unveiled a plaque outside the State
Theatre revealing the ‘Errol Flynn Star’ as the fi rst in Hobart’s new ‘Walk
of Fame’ while the large crowd sang ‘Happy 100th Birthday’ Errol and
then did an encore for the TV. Cameras.
The celebrations concluded that evening with Rory ‘Guest of
Honour’ at the Heart Foundation Ball held at Wrest Point which had a
‘swashbuckling’ theme and with a capacity attendance raised a vast amount of money for
that very worthy charity.
In addition to being a very talented musician, nineteen year old, Sean stars in US children’s
show Zoey 101 shown here on Austar’s Nickelodeon channel. He attended many of these
functions and did his own thing at the Heart Foundation’s ‘Jump for Heart’ event held at the
Holy Rosary Catholic School at Claremont. -The Mercury reported—“ he proved to be a great
jumper and an accomplished performer with children”
Rory showed great endurance with such a busy itinerary set for her but was charming and
gracious at all times. She had expressed a desire to me to visit our Maritime Museum and
in particular to see the model of the Prince Regent after learning that it’s rigging was done
by Captain Creese, the grandfather of her great friend, and former schoolmate of Errol, Ila
Andrews. Despite the fact that her ‘minders’ advised her that there was not suffi cient time
for her to do so, Rory made time by braving the cold, dashing with me down Davey Street
and calling in for a quick visit after speaking at the Rotary Dinner at the Grand Chancellor.
This is the sort of ‘good sport’ she is.
Rory’s visit to our Museum was a sheer delight as after seeing the Prince Regent she chose
to meet all the volunteers rather than spend her limited time browsing through the other
exhibits. They were all impressed by her friendliness and she not only spent time meeting
all those downstairs but popped upstairs to say G’day to Laurie Bahr who was alone in the
library. After signing our visitor’s book ‘love Tassie’ she vowed to return on a private holiday
for a longer period and said one of her fi rst ‘ports of call’ will be a leisurely tour through our
Maritime Museum. Having charmed all our staff she then left to rejoin her ‘minders’ who
were patiently waiting at the door.
Many thanks also to our ‘celebrity cameramen’ Bob Andrewartha and Rex Cox for covering
Rory’s visit to MMT.
Now, 100 years after his birth in Hobart, it is time for him to be honoured by that city by
erecting a statue and/or naming our airport ‘Errol Flynn International.’ (through out the
world it is common practice to name airports after famous people.) Apart from giving him
the honour due to him for his magnifi cent career in fi lms, it would prove a great tourist
attraction for this state. Not everybody knows where Tasmania is on the map, but people
from every country where fi lms are shown know it is ‘where Errol came from’. Hopefully it
would bring visitors to our wonderful state ‘in like Flynn’.
Bob Petrass.
Two lovely models, Rory Flynn and Prince Regent.
4 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We are delighted to welcome the following NEW MEMBERS to the
Maritime Museum.
Edward Domeney (Individual)
Thomas Fricke (Interstate)
Barbara Hayes (Volunteer)
John Hutcheon (Volunteer)
Alexander Macnight (Individual)
Kerry Mayfi eld (Concession)
Margaret Muir (Concession)
Ross Rattle (Volunteer)
Louis Rodway (Concession)
Alan Scholten (Individual)
Paul Webb (Concession)
new members
Hi Bob,
I told my daughter in the U.S.that I
was researching the ‘Montevideo Maru’
and she got this info from the Internet
and forwarded it to me. I presume the
photo is the ship in question. Also, it’s
amazing a crew member came forward
after 60 years !
—Bill Nicholson.
Thanks Bill, the information your daugh-ter sent you and the great story you have sent me will be a featured in a coming edition.
Bob,
Hope the attached may meet your
suggestion of excerpt. lt could go under
a query head of ‘what happens to old
sailors’ but think it could have a few
readers.
You know myTassie time holds a
lot memories and truly for a guy with
experience all round the world and in
major cities Tasmania had for me, a lot
going for it.
Starting as editor of the “Northeastern
Advertiser” at Scottsdale. Editor (and sole
editorial staff ) I must add, I got an insight
into country style life that gave me an
appreciation of the people in the state
still regarded by some as “the state not
quite Australia” and the adaptability in
the face of a degree of isolation from the
mainland that has always been evident. . .
When I look back and see places like
Nowhere Else, Paradise, Mathinna and
all the smaller places to which my work
with The Examiner took me, names like
Don VonBibra, Garth Napier, Eric Reege,
Roy Hudson, Joe Fagan ,the O’Connors,
those of all nationalities that I met while
covering the various HEC schemes there
so many with qualities that stood out
that made ‘my Tassie’ something special.
The ‘can do ‘attitude of people
whose effort made a difference to their
communities provided me with the
opportunity ,as a jourmllist, to ‘shake the
tree’ by their stories.
Maybe I never did break any of the big
stories but I did enjoy the opportunity to
sit back and yarn with the miner in the
pit, the farmer in the paddock and the
bushies deep in the backblocks of a vital
state.
If you feel the excerpt I’ve provided is
right for your magazine just use the Wal
Davies Byline.
I have more or less given up the idea
of getting ’Shakin’ the tree’ published
there are no blocks to using the stuff’...
Thanking you for your interest
Regards and best Wishes,
Wal Davies
Thank you Wal, we’ll be publishing the
excerpt from your ‘waiting for a publisher’
book in our next issue.
R
sit back and yarn with the miner in the
pit, the farmer in the paddock and the
To Bob & Rocky and the goldfi sh and Pirate Club
friends.
Just arrived in Ubon and now we are working on my
Grandparents house.
Tomorrow we are going to hit the Seas and Relax , it’s
so hot over here about 40o.
I miss you all and I will see you later.
x x x Love Ben. How’s Rocky?
Postcard from our junior volunteer, Benjamin, in Thailand for the school holidays.
ValeIt is with deep regret that we report the passing of Gerald Atkins a member for
many years and former volunteer.
The Errol Flynn Society of Tasmania
founded 1979
To become a member of our happy
band and enjoy our monthly social
events, just contact:
Genene on (03) 62494700 or
errolfl [email protected]
You will be made most welcome.
MARITIME TIMES AWARD
Goes to Ian Nicholson who has been a regular and very reliable volunteer
since joining in June 2008. Thanks Ian for the excellent work you do, it is appreciated very much and congratulations on the award.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 5
president’s message From the Brig...Not much to report from the eyrie
above the museum this edition as I’ve
had my head down studying.
However, we are planning to
represent the museum, and the May
Queen, at the Clarence Seafarers
Festival at Bellerive Boardwalk on
Sunday 25th October. Details of the
festival can be found on the Clarence
City Council website,
www.ccc.tas.gov.au and we will be
pleased to see as many of our friends
there as possible.
Regulars at the museum will know
that before becoming an aussie, myself
and my partner Mandy lived aboard
a narrowboat on the canals around
Birmingham. I’m often asked about
it and comments are made along the
lines of “I’ve always liked the idea of
that”. We sold our boat, “Starcross”, to a
friend who has established a website
devoted to the comings and goings
of a typical modern English canal
boat. So, if you are interested in the UK
inland waterway system and the trials
and tribulations of the “cut” and have
internet access, type in
www.nbstarcross.com and you can
discover that the two hundred and
fi fty year old canal system in England is
still a lively and fascinating place.
By Mark Hosking, Admin Offi cer
The Maritime Museum in Sullivans Cove has a signifi cant role to play in protecting
Tasmania’s unique maritime heritage. The Cove became the transport hub for
early European arrivals in Van Diemens Land and continues today as the focal
point for Hobart and surrounding areas. The waterfront has evolved and changed
over many years of occupation but it is up to us to help preserve the historic
values of the area.
On the Waterfront, the current exhibition in our temporary gallery, tells wonderful
stories of the Port of Hobart in words and photographic images – make sure you
visit the Museum and see the display for yourself.
In early years innocent seamen arriving in Sullivans Cove were given a diffi cult
time under military rule in the convict settlement. In 1806, food shortages were
so serious that Lieutenant-Governor David Collins had six men from the whaling
ship Ferret fl ogged for not handing over two casks of biscuits and three casks
of fl our. Hobart Town was unsafe. Lloyd Robson wrote in A History of Tasmania
“When night fell the streets were so full of thieves that a pedestrian going along
unawares was almost sure to be attacked.” Almost all the settlement was a virtual
no-go area after sunset for the law-abiding in early Van Diemens Land.
Today we sometimes hear of problems late at night on the waterfront but in days
gone by it was worse. From Hunter Street around to Salamanca Place there were
literally dozens of hotels to satisfy the thirsts of wharf workers and seamen. Fights
were common especially when visiting sailors went off with local girls. On one
occasion harpoons were the weapons of choice.
In our On the Waterfront exhibition curator Rona Hollingsworth tells many
anecdotes including a World War II story of The Dangerous Dunny of Constitution
Dock, “A number of drownings during 1942 and 1943 were blamed on the location
of the Marine Board’s dunny at the edge of Constitution Dock. A strict blackout,
close proximity to many drinking establishments and a dunny which had to be
approached from the wharf side rather than the street created a potent hazard.”
Sullivans Cove has changed over the years. Nevertheless, it is up to us as members
of the maritime community to lobby and ensure that any development is
sympathetic with the Cove’s rich heritage, safeguarding the working port. The
executive of the Maritime Museum is aware of this responsibility and presents the
Museum’s views to relevant authorities whenever opportunities arise.
Colin Denny
DONATIONS
We thank the following members
for their very generous donations
and continued support of the
Maritime Museum –
Sir Max Bingham
David Dilger
Richard Harris
John Sargent
Spencer Tempest-Warman
Alan Whittaker
6 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
The visit of the Red GauntletMany people In Hobart, especially our members, are always interested in vessels that have visited Hobart. The splendid schooner yacht Red Gauntlet attracted a great deal of attention from the general public when she visited Hobart in January 1882.
She was a large graceful, fast cruising yacht with an overall length of 101 feet, a waterline length of 91.9 feet, a beam of 19 feet and a draft of 10 feet 4 inches. But the interest of most people was raised by the “Mercury” report that Red Gauntlet had been fi rst owned by Lily Langtry. The report then went on to coyly remark, “whose name has been very prominent of late”. Mrs.Langtry was the notorious “offi cial” mistress of Queen Victoria’s eldest son, the future King Edward VII. He of course was already married to the future Queen Alexandra. One of their children was the future King George V, grandfather of our present Queen. Lily Langtry, known as Jersey Lil, was born in 1853 on the Channel Island of Jersey, where her father the Rev. William Corbet Le Breton was the Anglican Dean. She was 28 years of age before she made her fi rst stage appearance, but she was soon recognised as England’s most beautiful actress. In 1874 she had married Edward Langtry, who had had the Red Gauntlet built by Inmans of Lymington, near Southampton in 1862.
Inmans was one England’s most important boat-building yards. Established by Thomas Inman in 1821 when he moved from Hastings to Lymington. England had not long emerged from the Napoleonic wars and wealthy people were starting to take up recreational boating. Within the fi rst 14 years Inman built about twelve yachts, varying in size up to the 127 ton Lulworth. Inman is also a very distinguished family name in British maritime history. James Inman (1776-1859) was principal of the Portsmouth naval school for many years and Professor of nautical mathematics. In 1821 he published his important “Navigation and Nautical Astronomy for Seamen”. He also published the Nautical Tables used by generations of
seamen to simplify the solving of the mathematical problems based on observations of the Sun, Moon and Stars. These are now replaced by the almost universally by the use of the G.P.S.
In 1881 the Red Gauntlet was brought to NSW under the command of her long-time skipper, Captain Collins, for delivery to a Sydney yacht-owner. She was soon re-sold to Mr Charles G Millar of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. He arranged for a complete overhaul and refurbishment of the vessel, under the supervision of a Lloyd’s Surveyor. No expense was spared. New patent steering gear was installed as well as new pumps etc. and the 18 ft by 15 ft saloon was elaborately relined with polished mahogany and satinwood panelling, decorated with gilt and ebonised mouldings, while the ceilings were painted pale blue with ornamental lines of cream, pink and gold. A separate ladies lounge was painted grey, coral and white, with luxury upholstery supplied by Buckley and Nunn !
There was a crew of eight:--a sailing master, a mate. 4 AB’s, a cook and a steward, to take care of seven guests on the voyage from Melbourne to Hobart. Of course electric bells ran from each berth to the steward’s room and pantry. Seven years later, in 1889 she was wrecked; ending a long and colourful career.
There have been other ships bearing the same name, some probably based on Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel Red Gauntlet written in 1824. The nearest to us was a 76ft powered vessel launched at Leith on the Forth River in Northern Tasmania in 1893. The owner-builder, H C Stephens, sold her to a Joseph Bradshaw of Melbourne. She was then acquired by Burns Philp who ran her until 1907, when she was scrapped at Thursday Island. There was a Red Gauntlet dismasted and lost in a whole gale off the New Zealand coast in 1879. But more famous in America was the Union Clipper Red Gauntlet which was on passage from Boston to Hong Kong when she was captured and sunk by the Confederate vessel Florida.
Submitted by Joe Cannon
GET WELL
Wendy McConaghy
David Keyes
Wally Mainbridge
Three of our most popular
members are on the ‘sick list’ and
we wish each of them a speedy
return to good health. There
smiling faces are missed by all of
us at M.M.T.
Sean Flynn grandson of movie legend Errol (Captain Blood) and star of US Children’s TV show Zoey 101, after learning on his fi rst visit to his father’s birthplace, Hobart, that it’s tradition ‘down under’ to have a footy team to support, had an easy choice to make. After being informed that Sydney Swans are known as the ‘Bloods’ and wear his favourite colours, Red and White, he was ‘in like Flynn’.
He is seen here being presented with his Swans gear and inducted as an ‘honorary Blood’ by Swans Life Member, Bob Petrass and staunch ‘Bloods’ supporter, 10 year old Benjamin Denduang of Sandy Bay.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 7
Masterpiece@IXL Fine Art & Antiques
Masterpiece @ IXL
2/ 19A Hunter Street, Hobart, Tasmania
ph. 03 6231 3144 fax. 03 6231 3143
email. [email protected]
www.masterpiece.com.au
Andrew Thomas Fleury
(c.1861-1947)
“Hobart Footballers” 1886
Mixed Media
119 x 88 cm (sight)
Signed & dated lower right
YOUR JAYCO won’t grow barnacles,
you won’t have to row ashore
and defi nately won’t have to get
up in the middle of the night to
check the anchor.
8 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
Peta Knott
On Sunday 3rd May, after many attempts over several months, I fi nally made it to Maatsuyker Island! The wild weather subsided making it only a slightly uncomfortable 4 hour boat ride from Southport. All together there were 12 intrepid explorers who went to investigate the island, discover the maritime heritage and meet the latest caretakers John and Lorraine Walker.
While on the island, I recorded oral histories of several very interesting people. Robyn Gates, returning to the island after initially visiting her lighthouse keeper father in the 1970s. Former Maat Island 2001 caretaker Alan Johnson. Kathy and Chris James, an interstate couple who were
MAATSUYKER ISLAND
ticking off Maatsuyker as their 40th lighthouse visited in 3 years! And the current caretakers. These stories will be a valuable addition to TMAG’s newly formed Oral History Collection.
The little communication with the outside world allows caretakers to navel (naval!) gaze and muse about life. Caretaker Lorraine Walker was inspired by her time on Maatsuyker Island to write a poem and was kind enough to share it with us. The carefully chosen words highlight the beauty of the place and the sadness associated with the neglect of maritime heritage.
It was a four hour whirl wind tour and we visitors got a taste of the daily activities on the island. For such an isolated place, there is much to do. The weather observations take up a large chunk of the day and require skilled training to judge wave heights and identify types of clouds. Another major task is fi re prevention. I left the island with a greater appreciation of just how much grass there is to mow!
The trip was organised by the Friends of Maatsuyker Island under the supervision of Parks and Wildlife. Thanks must also go to Captain Dave for putting up with those who were seasick (sorry!) and to Craig Saunders from Parks and Wildlife for carefully navigating us past the large seals!
Oral History Trip
The FULL MONTY:One of the great hoaxes of World War 11 took place on
May25th, 1944, when Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery,
aka Monty, fl ew to Gibraltar aboard Prime Minister Winston
Churchill’s private aircraft. It was part of an elaborate Allied plan
to convince German spies that the Allies would invade southern
France fi rst. But the offi cer wasn’t Monty at all. The look-alike
was Meyrick Edward Clifton-James, an Australian actor who had
been commissioned in the Royal Army Pay Corps. Clifton-James
later wrote a book called ‘ I was Monty’s Double,’ and he played
the lead role in the fi lm version.
Open Thursday to Sunday 10am to 4:30pmPhone 6223 3451 or 0401 824 128 or 0408 323 537
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 9
Sponsor-shipThe Magazine needs more sponsors
can you help? If so call Bob on 6225 1004 or 044 768 1322
Thanks to these sponsors for keeping us afl oat; The Mercury,
K&D Warehouse Mitre 10, Tasmanian Shipping Supplies
& Stormy Australia
QUOTE OF THE DAY
‘Time wounds all heels’
John Lennon at his press conference after the disgraced Nixon government failed in it’s fi ve year attempt to have
him deported and he became a permanent citizen of the U.S.A.
HE LIGHTHOUSE STANDS ON STEEP, ROCKY CLIFFSON THE ISLANDS SOUTH FACING SHORE.BUFFETED BY THE SOUTH WEST WIND THAT BLOWS BOTH COLD AND RAW.
SEAMAN SAILING THIS WILD, RUGGED COASTDEMANDED A GUIDING LIGHTWHERE WOULD THEY BUILD IN THIS UNTAMED LAND?MAATSUYKER WAS THE CHOSEN SITE.
IT TOOK SPECIAL MEN TO BUILD THE STATION, ON THIS WILD AND, SOLITARY ISLE.THE TYPE OF MEN, WHO BUILT OUR NATION, STRENGTH AND COURAGE WAS THEIR STYLE.
YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE THE STEELY RESOLVE OF THE KEEPERS WHO CALLED MAAT HOMEWITH ALL THE HARDSHIPS EXPERIENCED HERE NO POWER, NO RADIO, NO PHONE
THE STORIES YOU READ OF THIS EARLY TIME OF LIGHTHOUSE AND ISLAND LIFERARELY TELL OF THE DAILY TRIALS OF THE LIGHTKEEPERS STOIC WIFE
NOW THIS GRACIOUS, OLD TOWERNO LONGER STEERS SAILORS AT NIGHTIT IS OLD FASHIONED, OUTDATED, REDUNDANT REPLACED BY A SMALL, SOLAR LIGHT
TECHNOLOGY EXTINGUISHED ITS GUIDING BEAM AND SNUFFED OUT ITS REASON TO BEFOR 100 YEARS IT SERVED ALL WHO SAILED ACROSS THE GREAT SOUTHERN SEA.
SADLY I LOOK AT THE RUSTING RAILS, PEELING PAINT AND LEAKY PANESI NOTE TOO THE SET DIRECTION OF THE RUSTED UP, OLD WEATHER VANE.
THE BRASS IS NO LONGER POLISHED AND THE PRISMS ARE DULL WITH DUSTFOR THE FUTURE OF THIS GRAND OLD LIGHTHOUSE IN GOVERNMENT WE MUST TRUST.
NOW VOLUNTEERS MAN THE STATION THEY KEEP UP A PRESENCE HEREBUT WILL OUR HISTORY BE ABANDONED?THIS IS MY ONE GREAT FEAR! ! !
M A A T S U Y K E R I S L A N D L I G H T H O U S E
By Lorraine Walker, Volunteer Caretaker Programme Maatszyker Island - Feb to June 09
10 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
In May 1944 at Wakde®Sanni Biak
operations Shropshire almost became a
casualty of friendly fi re when an American
bomber dropped a bomb between HMAS
Warramunga and the Shropshire forcing
her to return to Australia for repairs.
The Third Battle Tour was for 338 days (7g
days in Sydney and 260 days at sea). It was
during this tour that action was seen at
Leyte Gulf where the actions of Roy Cazaly
Junior who was chief of one of the Pom
Pom stations saw a Japanese Kamikaze
about to attack and without waiting for
the gun layer or anyone else grabbed the
Pom Pom gun and blew the plane out of
the air and saved his ship. For this action
Cazaly was awarded the Distinguished
Service Order.
Further Tours of duty included action at
Tawi Tawi, Labuan, Balikpapan Subic Bay
and Okinawa. Shropshire was present in
Tokyo Bay when the armistice wassigned.
Shropshire remained in service after
the war and paid off to the reserve on
10t” November 1949. Sold as scrap to
Thomas Ward and Company of Sheffi eld
in England she was towed from Sydney to
the Dalmuir yard of the ship breakers
Arnott Young on 20t” January 1955. She
was scrapped in the area from which she
was constructed 26 years before.
By Laurie Bahr
H M A S S H R O P S H I R EIn August 1942 a Japanese force surprised
the Allies at Savo Island, a consequence of
this was that Australia lost the AS Canberra
in the action. One month after her loss
the British Government unconditionally
handed over the S Shropshire to the Royal
Australian Navy.
The Shropshire was built at Dalmuir in
Scotland by William Beardmore and
Company, launched on the 5th July 1928
and commissioned on 24th September
1929 under the command of Captain
R.W.Oldham and served in the First
Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean.
In all she served four commissions in the
Mediterranean with the highlight being
when she played a leading part in the
evacuation of refugees from Barcelona in
1936 during the Spanish Civil War.
When war broke out in 1939 Shropshire
was continuously at sea in the South
Atlantic doing long patrols. In 1940 after a
refi t she went to the Indian Ocean for more
patrol work and took part in the British
campaign against Italian Somaliland.
Another refi t was completed in Britain in
March 1942 which was followed by more
patrol and escort work in the Atlantic.
When the British Government decided
to transfer the Shropshire to the Royal
Australian Navy she was recalled from
the South Atlantic and the then Captain,
J.T.Borrett relinquished command at
Chatham on December 23rd 1942 and
fi ve days later Commander D.H.Harries
RAN who supervised the refi t for the
Australian Navy.
While the refi t was being carried out
the crew for what was now the HMAS
Shropshire, were being transported by
troopship from Australia to England. A
friend of mine, Leith Harper, travelled
on the Louis Pasteur, other ships were
the USS Mount Vernon, Dutch Liner
Niew Amsterdam USS Hermitage, Queen
Elizabeth and SS Denbighshire.
Early in 1943 the fi rst draft of the
Shropshire’s new crew arrived on board.
On 7th April 1943 the fi rst captain of the
HMAS Shropshire assumed command and
she was commissioned into the RAN on
20th April 1943 although it wasn’t until
June 25 that she was offi cially handed
over.
The Shropshire was a County Class Cruiser
of the same type as the HMAS Canberra
that she was replacing.
July 1st saw her sailing to Scapa Flow
in the Orkney Island where she was
reviewed by King George VI and Admiral
Bruce Fraser, Commander in Chief of the
Home Fleet.
After trialling and running in at Scapa
Flow Shropshire left for Australia in 13th
August 1943, an auspicious date 2 years
hence when the Enola Gay dropped the
fi rst atom bomb on Hiroshima.
After showing herself to Australia
Shropshire joined Task Force 74 which
was a unit of the United States Seventh
Fleet.
Christmas Eve 1943 the Task Force sailed
for the invasion of New Britain where
Shropshire covered the landings at
Arawa and Cape Gloucester, it was in
this operation that Shropshire made her
name for radar work and the Americans
admitted that the radar on Shropshire
was superior to their own.
In March 1944 she took part in the
operations lead into re-taking of the
Admiralty Islands and the following
month at the Hollandia ® Humboldt Bay
operations.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 11
Shipwrights Arms Hotel(Established 1846)
29 Trumpeter Street, Battery PointPhone: 03 6223 5551
Situated in the heart of historic Battery Point, “Shippies” is lined with a unique collection
of Tasmania’s past, both maritime and historical
A traditional old English corner pub, filled with history, tradition, and pride
including photographs of every ‘Sydney to Hobart’ winner
Owen Humphries (Licensee)
12 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
S.S. IndarraA vessel with very much promise was placed in service by the AUSN (Australian United Steam Navigation Co) in 1913. The Indarra was built by Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton in the previous year. Indarra arrived at Fremantle, her Port of Registry on 1 January 1913 and then continued around the coast as far as Brisbane. At each port the liner was opened for public inspection and large crowds streamed aboard to gaze at the magnifi cent interior fi ttings. She was without doubt the most palatial liner ever to serve on the Australian coast. Among other fi ttings she had a marble open air swimming pool, a gymnasium and an electric elevator between decks that impressed the public.
Accommodation was provided for 150 fi rst class, 200 second class and 120 third class passengers. The ship appeared to have a promising career in the coastal market. This was not to be the case however as it soon became apparent that she had some serious problems, the most noticeable being an eight degree list to port that raised questions of stability. 80 tons of stone ballast solved this problem but other problems were not easily overcome. Being longer than previous ships it was found that diffi culties arose when she was being manoeuvred at the company docks in Melbourne and Sydney. At Albany it was impossible to berth her at all if there was a wind blowing. As coaling had to be done from each side, this necessitated the ship being turned when in dock. It soon became clear that her engines had a heavy demand for coal.
Crossing the Great Australian Bight was very uncomfortable as Indarra had a heavy roll which gave rise to rumours that the ship was top heavy. Indarra was left on the coast until requisitioned in October 1917. She was converted
• By Sid Heatley
to a troopship at Sydney and then went to Melbourne to embark a thousand troops. Indarra was later inducted into a convoy of liners to carry troops from Alexandria to Marseilles. After the armistice she was used to repatriate British soldiers from India and other areas and in July of 1918 embarked Australian troops and carried them home. The liner was returned to the AUSN on 24th September but because of the uncertain state of the coastal trade at that time they decided against returning her to her former service.
She was then chartered to the Orient Line but she was proved to be too slow and unreliable. In October of 1923 she was sold by AUSN to Osaka Shasan Kaisha of Japan. Renamed the Horai Maru she was given an extensive refi t during which the upper part of the superstructure was removed resulting in a reduction in draft that made the vessel more stable.
For many years the Horai Maru operated between Kobe and Keelung until the Japanese went to war in 1941 and the vessel was converted into a troop transport. Her war service was to be short as on 1 March 1942 Horai Maru was attacked by a combined force of Allied aircraft and warships in the Sunda Strait and was sunk. In 1947 the wreck was raised by Japanese salvage companies and towed away to be broken up.
Prepared for publication by Laurie Bahr
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 13
Notes from the Curator Scallop dredge, propeller patterns, a letter from Amundsen, models and modelling gear These are only some of the diverse and intriguing maritime objects which have been off ered to the Museum in recent weeks. Each comes with a story worth telling and preserving.
Pat Appleton, one of the pioneers of southern Tasmania’s scallop fi shery, made the scallop dredge. Each winter he and his son, Bert, towed it between Ralphs Bay and Sandy Bay from the stern of the Olive May - catching up to 30 bags a day off John Garrow Light.
Bert’s father and later Bert and his brother, sold their catch from a series of vessels and punts in Constitution Dock. Each season they took pride in selling the season’s fi rst scallops, many to be used in the free counter lunches of the day (presumably subsidised by the amber fl uid that washed them down.) The Ship Hotel alone took 18000 scallops a week. Any surplus was sold to H Jones and Co for canning.
The propeller patterns come from Retlas Foundry which has been located at various sites around Hobart’s waterfront for over 100 years. As well as ship’s propellers the foundry has produced winch parts for Muir Engineering, fi sh measures and many other marine castings. Mike Webb and I had a fascinating look around the foundry which must move from its current location. We were both enthusiastic about a plan to develop it as a working exhibit on the waterfront.
The letter was sent by Roald Amundsen from Hadley’s Hotel. Amundsen, who had just returned to civilisation from his epic conquest of the South Pole, was replying to an off er of honorary membership from the Derwent Sailing Squadron. Keep your eyes out for news of the offi cial handover of the letter by the DSS.
Several fi nely built models have also been donated recently along with all the bits and pieces used to construct them. One model is of the Dutch vessel, Half Moon, built by the Dutch East India Company. The company employed Henry Hudson to captain her on a voyage seeking a north eastern route to the Indies and failing that, a north western route. Hudson found neither but did discover the Hudson River which was settled by the Dutch. The Half Moon was of a similar age and style to the Duyfken, which visited Austalia’s northern shores in 1606, becoming the fi rst known vessel to reach the continent.
As well as donations we have received the typescript of a fascinating memoir of an early Hobart captain and one of our new volunteers has brought in an intriguing booklet to copy. Called How to join the Royal Australian Navy it specifi es minimum heights and chest measurements for all recruits. An 18 year old cook had to be at least 5 feet 3 inches while an 18 year old stoker could be 5 feet 2 ½ inches. Both would earn £1 1s per week.
Because of space and management issues we are unable to accept all donations but we are always very grateful to be off ered items for our collections - and I am constantly amazed at what turns up!
By Rona Hollingsworth
Photo above: Trainee stokers – had to be at least 5 feet 2 ½ inches
Right: The Dutch vessel, Half Moon
Far right: Model maker’s gear
14 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
On the GrapeVine
Bob d’Boozer,
can we drink it?
Yes we can!
Want to buy a winery? Well there are plenty for
sale at the moment. The latest on the market
is Cockatoo Ridge’s 25,000-tonne winery at
Monash in the Riverland of South Australia,
which reported a $54 million half-year loss
mainly due to the collapse of Great Southern.
It can be yours for a mere 8 million. That’s just
1% of the total value of wine industry assets
currently for sale, which is some $800 million.
Last year was a great year for wine growers but
the problem is in selling their product. The global
fi nancial crisis has meant many cancelled orders
and naturally there is a big drop in overseas
orders at this time. Local sales have also taken
a nosedive which means for those with a bit of
spare cash now is the time to buy good wine at
way below the usual price. Those companies
that send brochures to their customers for them
to order direct are giving free delivery all over
Australia for orders of two or more cases and in
some instances are giving a third case free. The
only problem with stocking up big while the
price is right is to ensure you are not purchasing
wine that has a short cellaring life as is the case
with many wines produced these days in our
‘drink now’ society.
‘Clean skins’ can be a very inexpensive way of
buying wine if you are just looking for something
to drink over the next few months with a ‘barbi’
and in most cases are superior to cask wine but
it is best to ‘try before you buy’ or if tastings are
not available buy just one bottle to check it out.
Always look for clean skins that state the area
where the wine came from and this will give you
some idea of it’s quality. Avoid those labels that
just tell you the name of the distributor or where
the wine was bottled, rather than the area where
the grapes were grown. If you hit on a tasty clean
skin, go for it, but drink it, don’t cellar it.
If you keep a fi ne cellar and have plenty of cash
available now is the time to invest in Australia’s
ultra-fi ne wines such as Penfolds Bin 95 Grange
Shiraz from S.A. or Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock
Shiraz from Heathcote, Vic. You lucky dog, you !
Visitor’s BookMelanie Calwell Ocean Grove. Vic. Loved it.Vicki Craig Gladstone. Qld. Interesting, Great.Leckqi Singapore. Awesome.Gace Tan Singapore. Wonderful.Darrell Manton Epping Forest. Tas. A credit to all.D & H Parkinson Geelong. Vic. Great, Thanks.Maria M. Toowoomba. Qld. Fantastic.Rory Flynn. Los Angeles. USA. Love Tassie.Glenorchy Primary School. Tas. Great display.C.Gargans Northern Territory. Really interesting.Angie Clarke Eddington. Vic. Fantastic display.Allan & Dale Smith Glen Forest. W.A. Loved it !Riva Legori Italy. Bellissimo.Nancy Heff er Young. N.S.W. Best I’ve seen.Terry Wylie Glenorchy. Tas. MUST come back.Dean & Elizabeth Abbot Heywood. Vic. Interesting exhibits, helpful volunteers.Gilles Dion Canada. Very,very interesting.A & J Theodore Princetown. Vic. Amazing history.Richard Taylor Christchurch. N.Z. Will be back.Andrew Lee Beaumaris. Vic. Amazing, thanks.Colin Pipe Sydney. N.S.W. A gem among Maritime Museums. Patomporn Thailand. Great place to visit, glad that I came.
Rory and our editor were all smiles as she wrote ‘Love Tassie’
MTT ANNUAL DINNEROur fi fth annual dinner, which celebrated 7 years publication of our magazine, was held at Shippie’s on Wednesday 5th August (why would you ever want to go anywhere else?) and a full room (in numbers that is) enjoyed the splendid 3 course dinner provided by ‘mine host’ Gordon Latimer.
Peta Knott gave a very interesting talk about the destruction that very day of a Tasmanian Heritage Vessel, the trading ketch Enterprise, at Bicheno.
(full story in our next issue.) This was the only sad note on what was a great night.
Bob Petrass.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 15
from the galley
Ginger Honey Marinated Lamb
with Quick Ginger EggplantIngredients4 tbls Olive Oil
1 medium brown onion, fi nely chopped
2 tsp curry powder
2 medium eggplants fi nely chopped
3 tbls Buderlm Original Ginger Marmalade
5 tbls water
3 tbls lime Juice
2 tbls coconut milk powder
1 tsp salt
black pepper
For the lamb: 4 lamb backstraps, cut In half
sea salt & black pepper
2 tbls Capllano Honey Ginger Spread/or
Buderlm Glnger Refresher
1 tbls olive oil
300g fresh baby spinach
Method:
For the lamb:
Combine 2 tbls Capilano Honey Ginger
Spread or 2 tbls Buderim Ginger Refresher
with salt, pepper-and olive oil. Place lamb In
marinade and .marinate for at least 1/2 hour.
Heat a medium pot to moderately hot and
add a little oil. Add the onion and curry
powder and saute for 1 minute. Add the
eggplant, stir well and cook for 5 minutes.
or until eggplant has softened, then mix
in marmalade, lime juice,coconut milk and
water. Combine well, reduce the heat and
allow to simmer while you cook the lamb.
Heat a grill plate, place lamb on the hot
grill pan and allow to cook for 3 minutes
each side. Remove from heat and rest for 3
minutes.
Blanch the spinach In boiling salted water,
drain and divide over 4 plates, add a generous
spoonful of eggplant curry and place lamb
backstrap on top.
To accompany this dish:-
GREEN GINGER WINE ( of course )
Often after visiting a great restaurant
or a superb winery one is tempted to
linger on and on, but never have I been
so reluctant to leave an establishment
as was the case on my visit to Buderim
Ginger in Queensland.
After several hours with my bags full of
Ginger Beer, Ginger Marmalade, Ginger
Honey, Mango & Ginger conserve, Sweet
Ginger Sauce, Lemon, Lime & Ginger,
Ginger Refresher, Ginger chips, Ginger
chocolates etc. etc., while enjoying my
ginger ice-cream as I waited in a large
queue at the check-out I spied a very
large dish of crystallized ginger for
sampling so I kept inviting those behind
me to go ahead telling them I was in no
hurry as I gorged myself on more ginger.
This place is ‘Ginger Heaven’ so I decided
to pass on to our readers a recipe they
gave me ( probably to get rid of me ! )
To compliment this dish I have concocted
a dessert, which I have named...
‘ MAN OVERBOARD.’
Place a large scoop of ginger ice cream
in a bowl
Add a plash of rum
Place a Ginger Bread Man on top
Add another splash of rum
Cover with whipped cream
Add another splash of rum
Sprinkle with grated ginger
Top with a rum ball
If you don’t like rum you can replace it
with green ginger wine
If you really love rum you can soak the
ginger breadman in rum fi rst
Le` Yummy!
Bon Appetit’
Lucky Pierre
What was this
UFO?Can you believe that it is 40 years since man fi rst set foot on the MOON!
Like those brave Astronauts, time fl ies.
One incident that occurred on that historic voyage has never been solved.
Apollo11 was followed part of the way to the moon by an unidentifi ed object.
At fi rst they thought it was the third-stage booster only to be advised by NASA that the booster was some 10,000 km away.
To this day the mystery remains as no satisfactory explanation has been forthcoming!
Another story that emerged in later years is that, President Nixon had pre-recorded a message of condolence to go to air immediately if disaster struck these brave men.
Fortunately it was not required and he phoned congratulations to them on their success.
Did you know?
Mazu, the heavenly
queen who lived from
960 to 987 during the
Sung Dynasty in China
is Goddess of the Sea
and protects fi shermen
and sailors.
---- Now can we expect to see
this name on more boats ? ---
16 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
- have 2 - 3m of open land along one side of vessel to allow the surveying equipment to be set up
There is no cost to you!
In return for your participation, you will have a 3D digital model of your vessel which can be used to create a standard lines plan. This may be of use to you for restoration or maintenance purposes.
In the next few months I will be travelling around the state surveying the historic vessels mentioned above. All members are welcome to help out with the fi eldwork.If you would like to participate in this project, please contact me at [email protected] or 6234 1427 (Mon-Wed) or 6211 4158 (Thurs-Fri)
the hull. The survey is a non-intrusive process. Standard lines plans can be created and various calculations about seaworthiness and hull stability completed. The digital model information plus the history of the vessel will be placed on the maritime museum website for all interested people to see.
The museum is compiling a list of historic vessels to participate in this project. So far three vessels have been surveyed – Otago, Matilda and Ninie. Other vessels soon to be recorded for posterity are: Arcadia II, Britannia, Enterprize, Fancy, Gypsy, Karina, May Queen, Olive May, Tassie Too, Terra Linna, Terralinna, To be added to this list all you need to do is -
- allow access to your boat when it is out of the water (trailer or slip)
By Peta Knott
The Maritime Museum has just embarked on an exciting new project that will combine preserving Tassie’s maritime heritage with new technology creating the Historic Hull Digital Database. Tasmania has many historic vessels that are in various states of repair. These vessels need to be digitally recorded so that even if the physical boat disappears, the information and history are preserved for posterity.
Vessels in this project are digitally recorded by completing a total station survey of the hull (see photo Peta and Richard surveying Ninie). X, Y, Z coordinates are taken from around the vessel and uploaded to a computer program that then creates a digital 3D model of
KNOTT NEWS
On Saturday afternoon 18th July, Sandy Bay U12’s Football Team represented the Sydney Swans in their Little League match against Carlton played during the half time interval of the main game at Etihad Stadium, in Melbourne.
The Blues were represented by Claremont (W.A.) which had some pretty big boys in their side and posted the fi rst goal. The Tassie boys undeterred by this quickly took control of the game and ran out easy winners 4 – 2 – 26 to 1 – 0 – 6.
Swans Auskick coordinator, John Savage, reported that the boys not only gave the large crowd a sample of true Tasmanian football skills but impressed everyone by their exemplary conduct both on and off the fi eld. Well done to our boys and their offi cials led by Steven Hay. The Swans have already invited Sandy Bay to represent them in 2010.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 17
knot so harda series by Frank Charles Brown
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as in Fig.4
3. Close the loop as in Fig 3leaving a small new loop
1. Start by making a Slipped Overhand Knot as in Fig 1
5. Continue the process till the last loop and pull the End all the way through as in Fig 5. To undo, reverse the process for by taking the End back through the loop and then pulling out the rope and unzipping the plait.
2. Draw up a short length of the Standing Part into the loop created as in Fig 2
The Lady Nelsonsailing most weekends
& public holidays
(1 1/2 hour duration)
$15 adults | $5 children
Phone 03 6234 3348
www.ladynelson.org.au
No. 15
Drummer’s Plait
This plait may be used for either practical
or ornamental purposes. As the name
suggests it is used to adorn military drums,
but has been used for other decorative
purposes in fancy rope work. Its practical
uses are as a method of making up rope
for storage or for shortening a rope to
avoid cutting.
News Item…Following a series of earthquakes New Zealand has moved 30cm closer to Australia.
--Those bloody Kiwis, not content with taking over Bondi they are now moving their entire Islands towards our East Coast.--
Do pets get a NINE YEAR ITCH ?Recently there has been a lot of publicity about a dog called Muff y who disappeared from her home in Brisbane and turned up 9 years later 2000 km away in Melbourne. Fortunately she was micro-chipped and is now back home with her astonished owner Chloe who was only 8 years old at the time and thought she had lost her pet forever. If only dog’s could talk, what a tale Muff y would have to tell!
Was she dog napped, did she hitch a ride, did she walk all the way? We will never know. By an amazing coincidence an English couple have been reunited with their cat Dixie now 15, who also disappeared for 9 years from her home in Birmingham. She was found just 1km from her home and was also saved by her micro-chip implant.
-- The moral to these stories.--Make sure your pet has a micro implant and if it goes missing, just be patient for 9 years. (Look on the bright side, just think how much the owners saved on dog & cat food.)
‘ Little Audrey’ back on top.In Edition 25, Spring 2008, we ran an item on the name ‘Audrey’ and mentioned the story of ‘Little Audrey’ Melbourne’s fi rst animated sign which featured a little girl skipping and sat on top of a building in Abbotsford advertising ‘Skipping Girl Vinegar.’
First erected in 1936 this Melbourne Icon, after many years of falling into disrepair, has been fully restored and is ‘up and skipping’ again much to the delight of young and old.
18 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
“calm beforethe storm?”
Don't let your business get caught in stormy conditions!
For independent, objective, business and marketing advice,
talk to Kim Newstead at calm® and enjoy a smooth passage.
Corporate & Leisure Marketing Pty Ltd23 Thompson Way, Clifton Beach, Tasmania 7020
Telephone: (03) 6248 8644 Fax: (03) 6248 8646
Email: [email protected]
Strategy, Business, Communications & Research Consultants
100 Burnett St, North Hobart. Ph. 62346219 . Traditional Pub . Good Food . Good Beer
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 19
‘The Dick’ & ‘The Doc’
Plenty Holmes, the historic moon walk, the
fi ght for the ashes, drugs, murder and...
Anything interesting in the papers Watson?
No, no Watson, I meant were there any stories other than
those about Michael Jackson.
Quik Quiz1. Who named Queensland’s Glasshouse Mountains after glass furnaces in his
Native Yorkshire ?
2. In order what are the three largest countries (by area) in the Commonwealth ?
3. What was the only country to grant women the vote before the start of the 20th century ?
4. In what pre-World War 1 year did the Titanic tragedy occur ?
5. Who wrote the very popular book ‘Matthew Flinder’s Cat’ ?
6. We know what the Spanish ‘adios’ means when used, but what does it mean literally ?
7. Two bits is an American expression for what amount of money ?
8. Off the coast of which continent was the notorious French prison Devil’s Island ?
9. In what country is Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain ?
10. What native animal was last photographed alive in a Zoo in 1936 ?
11. In which country is the town of Nokia ?
12. Which stylish player won the Brownlow Medal in 1970 ?
13. Who reputedly found enlightenment under the bohdi tree in Gaya ?
Who am I?I was born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1912. 10 pts.
When I was 2 years old my family moved to Australia, where I later became a journalist. 8 pts.
Living in Europe when World War 11 began, I fought alongside the French resistance. 6 pts.
The Nazis dubbed me ‘The White Mouse’, also the name of my autobiography. 4 pts.
My surname begins with W. 2 pts.
I am Nancy ? 1 pt.
Answers on page 23.
How can they expect to stop Melbourne’s ‘Crime Wave’ when they can’t even stop their `Mexican Wave’ at the cricket’?
Sitting on the side of a highway,
a state patrolman sees a car
puttering along at 30 kms/hr. He
thinks to himself, ”This peron is
just as dangerous as someone
speeding,” so he pulls the driver
over.
Approaching the car, he notices
that there are fi ve old ladies - two
in the front and three in the back
wide-eyed and white as ghosts.
The driver, obviously confused,
says to him, “Offi cer, I don’t
understand, I was doing exactly
the speed limit! What seems to be
the problem?”
“Ma’am,” the offi cer replies; “You
weren’t speeding, but you should
know that driving slower than the
speed limit can also be dangerous
to other drivers’.’
“Slower than the speed limit? No
sir, I was doing the speed-limit
exactly... 30 kms/hr!” the old
woman said proudly.
The patrolman, trying to contain
a chuckle, explains to her that
“30” was a route number, not the
speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the
woman grinned and thanked the
offi cer for pointing out her error.
“But before I let you go, ma’am, I
have to ask, is everyone in this car
okay? These women seem awfully
shaken and they haven’t muttered
a single peep this whole time,” the
offi cer asks. “Oh they’ll be ‘ all right
in a minute offi cer. We just got off
Route 180.”
20 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
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Available Australia wide:
Qumont Pty Ltd(02) 9181 3244(02) 9181 3467www.qumont.com.au
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 21
Pirate ClubPirate ClubBenjamin’sBenjamin’s
Remembering 1974
Ahoy shipmates and land lubbers,
At last a reader has sent me a pirate joke, a real beauty, here it is.
PIRATE STORYCONTRIBUTED BY BOB PARKES
(To be read with you best sea dog accent)
A young seaman was in the local tavern one day enjoying a few ales when he noticed an old sea dog sitting at the corner table who had a wooden leg, a patch over his right eye and a large metal hook for a right hand.
“Arrrh” he thinks, “this be the first chance I’ve had to find out by what means these old sea dogs come by such appendages”.
So a several ales later he plucks up enough courage to go over and find out, ‘cause the old sea dog’s a fearsome looking gent to say the least and definitely looked to be of the pirating persuation (must have been the cutlass and the blood thirsty look in his left eye).
“Beggin’ your pardon sir” he says, “I was wonderin’ if I might ask ye a couple of questions”.
“That ye may laddie, but make it quick ‘cause I’m settin’ sail in an hour” says the pirate.
Says the laddie “I was wonderin’ how ye came by that wooden leg of yours”.
“Arrrh” says the pirate, “that were a sad occasion. Three days out of Barbados we were when the fiercest storm ye can imagine blew up. An almighty wave hit us broadside and swept me over the side into the boiling sea. Before the lads could haul me aboard, a fiendish shark came up from the deep and took me leg off with his terrible jaws”.
“That be an awful thing to happen” says the laddie, “but I was also wonderin’ how ye came by the hook where yer right hand should be”.
“Arrrh that, I don’t mind telling, ye was a memorable occasion” says the pirate. “Me
and the lads got into an almighty fight with no other than Blackbeard himself. I takes me eyes off him for a wee moment and swish, down comes his cutlass and takes me hand clean off”.
“I’d like to have seen that fight” says the laddie, “but how did ye get that eye patch”?
“Now I don’t like talkin’ about this so much” says the pirate, “but I’ll tell ye just the same”. “I was gazin’ aloft one day checkin’ the set of the mizzen tops when a seagull which was sittin’ on the tops’l yard let go an almighty poop which landed fair and square in me eye”.
“You’re sayin’ a lump of seagull poop was what took out yer eye”? says the laddie.
Says the pirate “No laddie, it were’nt that, it were the first day I was wearin’ me hook.
Thank you very much to volunteer, Mr Bob Parkes for that funny story.
That’s it me hearties, Pirate Ben.
• In the Sydney to Hobart Yachting Classic Ondine 111 (USA) took Line Honours --- Love & War (NSW) recorded Fastest Time.
• Patti Hearst, daughter of William Randolph Hearst, was recognized as an armed accomplice in a bank raid by the Symbionese Liberation Army, the gang that had kidnapped her.
• USA President, Richard Nixon resigns over the Watergate aff air.
• In sport.- There was a huge brawl as Essendon and Richmond players, offi cials and spectators joined in the melee in what became known as the ‘Battle of Windy Hill’.
• Keith Greig won his second Brownlow Medal and his team mate, Doug Wade topped the goalkicking with 103goals. Kevin Murray and John Nicholls both retired.
• In the Grand Final, Richmond defeated North Melbourne by a comfortable 41 points.
• Leilani won the Caulfi eld Cup in a canter and Harry White wanted to get off Think Big to ride that mare in the Melbourne Cup. Bart Cummings refused to let him swap mounts and, as they say, the rest is history with Think Big defeating his stablemate Leilani in the big one and giving Bart another quinella in the race.
• By far the biggest news of the year occurred in Darwin on Christmas Day when that city was devastated by ‘Cyclone Tracey’ which killed 44 and injured many more. 90% of the buildings were destroyed leaving 25,000 of the city’s 32,000 population homeless. Australians rallied to the cause & did our nation proud with their response to this tragedy.
COME ON’ all you PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, etc. JOIN UP your CHILDREN in our PIRATE CLUB for JUST $5 —to foster their love for all things connected with the sea and help insure the future of our wonderful Maritime Museum of Tasmania in this Island state. —Ed.
1933 – 2006
Alby Kuff er was supplying these articles to MTT at the time of his death and unfortunately this is the last of them. Alby was a larger than life character who lit up a room when he entered with his cheeky grin and the ability to make everyone laugh.
He is sadly missed by his friends, of which he had many. ‘May he rest in peace.’
…a series by the lateAlby Kuffer
22 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009
The Man in Black ( a tribute to Johnny Cash )
The man in black ain't coming back anymore
Johnny Cash has sung his very last encore
But friends, please don't feel blue
We'll always have "a boy called Sue"
"I walk the line," “Folsom Prison" and much more.
The man in black ain't coming back anymore
But then again he never really went away
Like Elvis, Frank and Bing
He did his very own thing
And his music in our hearts will always stay
The man in black ain't coming back anymore
But when we play his songs,our hearts will surely soar
"Don't take your gun to town",
"The Night they drove old Dixie down",
"Ring of Fire", "Rock Island Line" and many more.
The man in black ain't coming back anymore
But he is now, a part of our folk lore
So we thank him for his songs
As we bid him sad "So longs"
Johnny Cash your name will live forever more.
Poet’s C O R N E R
By Bob Petrass
More, Did you know ?Galley slaves sometimes had to row at fast speed for up to 24 hours and if they slowed they were whipped by Bosuns using long, dried stretched bull’s penis’.
---- sounds like a lot of bull ----
Famous Australian soprano, Dame Nellie Melba, achieved fame in Europe with cult following and had a farewell tour which lasted 4 years. (thus the saying `more comebacks than Melba) She died of an infection contracted during a `facelift’. The treatment had been developed to help soldiers injured in WWI and was a risky operation carried out without antibiotics.Born Helen Mitchell in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond she changed her name to honour that city.
---- Wot no Botox ! ----
During the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge 16 lives were lost, the last on the day before the bridge was offi cially opened in 1932. Also here are 6 million rivets in the bridge.
Now available at our book
shop
Many thanks to the team at Ricoh especially our graphic designer, Rebecca Kurczok for another excellent publication. (Ed.)
Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 23
ANVERS Confectionery
• Chocolate Tasting • Viewing • Gardens • Cafe and Museum
Indulge yourselves in a Belgian style breakfast in a chocolate factory, morning and a ernoon tea in the old gardens listening to the native birds, a fine Tasmanian lunch near a cosy wood heater, stocking up on Tasmania’s finest chocolates or just browsing through the chocolate antique display. There is ample car and bus parking on site.
Also catering for the quick quality business lunch and corporate presentations in our own private room.
The “House of Anvers” is a real chocolate taste sensation. It is located on the Bass Highway between Devonport and Latrobe and is open 7am - 7pm, 7 days a week. Phone: (03) 6426 2958 for bookings
12-25 Morrison Street, Hobart
GPO Box 1099, Hobart, 7001
Phone. 03 6234 5422 Fax. 03 6223 7797
SUPPLIERS OF
MARINE EQUIPMENT
AND SAILMAKERS TO
HOBART
SINCE 1964
Answers to Quick Quiz.
1. Captain James Cook.2. Canada, Australia, India.3. New Zealand.4. 1912.5. Bryce Courtenay.6. ‘to God.’7. 25 cents.8. South America (French Guiana)9. Tanzania.10. Tasmanian Tiger.11. Finland.12. Peter Bedford (South Melbourne) 13. Buddha.
Who am I ? Nancy Wake.
America
A bear with a sweet tooth broke into a Californian home and gobbled up a box of chocolates from the fridg . The animal then pushed aside some vegetables and was trying to open a bottle of Champagne when the tenants arrived home and scared him off .
--Bear’s tastes have certainly gone up-market since Goldilock’s day’.--
Germany.
Offi cials rescued 1500 parakeets from a fl at in Berlin. The premises was littered with feces, feathers and leftover food and it took over 7 hours to catch the birds with nets.
--bet they caused ‘quiet a fl utter’--
The Southern Tasmanian Model and Collectors GroupAre you a collector, do you build models of any kind. We may be the group for you. We talk about our collections and models as well as just general chat. Would you like to learn some tips on modelling or do you have question that we may be able to answer. Please feel free to come along to our nights where we meet. We meet on the First Thursday of each month Except January. Each meeting starts at 7:30pm at the Windjammer Restaurant. 105 Main Road Moonah.
For further information please feel free to contact the secretary (Mykel Salter) on 0417162311 or email me at [email protected].
24 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009