Our maritime history & present day news. No. 37 Spring 2011. Cost: doubloons (gold coins) donation
THE WESTWARD AT THE OPENING OF THE 2011 SAILING SEASON Wyatt Earp in Tasmania Knott So Hard No. 21 The Voyage and Shipwreck of the Blenden Hall South African Star Reading at Dunally Letters to the editor, from the galley, pirate club, crossword, on the grapevine and more...
Photograph by: Neville Smith 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
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Closing date for our next newsletter is the 16th January, 2012. Please lodge your articles by that date in the box provided at MMT, or email direct to [email protected] New Zealand Schooner Huia
2 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 Vale John Dillon editorial We sadly record the Passing of John Dillon a popular and respected volunteer at the Recently one of those 6-30pm programmes on TV (or probably both of them) Maritime Museum, he will be sadly informed us that the volume in TV Advertisements is NOT LOUDER than that in missed. the shows they are constantly interrupting! Sincere Condolences to John's Who do they think they are kidding? Talk about ‘smoke and mirrors’ family from all our members
They base this on the fact that it is ‘not over the legal limit’ - big deal. Walter Vicarage Davies
The ‘legal limit’ allows a maximum noise so that things such as car crashes, bomb Last August when in Melbourne I called to visit Wal Davies, explosions, screaming etc. can be realistically portrayed, which makes sense and a member of MTT who had in most cases is of a short duration. The advertisers take advantage of this by contributed a couple of excellent using it to the max. to just about blast viewers out of their lounge rooms for the stories* which were published full length of the Ad. in this journal and were part of a book he was hoping to have What they don’t realize is they are turning viewers off their product with all this published, only to learn that he noise and that many are now hitting the mute button and their Ads. are falling on had passed away a few days earlier. deaf ears. He had moved into a nursing home If they were as smart as they like to think they are, they would be using the some months ago after contacted me to arrange for his writings opposite approach and talking so softly during the commercial that viewers to be donated to the Tasmanian would be straining to hear what is being said and therefore paying attention to it. Archives.
Another strange thing is that at the conclusion of the Ad. the presenter of the Wal was born in Swansea, Wales, show usually says “ welcome back” ! but it was as a young man living in Tasmania where he made quiet a We haven’t been anywhere, they are the ones who went away ! name for himself.
Perhaps they are assuming that we all use that time to have a toilet break and In Scottsdale he was the editor with the stupidity of many of the commercials that is the one thing they may have of the North Eastern Advertiser got right. before becoming the original regional rounds-man covering Bob Petrass events from the east coast to Queenstown in the west as well Visitors Book 2011 as Flinders and King Islands. He was a reporter for the Launceston Phillip, Leanne, Dylan Olmod Yinnar, VIC Terrifi c Examiner and highly regarded in the world of Lawn Bowls a sport on Pat & Sue Youngberry Bribie Island, Qld Congratulations. which he wrote a weekly column Great display! for the paper, conducted a radio Dr Shariful Bangladesh Supari programme, was an umpire and has written three books on the Paul Frissi Rockhampton Great, well subject. Heritage Village displayed & interpreted. *The stories we published were ‘The Sneikus Family Melbourne Amazing. Beautiful Birth of a New Tasmanian Port’ (Issue history. 14) and ‘Shakin the Tree’ (Issue 29) Brian Dye Umina Beach, NSW Fantastic! and anyone reading these would be left in no doubt as to how successful Ron & Lee Sloan Port Macquarie Wonderful Collection & the book would be had he been able Volunteers. to get it published. (Ed.) R. Clancy Nubeena, TAS Deadly awesome Wal was 92. May he rest in peace.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Can you help?
I have recently read a copy of your ‘Souvenir W.B.F. Publication in colour. Correction Is it possible to purchase same as I think it would be worth collecting. In Issue 36 we ran a story by D.M.M. volunteer, Alan Luxton, ‘The Mutiny J.Divola – Carrum Downs Explained’. Most back copies of MTT are still available Alan has sent a letter of apology for some for just $5- (incl postage & handling) mistakes, mostly concerning dates, in his article and has asked us to print this amendment to same. We thank him for Dear Bob, that. I enjoyed your ‘Scarey Story’ in Issue Refer MTT Issue 36, Page 4, Column 2, 36 and it made me feel safe to know I Paragraphs 8 & 9. have my lovely dog ‘Casey’ to keep any There were 5 Thursdays in1789. So for scarecrows away. argument sake lets’ pick the fi rst one, Wendy McConaghy. the 1st. Pregnancies are 40 weeks, so copulation was on 25th December 1788. That’s two months after the Bounty arrived. What a Christmas present he The Weekly Times Annual In our previous issue we published a poem gave her, and she him of course. There November 7, 1914 ‘A Tale for Tess’ by’Shortfellow’ which was was no such thing as ‘safe sex’ in those sent to us by Bill Foster. I received a phone days. When Mauatua realised she was A dear friend who lost her husband call from Marjorie Shephard identifying the pregnant, she refused to have any more suddenly found some wonderful weekly author as John Ransom and said she had no sex with Fletcher. times covers among his possessions and doubt the story was true. was intrigued by this one showing a He didn’t have oJgok very far for young lady farewelling her soldier as he We thank her for that information someone else. leaves for the war. Books I’ve read state that Thursday was bom on Pitcaim Island in I790. But I What she wants to know is: dispute this because Fletcher isn’t going A Letter FROM the Editor to NORM of Were they real lovers or just models? to wait 14 months to have sex with. QUEENSLAND. Were they married? Mauatua. That’s just not on. The fi rst to Last August while I was in Melbourne discover the mutineers hide-away was Did he survive the war? I received a call on my mobile from a the American ship Topaz in February Did they have a family? gentleman named Norm, re advertising 1808. Only one of the mutineers was in MTT. still alive then John Adams. The Topaz Can any of our readers answer any of At the time it was pouring rain and I was captain Mayhew Folger states in his log these questions? that the children on the island ranged making my way back to the car through Now my question, between one week and eighteen years a very noisy supermarket car park. Norm Why are women so inquisitive? (Ed.) agreed to call back when I was home in old. If Thursday was born in 1790 as the Hobart. books claim, he would have been only seventeen then... He may have done so as I returned a few The Bounty left Tahiti on the 5th of days later than expected. So Norm if you new members April. Bligh says that Christian had to are still interested please contact me on be treated for ‘venereals’ in Tahiti. He We are delighted to welcome the (03)62251004. Best regards----Bob. doesn’t say what that treatment was, but following NEW MEMBERS to the I think it involved a syringe and mercury. Maritime Museum. What good it done him I can’t say, I’m Maria Raiti (Concession) The research library inclined to say no good at all. Fletcher Ross James (Individual) is looking for a volunteer to assist realised the disease he had caught was Joshua Dunn (Concession) on Wednesday mornings to incurable. He could see from the local transfer information onto Excel natives what was going to be in store for Brian Steven (Interstate) him in later life. That’s why at the time of spreadsheets. If you can help Armando Bertoz (Individual) the mutiny when Bligh asked him “What’s kindly contact Mike Webb or Eleanor Den (Concession) the meaning of this”? He replied “I am in Anna (Librarian) on 62341427 hell, I am in hell.”
4 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 president’s message By Colin Denny
L: Captain Bayard Smith from Cape Santa Maria on the bridge wing. R: MV Bo Hengy II at Dunmore Town Wharf, Harbour Island
On my way to the recent International Congress of Maritime Adventurers set sail from Bermuda seeking religious freedom Museums in Washington DC, I made a moving visit to the and new lands. Several weeks later they were shipwrecked Bahamas to settle the aff airs of my late uncle who had on the reef near what is now known as Preacher’s Cave. The resided in Nassau for nearly 50 years. It was my uncle who, pilgrims named their newly imposed island home Eleuthera. in the 1960s, inspired my love of sailing and my aff ection for But back to our recent trip –on boarding ‘Bo Hengy II’ we the Bahamas and its hospitable inhabitants. were proud to see that the 41metre catamaran was designed The Bahamian archipelago was the site of Christopher and built in Australia. Constructed by Aluminium Marine in Columbus’ fi rst landfall in the New World when he reached Brisbane to carry up to 400 passengers it is powered by four San Salvador in 1492. Although the Spanish never occupied Cummins V12 engines giving a service speed of 25 knots. the islands they removed the original Lucayan Indian The master, Captain Bayard Smith, came from Cape Santa population as slaves to Hispaniola leaving the Bahamas Maria on Long Island. For leisure he races traditional largely unoccupied for many years. Bahamian sloops and, as I know his home town well, we After fulfi lling my family obligations, Annette and I joined share many interests. On leaving Spanish Wells for Dunmore the Bahamas Ferries catamaran for a day trip to Eleuthera Town on Harbour Island, Bayard took us through the Devil’s and Harbour Island. History relates that Spanish treasure Backbone, the short route inside the treacherous reef that galleons replenished their water casks on Eleuthera, thus reduces the voyage by many miles. It’s an exciting ride in the English name for the island’s port is Spanish Wells. a 41 metre ferry travelling at high speed close to the break The beautiful old waterfront of pastel painted shuttered sometimes only 20 metres from the beach. cottages is home to the Bahamas’ biggest lobster fl eet and Later, when we left Harbour Island to return to Nassau I houses a community renowned for their seamanship. remarked to Captain Smith that the water appeared to be Eleuthera was the fi rst Bahamian settlement in the wake very shallow to which he replied laconically, “there’s a lot of Lucayan enslavement by the Spanish when, in 1648, of water there – it’s just spread out pretty thin” – Bahamian a small band of English pilgrims known as the Eleutheran seamanship!
Our MTT Dinner in August was as usual a resounding success. With a venue such as ‘Shippies’ that was never in doubt. A capacity crowd enjoyed a delicious three course meal and a great time was had by all. Mine host, Gordon Latimer and his wife Judy were holidaying in Canada but we were treated to excellent service in their absence by the lovely Adi. Our centenarian, Ila Andrews, drew the door prize, a fi ne bottle of wine donated by that establishment, but unlike her previous eff ort failed to draw out her own name and the very worthy winner was Dan Sprod. Ila has requested that we change the date next year as it coincides with a committee meeting she attends. Ila, your wish is my command. —Bob Petrass
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 5 By Irene Schaff er The Voyage and Shipwreck of the Blenden Hall Part One
Voyage As the Blenden Hall drew south, the calm sea and fi ne The year is 1821 and the ship the Blenden Hall lies at anchor weather worked its charm and life on board settled down. at Gravesend England awaiting orders to sail to Bombay. The men caught sharks and fl ying fi sh and shot albatrosses, She is privately owned by Captain Greig, and employed by while the novices set about learning Hindustani. They also the East Indian Company. Known as an East Indiaman, (or played cards, sang and danced (to the ship's band), diverting more correctly a Free Trader), she will carry a quantity of the idle hours of the afternoons. military stores, 160 tons of iron, 15 tons of woollens, and 24 The days soon became wearisome, water became short and passengers. then they lay becalmed for three weeks. The crew were divided into two watches, starboard and Blenden Hall larboard; and the Offi cers into three watches. Each watch The ships passenger’s list was somewhat reduced in number of the former had, during the night, four hours' rest below at the time of sailing, due to the arrival of Mrs Keys, the and four hours' duty on deck. At half past six am the watch wife of Commodore Keys of the Bombay Marines. She was on deck commenced to wash and clear the decks; at half returning to India with her two children, her niece and her past seven the hammocks were piped up and stowed in the maid. The refi ned lady passengers refused to travel on the hammock nettings around the waist by the quartermasters. same ship with her, she being a native born Indian. At eight o'clock all hands breakfasted, after which they A young man, Alexander Greig, the son of the Captain, and commenced the ordinary duties of the day. These consisted, his servant made up the total of twenty-four passengers. when the men were not required to set, shorten or trim Alexander was later to keep a journal of the voyage, on the sails, of work of the most multifarious description, such which part of this story is based. as setting up rigging, shifting or repairing sails, splicing Early orders received by Captain Greig resulted in the ship ropes, making spun yarn, weaving mats, painting, tarring, departing before its expected time. It sailed on Friday 13 greasing masts, and so forth. Twice each week, Wednesdays January 1821. It was later stated that the date and the action and Saturdays, they cleaned and holystoned the 'between- of the steward in throwing a black cat overboard in the Bay decks, in the fore part of which they slept and had their of Biscay, in the course of the voyage was reason enough for food, the whole crew being divided into messes of eight the trouble that was to overtake them on their voyage. men each, who had a space allotted to them between the The Blenden Hall of 474 tons, was much smaller then the guns, where their mess utensils were arranged. Inspection usual East Indian Company ships, but like them she was followed to see if everything was clean and in order, and built for strength and to carry cargo. Voyages were slow and those mess kits, brass pots and kettles, tin pannikins and the ships often took months to arrive at their destination. other utensils were properly scoured and polished Many were lost through sinking and fi re. In 1808-09 alone, On Sundays no work was allowed except what was urgent 10 homeward vessels were lost. This and other thoughts and necessary. And on the morning of that day the crew must have crossed the minds of the passengers and crew was mustered and inspected before assembling at prayers, as they saw the English coast-line slipping away to stern. which every person was expected to attend in their best Would they ever reach their destination? Would they ever attire. Dinner was served at noon; after that the men, on see their home and families again? week-days resumed their work until the dog watch, which The male passengers were mostly made up of doctors and commenced at four pm. On Saturdays, during these hours, military offi cers, returning to India after spending their leave in England. Having been deprived of their women folk because of Mrs Keys, they were not very friendly towards her. ADVERTISING Full page $75 Because of the absence of ladies the behaviour in the RATES 1/2 page $45 cuddy was to become most unpleasant. The men indulged per quarterly issuesue 1/4 page $30 in exchanging polite little notes on gilt-edged paper, for M.T.T. requesting the satisfaction due from one gentleman to 1/8 page $20 another
6 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 if the weather permitted, they had their dance or songs or music, drinking health and wealth, long life and happiness to their wives and sweethearts. One day each week was allotted to wash their clothes; and once every month they scrubbed their hammocks. Punishment was often infl icted for the most trifl ing off ences, handed out by the boatswain over bare backs and shoulders of the delinquents. Three dozen of such lashes were not an uncommon punishment. Such was life for the crew and griffi ns cadets aboard the Blenden Hall. The lives of the offi cers and passengers although governed by strict regulations, were as expected, far distant from the lives of the crew. Social intercourse was mainly restricted to the daylight hours. No fi res of any kind were allowed after eight o'clock in the evenings, except in the sick bay, and all lights were put out by nine between decks and in the cabins by ten. Dinner was served between two and three o'clock, and was the chief event of the day. It consisted of three courses and dessert. Blenden Hall No liquor could be specially ordered, but wine and beer boats, which until she struck had persisted in their futile were provided as a matter of course. Champagne was served eff orts to bring her head round, now slipped their towropes twice a week as a treat. Grog was served at eleven in the and vanished into the fog. The remainder of the crew lined morning and nine in the evenings. Most of the passengers the decks hurling vain abuse at them into the mist. All that had brought their servants with them, so it would seem was left now was the longboat which had been up till now they were well looked after, although these people were used to house the livestock. Clearing it of the cows and never referred to in Alexander Greig's journal. sheep took valuable time, and then the labour was wasted, Shipwreck for as soon as cleared, it was stoved in by the violence of the At about ten o'clock on the morning of 22 July 1821, just waves. before breakfast, the passengers gathered on deck to get a The Blenden Hall, her back broken, now lay at the mercy of glimpse through the mist of the island of Tristan da Cunha. the riotous seas that pounded her helpless against the rocks. They were making about fi ve knots and passing through Having keeled on the starboard side, she was exposed to fl oating seaweed. Sails were shortened but no land was the full fury of the sea. Her poop deck fell in and was in in sight. A call from the man in the mizzen top sang out, part washed overboard. The ship was fi lled with water and `Breakers on the starboard bow’. although the masts were cut away she began to break-up An attempt was at once made to bring the ship to the wind, rapidly. when it was found that she would not answer the helm as it Captain Greig at this point, with all hope abandoned, shook had become entangled in the seaweed. At that moment the hands with all the passengers and crew, telling them to wind dropped suddenly. Captain Greig then gave orders prepare to meet their fate. He then ordered them to go to boxhaul the ship, with the idea of clearing the breakers forwards to the fo'c'sle, this was only just in time, as the ship on the other tack; and when the manoeuvre failed for the was struck by another heavy wave and she parted amidships, lack of wind, the cutter and jolly-boat were lowered and the stern being carried off a short distance, where it sank. manned, and sent with tow-ropes to bring the ship's head Crew and passengers were now huddled on the fo'c'sle, round. But the swell was so heavy that the boats were tossed where they waited for a death that seemed inescapable. about like corks, and made no headway, while little by little The waves were sweeping over them; at one stage the the Blenden Hall was being driven towards the breakers. An Captain was washed away, but managed to struggle back ominous streak of white and broken water was now clearly on board. They remained clinging to whatever they could visible from the quarterdeck. At length the anchor was let for many hours, uncertain whether the fo'c'sle would break- go, but the depth was still too great for it to grip. The next up beneath them before it was torn bodily from the reef on moment the Blenden Hall struck, the shock being so violent which it was wedged. that the helmsman was fl ung from his post at the wheel on In the early afternoon came the fi rst glint of hope. The mist the poop-deck down the after-hatch. had lifted a little, and the sun broke out. They found to The ship's situation was hopeless, and to add to the horror their surprise that they were quite close to the shore and the mist wrapped itself around her. The roar of the breakers that there was a great cliff towering over the wreck. Even indicated that if she came off the reef, she would merely slip so, between them and safety lay a stretch of broken water, on to another. To complete the disaster, the Blenden Hall’s through which it seemed impossible to swim. They were
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 7 heartened by the sight on land, of the men from the missing boats. A line was ingeniously set up but was unsuccessful. The animals on board were launched over the side, but all were dashed to pieces. The second offi cer Thomas Symmers jumped overboard with a rope between his teeth and Poet’sCORNER nearly succeeded in reaching the land. After another try two sailors were able to make the shore. Still those on the fo'c'sle were in great danger as many were being washed overboard, only regaining their place by Cleaning Poem the helping hands of the others. Finding that their soggy clothes were a hindrance most of them stripped them off ; and since the women and I asked the Lord to tell me children were particularly helpless under the buff ering of the waves, the Why my house is such a mess seaman lashed them in the fore chains. He asked if I’d been ‘computering’; One of the crew Peter Wilson (a tough old stager) at last constructed a raft And I had to answer ‘Yes. ‘ from some of the wreckage, securing it with rope yarn. The raft was able to carry about nine people. There was some hesitation as to who wanted to risk their lives on it. But as the fo'c'sle sank lower in the water their minds He told me to get off my butt, were soon changed. It was then that Mr Gormby, the Quartermaster And tidy up the house. disgraced himself; shoved past his wife and child, gained a place on the And so I started cleaning up... raft and pushed it off from the wreck, leaving his wife and child and all the The smudges off my mouse. others behind. The nine men gained the shore with only the loss of one seaman named Bantiff . I wiped and shined the topside. The day wore on and now those left on the fo'c'sle were often up to their necks in water, surrounded by sea-elephants and seals. Suddenly a large That really did the trick... part of the fo'c'sle tore loose from the bulk of the wreckage, leaving I was just admiring my good work. insuffi cient room for those remaining. At this point several of the men jumped off striking out through the breakers. One of them, detailed I didn’t mean to ‘dick. ‘ as supposedly a good swimmer named Matthew Hore, sank and was But click, I did, and oops - I found drowned. A real absorbing site It seemed that nothing less than a miracle would save those remaining. That I got SO way into it- The Captain, his son and the more helpless of the passengers were now alone on what was left of the fo'c'sle, the planks of which were coming I was into it all night. apart beneath their feet. The Captain who could swim a little was urged to leave, but he would not leave them. So nothing’s changed except my mouse. Suddenly a great wall of water towered above the ship and broke with It’s as shiny as the sun. fearful impact. For some seconds all were buried in the water. The fo'c'sle I guess my house will stay a mess... was driven clear over the reef on which it had lain since the Blenden Hall While I sit here on my bum. had struck, and sea after sea was sweeping it ashore. Still their trial was not over, as its advance was slow and checked now and then by another reef. At last it was torn loose and hurled shoreward once more. The wretched people who clung to the wreckage were half drowned and savagely battered, but they still held on. There was one last and desperate struggle, with safety within a stone's Sponsor-ship throw. The men who had already landed dashed out with cheers to The Magazine needs more sponsors lend a hand. A fi nal sea canted the fo'c'sle round, carried it forward, and can you help? If so call Bob on deposited it so that the passengers could scramble down on the beach. 6225 1004 or 044 768 1322 The last man had hardly reached safety when another big wave caught the wreckage in its backwash and drew it far out into deep water, in which Thanks to these sponsors for it sank almost at once. To be continued in the next issue. keeping us afl oat; K&D Warehouse Mitre 10, Tasmanian Shipping Supplies & The Mercury Reminder On the top landing of the Museum is the Crew Library which is available for use by all members. The key is available at the desk in the foyer. There is a folder to enter your name. Shortly the Crew Library will have a number of new editions.
8 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 From The Brig Mark Hosking, Admin offi cer crew of museum volunteers participating in the opening day of this year’s summer sailing season on the Derwent. We’re This thing called ‘Social Media’ seems to pretty much limited only by time and imagination. be all the rage, the big ‘in thing’ of the Facebook users can also respond to the museum’s posts, moment. It’s certainly the easiest way simply ‘liking’ us or posting their own photographs or for me to fi nd out what my nieces and comments. These responses tell us that the museum’s page nephews are doing back in England. But has been discovered by people all around the world and is it useful for us at the Maritime Museum? with a huge variety of interests. Our Facebook experiment We thought we’d try and fi nd out! tells us that there is a huge audience for the museum and With the help of Brent Blackburn, Digital Communication our activities that we can connect and communicate with Manager at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery next door, around the world, raising awareness of our museum and of Liz created a Facebook page for the Maritime Museum. You the stories that we can tell. don’t have to be a member of Facebook to view the museum’s During a recent school visit to the museum, one of the most page, just copy Maritime Museum Hobart Facebook into interesting moments was after the tour, when our volunteer your favourite search engine and the museum’s page should guide was surrounded by children and chatting. I thought be the fi rst selection. the children were eagerly listening to our guide fi nishing We can use the page like a website to notify upcoming events, a story or fi lling in some detail on a museum display. But both at the museum and at other places that we think might they were actually using their mobile phones to show our be of interest to our Facebook followers, but we can also volunteer that they could research their project topics include other information. For example, Liz has included fi sh online, there and then, whilst sitting in the museum. The recipes from old copies of Hobart’s Mercury newspaper. She more information about the museum and our collection, our has followed the story of the wrecking of the Brier Holme and stories and history that can be accessed on-line, the stronger included photographs of museum artefact Westward and her the future of our museum will be.
DONATIONS EXPENSE ACCOUNT (with a story) We thank John Shegog for his generous donation and continued support of the Date: Item: Amount: Maritime Museum. 1st April Ad for stenographer 28.50 5th “ Flowers for stenographer 25.00 9th “ Weekly salary for stenographer 500.00 10th “ Hosiery for stenographer 45.00 11th “ Caramels for wife 2.25 12th “ Lunch with stenographer 164.80 16th “ Weekly salary for stenographer 750.00 19th “ Movies with wife 46.60 20th “ Theatre tickets-self and stenographer 180.90 21st “ Coca-cola for wife 1.50 22nd “ Champagne & dinner with stenographer 330.75 23rd “ Sandra's salary 900.00 HAND FORGED 24th “ Champagne dinner with Sandy 480.80 INTEGRITY 25th “ Doctor 760.00 AWARD WINNING DESIGN 29th “ Fur coat for wife 2,430.00 GEOFF ROBERTS 30th “ Ad for new stenographer 28.50 21 HUNTER ST, HOBART April - a month to remember - or forget. PH 6234 7720
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 9 • By Sid Heatley
SOUTH AFRICAN STAR
The basis of this type of vessel was the C3 type of the United States Maritime Commission. Early vessels of this type were built before the United States had entered the Second World War. The C3 design was intended as a general service freighter, not a design optimised for a particular trading route or service but a design which was capable of modifi cation to meet a wide range of specifi c requirements of shipowners. The basic C3 was built 492 feet in overall length and 465 feet between perpendiculars with a beam of 69 feet 6inches, a moulded depth of 42 feet 6 inches and a draught when leaded of 28feet 6 inches. A single screw would drive the ship at 16.5 knots. The steam turbine propelled the C3 variant had a tonnage of 7773 gross. The steam turbine developed 8500 shp and had double reduction gearing to drive the single screw at 95rpm. The basic standard C3 cargo ship was transversely framed and subdivided and subdivided transversely by seven watertight bulkheads. She had a raked stem and a cruxer stern. Of shelter deck design she had two complete steel decks. The shelter decks and the second deck, a third deck below the second deck ran from the bows to the forward end of the machinery space and from the after end of the machinery space to the after end of the No. 4 hold. The ship had 5 holds three located forward of the machinery space and two aft. Cargo was The Lady Nelson worked by booms and by electric winches. The crew and passengers were accommodated in a superstructure on the shelter deck, the C3 was a very versatile design. sailing most weekends C3 passenger/cargo ships for mercantile use were of four diff erent types with the standard & public holidays design adapted for diff erent requirements. (1 1/2 hour duration) C3 type ships were also built for naval service and included not only escort carriers but also transport and tenders for destroyers and submarines. $20 adults | $10 children The World War 11 escort carrier proved to be a brilliant cost eff ective and very versatile improvisation. Phone 03 6234 3348 The escort carrier was not merely the defensive weapon intended it proved to be a potent off ensive weapon as well. Although envisaged as a convoy escort operating relatively small www.ladynelson.org.au aircraft of modest performance longer and more potent aircraft very quickly began to operate from escort carrier’s fl ight decks. The South Africa Star was one of the thirty-seven ships ordered by the United States Maritime from the Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp. in the early part of World War 2. Known MARITIME as C3-S-A1 Type all were requisitioned by the United States Navy and completed to their specifi cations. She was launched in November 1943 and became the USS Winjah CVE 54 TIMES AWARD in 1944. She was then transferred to the Royal Navy under the Lend/Lease and renamed HMS Reaper. Following the war she was returned to the United States Navy. She was then The award goes to Max Knie who purchased by Blue Star Ltd. converted to a cargo liner by Gulf Shipbuilding Corp. Mobile, volunteers with reception duties, Alabama, USA and renamed South Africa Star. It was said that the only signs of her former mostly during weekends and role remaining at that time were a few ring bolts and anchor plates on her main deck which special thanks as he travels from served as a hangar fl oor and her larger than naval anchors. Orford. Max has made a name In 1963 the South Africa Star was fi tted with a 180-ton heavy lift derrick manufactured by for himself amongst volunteers Howaldt Werkes, the German shipbuilders. The mast to which it was fi tted was made of high with his culinary skills and the tensile steel and unstayed. It was said at the time that this was the only derrick of this design wonderful fruit cakes he makes working from a single mast in a British ship. One of the fi rst uses it was put to was when it and brings with him when loaded items of equipment at Middlesborough for a basic oxygen steel plant at Whyalla, on duty. Volunteers are really South Australia. appreciative of this gesture. As The South Africa Star was not a “reefer” ship so much of her cargo was limited to the carriage Mary and Fay commented they of wool. are yummy. Congratulations Records show she visited Hobart on three occasions but the author believes she never and thanks Max for your very visited the country after which she was named. valuable service as a volunteer, South Africa Star was sold in 1967 to Japanese ship breakers for demolition. the award is well deserved. Prepared for publication by Laurie Bahr
10 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 Shipwrights Arms Hotel (Established 1846) 29 Trumpeter Street, Battery Point Phone: 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
Aaron Gray (Licensee)
A traditional old English corner pub, filled with history, tradition, and pride including photographs of every ‘Sydney to Hobart’ winner
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 11 By Patrick Quilty AM, Honorary Research Professor Lincoln Ellsworth’s last Antarctic venture, 1939 arrival in Tasmania, and the origin of HMAS Wyatt Earp
Lincoln Ellsworth - the well-known explorer from the United States – was independently wealthy, and prepared to spend the wealth (generated by his father James, after whom he named Ellsworth Land) on pursuing his own interests, one of which was fl ying, and another exploring the polar regions in the quest to claim territory for the United States. His last Antarctic venture was in the 1938/39 austral summer and at the end of that voyage, he sailed into Hobart. He returned here in his ship Wyatt Earp. Ellsworth was a great fan of Earp, had named the boat in Earp’s honour, and carried with him one of Earp’s guns. Management of the logistics for this voyage had fallen to the Australian Sir Hubert Wilkins, better known in United States circles as George Wilkins. The expedition arrived here on 5 February 1939 and the Hobart Mercury of the following day had a large article on Ellsworth. Wyatt Earp alongside Queens Wharf in Hobart, February 1939 This article included the accompanying images of Ellsworth and Wyatt Earp which are reproduced with permission of the fl ag, collected geological samples and left an aluminium Mercury. A summary of his four trips south is also written up in container with details of his visit. He repeated this the next day National Geographic of that year. at a location on the Antarctic mainland. On these occasions he He took two ‘planes – the Northrop Delta, and a small two had J.H. (variously Red or Jack) Lymburner as witness. seater scout ‘plane, the Aeronca (in the background to the The weather was such that any fl ying was going to be image of Ellsworth leaving the ship). opportunistic; conditions were much more diffi cult than Wyatt Earp departed Cape Town on 29 October 1938 for the anything Ellsworth had encountered before. A spark from Antarctic. After two weeks of very rough conditions at sea the ship’s engine started a fi re on the wing of the Aeronca but which prevented landing at Kerguelen and Heard Islands, Lymburner quickly extinguished that. It was very diffi cult to the expedition reached the ice edge where it was unable to fi nd a location for takeoff for the Delta and even if a site seemed move for almost seven weeks. At about this time, Ellsworth likely, changing ice conditions quickly destroyed it. On 11 could live with a secret no longer and told Wilkins that he January, about 10 weeks after leaving Cape Town, Ellsworth had been requested to claim territory (not strictly true) and and Lymburner did get the ‘plane into the air for the one major this immediately put Wilkins in an invidious position. Wilkins, fl ight of the voyage. This fl ew due south along 79°E, initially perhaps unknown to Ellsworth, had been given approval by over crevasses on the Ingrid Christensen Coast; no land was the Australian Government, to land on Australian territory, seen but the ice-sheet continued rising to the south. After explore and report. about 320 km, with half the fuel gone, Ellsworth told Lymburner Ellsworth announced on 3 January 1939 that he planned to to return to the ship but not until he had dropped his copper take off the next day but weather prevented this. On 7 January, cylinder claiming the territory and naming American Highland. he showed Wilkins a copper cylinder with text that he planned His proclamation stated: to deposit, claiming territory from the position of the ship (69°S; To whom it may concern: Having fl own on a direct course from 77°E, very close to the Vestfold Hills) and in a swath 300 miles latitude 68.30 south longitude 79 east to latitude 72 south wide on his fl ight in the direction of the South Pole. Wilkins longitude 79 east I drop this record together with the fl ag of the suggested that Ellsworth claim only territory that he could see United States of America and claim for my country, so far as this during a fl ight and stated that this act, if formally proclaimed, act allows, the area south of latitude 70 and to a distance of would lead to clarifi cation of the validity of the sector principle 150 miles east and 150 miles west of my line of fl ight and to a of Antarctic territorial claims. distance of 150 miles south of latitude 72 south longitude 79 While weather prevented fl ying, Ellsworth visited by boat a local east which I claim to have explored. Dated Jan. 11 1939. island and saw ‘veins of copper, traces of lead or zinc’. Wilkins (signed) Lincoln Ellsworth. decided to do something similar and on 8 January, visited the On return, conditions had changed, so the ‘plane landed northernmost of the Rauer Islands where he fl ew the Australian and was quickly stowed with the aim of using it further, but
12 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 Wyatt Earp mural, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Ellsworth leaving ship with the Aeronca with fl oats in the background Washington DC that was not to be. Two days later, some members of the crew were hurled into the water and one seriously injured. Ellsworth decided that he had to head for Hobart, Australia, but on the way, they saw another vessel, fl ying the Nazi fl ag – Schwabenland. As part of an eff ort to understand better Tasmania's human history with the Antarctic, I was interested to discover where Ellsworth stayed in Hobart when he returned from the southern continent. The range of accommodations available to someone of expensive tastes was severely limited at the time. Where would he stay in Hobart? Hadleys? Highfi eld? No! While in the US a several years ago, I contacted friends at Ohio State University in Columbus where the Sir Hubert Wilkins papers are archived, to see if they could tell me of Ellsworth's domicile in Hobart, and received by fax a copy of a letter sent to Lincoln Tasmanian Club, where Ellsworth stayed Ellsworth, Esq, Tasmanian Club, Hobart. Ellsworth stayed at the Tasmanian Club, and initially I presumed Wilkins also did but I am now not so sure and suspect he stayed on the boat. The letter is from the Secretary, Prime Minister's Department and refers to the sale of the ship to the Australian Government (at a cost of £4400). It requests that the ship be delivered to Sydney ('…naval authorities at Garden Island…') rather than Melbourne as previously arranged. Thus the Australian navy acquired a vessel and named it HMAS Wyatt Earp! During World War II it was re-named HMAS Wongala but after the war, when she had been left to decay, Australia needed a vessel to conduct exploratory approaches to the mainland of Antarctica, and she was put back into Antarctic service, renamed HMAS Wyatt Earp and employed in the earliest days of the new Australian Antarctic program during the 1947/48 austral summer in a voyage that the scientist Phillip Law would rather forget. The trip to purgatory is commemorated in Law's book 'The Antarctic Voyage of HMAS Wyatt Earp', She was then sold, stripped of her ice strengthening, had her name changed to Natone, and was wrecked on the Queensland coast in 23/24 January 1959. While in Washington DC recently, I took images of a mural featuring Wyatt Earp in the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. One is reproduced here. His ‘plane Polar Star (from an earlier expedition and which did not come into Hobart) also is there, complete with wrinkled skin, the result of a diffi cult landing. It is worth visiting if in Washington. Letter from PM’s department to Ellsworth at the Tasmanian Club.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 13 Bill Mearns At
Saddler’s Court Gallery Invites you to an exhibition of new paintings by
Bill Mearns F. A. S. M. A.
Exhibition to be opened by Peter Campbell, Yachting Journalist & Editor Sunday 13th November at 11am. Paintings on display Saturday 12th to Sunday 27th November
48 Bridge Street, Richmond | [email protected] | Telephone 036260 2132 Baz Blackeney writes a column for the Herald Sun every Monday on a great variety of subjects. His work never fails to entertain and I feel sure our readers will enjoy this one. We are most Membership Fees frateful to Baz and the newpaper for giving us permission to publish it in our magazine. (Ed.) Categories of membership and annual fees eff ective each year 1 July to 30 June (including GST) Individual $27.50 Taking the gloss off posh nosh Family $38.50 Concessions: $15.00
By Baz Blakeney, The Herald Sun Interstate $16.50 Overseas $16.50 + additional postage $8.50
THE prime jobs of the future are said This, apparently, was an appalling Quarterdeck $25.00 to be chefs, hairdressers and funeral culinary faux pas, according to our plus $275.00 donation workers. waiter. Life Membership $1000 So, we may get fat and die, but at least Wearing his best sneer, he told us this once only, or 4 years Quarterdeck our hair will look lovely at the funeral. was unacceptable, and then proceeded membership. to tell us what we could and couldn’t The main growth is in cooking, fi gures Pirate Club $5.00 showed this week. eat. And experts say we can credit that to He magnifi cently sucked all the joy celebrity chefs. out of the evening, like a human fun vacuum, and we, of course, had to pay They’re everywhere. handsomely for the privilege of basking Every time you switch TV channels, in his condescension. there is someone whisking, deglazing, Food should be fun, not an ordeal or a basting or baking. test or an exercise in snobbery. And yakking. But many Australians are beginning I’m not quite sure when Australians to identify food obsession with became so fi xated on food. sophistication. We used to think cuisine consisted of As if we need to prove to the world, and Thought of the Day sizzling a piece of meat and boiling to ourselves, that we can hold our own “You can always read the doctors bill, some vegies into a mush then drowning on the culinary stage. the whole shebang in Rosella. You can never read his perscription.” You only have to look at the Italians and Finley Peter Dunne But these days, you need to be able the Greeks to see how to have fun with to whip up a red wine jus or raspberry food. coulis at the drop of a chef’s hat. It’s all about simple, hearty fare Nothing wrong with this, of course. cooked with love and served to friends It’s good to have an interest in food and over a drink or two and some good our diets are certainly more varied, and conversation. probably healthier, than those of our And laughter. forebears. Celebrity chefs? Who needs ‘em? But I can’t help thinking we might have While we’re on the subject, there are a swung a bit too far the other way. few other occupations we could maybe When contestants burst into tears on TV phase out. cooking shows because their chicken is SUPPLIERS OF Lifestyle coach. If you need someone to overcooked by 12 seconds or their pate coach your lifestyle, you don’t have a life crumbles, maybe it’s time to lighten up. MARINE EQUIPMENT or a style. You just have a coach. I have a creeping feeling we’re starting The person who hands out the AND SAILMAKERS TO to lose the simple joys of food. shopping baskets at Coles. I know I went to a very hip and very expensive where the baskets are and, last time I HOBART restaurant recently, which shall remain tried, I picked one up quite easily. nameless. SINCE 1964 Orchestra conductors. So these highly Some friends were visiting from out of trained musicians don’t know how to town, so we decided to splurge a bit. play the music that’s printed in front of 12-25 Morrison Street, Hobart And we thought we’d try a wide range them unless there’s a bloke up the front GPO Box 1099, Hobart, 7001 Phone. 03 6234 5422 Fax. 03 6223 7797 of entrees, just to sample a bit of waving half a set of chopsticks? Get rid [email protected] everything. of the chopstick guy.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 15 Announcing Mostly Maritime
MARITIME ART AND ANTIQUES
Nevin Hurst of Masterpiece@IXL Fine Art Gallery has opened Mostly Maritime, Hobart’s newest gallery, specialising in maritime art and antiques. As Tasmania’s leading expert and a noted author on convict and colonial art, his wealth of experience is now at your service. As well as works by masters such as Haughton Forrest, the gallery houses a range of scrimshaw and other nautical curios. Major Maritime Exhibition Opening 23rd of Dec 2011 Paintings, scrimshaw and all thing Maritime If you have a painting or item of interest to exhibit, contact Nevin Hurst
Masterpiece@IXL Fine Art & Antiques AN ENTERPRISE OF ! (UNTER 3TREET s (OBART s 4ASMANIA 0HONE s &AX -OBILE %MAIL INFO MASTERPIECECOMAU 7EB WWWMASTERPIECECOMAU Bob d’Boozer, THERE WAS ONLY ONE ‘PATTO’ can we drink it? Sid Patterson was a superstar long before that word was freely used Yes we can! on our sportsmen. He was and still is considered by many to be the world’s greatest track rider. After winning the amateur track world championship in 1949 the legendary Australian cyclist was taken to meet the Danish King Frederik and Queen Ingrid. Patto was told to address the King as Your Highness or Sir and was also informed that the Queen was indisposed and would not be present. When the big moment arrived, Patto stuck out his big paw and said, “G’day King, how’s the missus. All those in attendance On the GrapeVine froze – except the King, who was highly amused. Over a few drinks, Last time I told you about the Extra Strong a pursuit in which Sid also was world class, the King and Patto Vintage Ale-7 1/2% which Coopers Brewery (you became good mates. know, the one that is still Australian owned) and The Melbourne sports institution, the Vingt Cinq Club, of which managed to purchase a few bottles on a recent Patto was a long-serving member, to this day drinks a toast to King trip to Melbourne. They recommended it to Fred at the start of it’s Grand Final eve lunch. improve with cellaring, which I intended to do, but it’s such a nice drop I have only 3 bottles left. Recently another Australian cyclist, Simon Gerrans, won the ‘Tour of While hiding them away I am concentrating on Denmark’ and was invited to propose the toast this year. some of the other fi ne purchases I made. A visit to Healesville (boy has that place gone I had the great pleasure of knowing Sid and remember how he used to ahead) was well rewarded when I found a new do a ‘pub run’as part of his training, riding from Bentleigh to Frankston brewery called ‘White Rabbit’ where they actually and stopping for a pot or two at the pubs along the way. As this was in give free tastings of their beers. the days of six o’clock closing his sprint to get to the last pub before six White Ale, Dark Ale, Cider as well as beers from would have earned him yet another world record.Lucky there were no Western Australian Brewery Little Creatures. breath tests in those days, though I doubt they could have caught him They had a special price for ‘case lots’ (24bottles) if it came to a chase. Sid was quite a character and a great bloke. ( Ed.) this also applied to mixed cases. The service was fantastic, they even carried the beers to my car which was parked some distance away. READING AT THE TASMAN MONUMENT My next buy was from another great boutique brewery located in the small Gippsland town Imlay Street. DUNALLEY. of Mirboo North, Grand Ridge Brewery, which proudly declares to be“ World’s Most Awarded 24th November, Brewery’ and after sampling 4 of their brews they 2nd & 3rd December will get no argument from me. One was called ‘Hat Lifter Stout’, Wow, you would certainly do just 12 noon that in acknowledgement of this fi ne drop. (lasting approx. 20 – 30 minutes) Grand Ridge’s Eric Walters said their show bag at This will be followed by a short commentary last year’s Royal Melbourne Show, which sold for $999 was a success, so this year they had one for just $10,000. Yes, you read it right, $10,000. The dates are most appropriate for the reading from the Tasman It consisted of ‘a freezer full of Gippsland beef, Journal to commemorate the 1642 charting of the Island by a fridg. packed with their beer, plus both Tasman and his crews of the Heemskirk & Zeehan. appliances, a portable keg pouring system, All are welcome to attend, however if you are unable to do so and 3 nights accommodation at Grand Ridge 4 bedroom house for up to 9 people, stubby have a copy of the journal, you might like to commemorate the holders, a beer tour and dinner for two. Total occasion with a private reading at home. value - $15,289. On the 2nd & 3rd of Dec there will be an exhibition Why the stubby holders? Any good beer needs an appropriate glass to be appreciated. in the Dualley Hall & at 3 pm on Sat 3rd Dec we are The beers made by these boutique breweries having the inaugural meeting of the Abel Tasman have no added chemicals or preservatives and Research Group. most importantly are AUSTRALIAN OWNED.
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 17 Val’s Crossword #8 from the galley
Here is a quick and easy meal which you can - prepare in15 minutes, cook in 30 min. Apricot Lamb Cutlets - Serves 4 - if you are on a diet or - 2 who enjoy their food.
Ingredients 4 lamb cutlets 1 onion, diced 2tbs olive oil 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 clove garlic, crushed salt & pepper
Season cutlets and arrange in a single layer in an (2 words) ovenproof dish, scatter onion over them. Combine olive oil, apricots, breadcrumbs, parsley and garlic (2 words) and spread over lamb. (2 words) (2 words) Bake at 200c for 30mins. Answers on page 23 Serve with green salad or steamed mixed vegetables. Accompany with a brilliant Tasmanian Pinot Noir. Did you know? Bon appetit’, (about - creatures great and small) Lucky Pierre ANTS probably evolved from wasps about 130 million years ago. They live on every continent except Antarctica, infesting almost every Island. About 20% of the entire animal biomass on earth consists of ants comparable to total weight of humans = 20 million for every man, woman and child alive. They can lift 50 times their body weight - equivalent to a human lifting a 5ton truck above their head. A single colony may contain 10 million individuals all working to a common purpose, merging to super colonies of billions. Apart from humans ants are the only creatures known to 'farm' other animals. Some ant species keep caterpillars and aphids for their nutritious sugar secretions etc. ---The easiest way to locate a super colony is to have a picnic RED KANGAROOS can leap 5 meters (16 feet) thanks to their powerful hind legs. New York Male Kangaroos are called a buck, boomer or jack. Females are A Manhattan restaurant, Serendipity on Upper East Side, called a doe, fl yer or jill. unveiled a record-breaking $25,000 dessert. A few days later it was forced to close after health inspectors found cockroaches Baby Kangaroos are Joeys and a group of Kangaroos is called and mice on the premises. a mob, troup or court. Kangaroos belong to the macropod family, which means ' great-footed' . ---(Looks like they got their just desserts.) ---You were 'bound' to want to know that---
18 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 By Rona Hollingsworth Notes from the Curator
Our photograph shows Frances Miles, one of many fi shermen who will feature in the Museum’s next temporary exhibition. The topic is commercial fi shing in Tasmania and the display is being funded by an Arts Tasmania grant. Miles was a fi sherman and netmaker who was catching sharks in the Derwent for their oil in the 1870s and ’80s. On one occasion he brought a huge shark into the wharves to be stuff ed and exhibited at the Museum. Six years later he charged the people of Hobart 3d to look at another whopper, this time to raise money for a destitute fi sherman. After reading these stories I was fascinated to receive an envelope from Miles’ great, great granddaughter, Christine Nelan, containing some family history and two small pieces of netting. Apparently when Francis was too frail to make large nets he made miniature decorative nets, which his wife Annie, embroidered with sayings or designs. Amazing how snippets of information from diverse sources so often intertwine and link up in Tasmania! I am very grateful to Christine, fi shermen and others for sharing their stories, images and fi lms for the new display. I now have enough information to write a book but have to confi ne myself to seven small display panels! Still on the subject of displays - you can now view our small exhibition at PW1, located just inside the building’s main entrance. The Museum also supplied some images used in the audio visual opposite. Some additional notes: *Information about Miles and his sharks came from a search on Trove, a wonderful National Library website which allows you to search for Australian newspaper articles containing your key words. Just google “Trove Newspapers” and be absorbed for hours. ** I was tempted to write that the new display was all about ‘ghoti’. This is how Bernard Shaw is said to have spelt ‘fi sh’ based on our pronunciation of letters in other English words. So pronounce gh as in cough, o as in women and ti as in nation and ‘ghoti’ can be pronounced ‘fi sh’!
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20 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 ‘No Ship, There I was,’ being the continuing adventures of the Maritime Heritage Coordinator Part the fourth.
What do small woolly jumpers have to do with shipwrecks and our cutest seabirds? As part of the change-over for the Shipwrecks Gallery, I’ve been researching a modern wreck, that of the MV Iron Baron. You may remember the bulk carrier MV Iron Baron running aground on Hebe Reef at the mouth of the Tamar Estuary, and the environmental disaster it caused, in 1995. Although there are less ships visiting our shores, modern shipping is on a far birds and animals. Seabirds could be greater scale than ever before in our put in woollen ‘jumpers’ or ‘ponchos’ to history. Built at the Kurushima Dockyard keep them from preening and ingesting in Onishi Japan, MV Iron Baron was more oil. This led to a world-wide drive 37,557 tonnes, 188.02 metres long and to knit ‘penguin jumpers’ to protect had a draught of 10 metres – she was little penguins in case of oil spills in modestly sized in comparison to the the future. 15,000 penguin jumpers world’s largest ever vessel, MV Nock have been knitted by Tasmanians, Nevis, at 458 metres, but dwarfed 19th mainlanders and people from as far century vessels like SS Great Britain. away as the US and Japan. There are sound economic reasons for Despite the disastrous consequences making ships so large, but when things for wildlife on the Tamar, and for the go wrong they also can go wrong on a owners of MV Iron Baron, this has led to massive scale. one of the most enjoyable stories that MV Iron Baron was coming in to the I’ve researched for the new Shipwreck TEMCO terminal at Bell Bay to discharge exhibition. We recently accepted a 23,896 tonnes of manganese ore, when donation of ‘penguin jumpers’ from she ran aground on Hebe Reef on a the Tasmanian Conservation Trust, to Day – so I popped down to take photos rough winter’s evening. A common demonstrate the widespread eff ort to of the crew getting ready to sail out design feature of bulk carriers is that protect our seabirds from oil spills – and at Constitution Dock. You can fi nd the they carry their oil bunkers in double have been loaned a knitted penguin complete collection of photographs bottom tanks below the cargo hold to demonstrate how the jumpers on the Maritime Museum of Tasmania’s –at the bottom of the ship. As Iron work. Perhaps because penguins have Facebook page. Baron was knocked against the reef by two legs, they remind us a little bit of Mount Nelson Bicentenary the wind and waves, the sharp rocks ourselves – and the jumpers refl ect this. Put a circle around Wednesday 30th broke open the oil bunkers and spilt Some of the jumpers have bows at the November in your calendars – the 325 tonnes of oil into the estuary. necks (for stylish penguins) or football Mount Nelson Signal Station is colours (for sporty penguins). The This was not the largest oil spill ever celebrating its 200th anniversary in penguin jumpers will form part of the recorded in Australia, but it had style. There will be demonstrations display on the wreck of MV Iron Baron, signifi cant consequences for the wild- of signalling, semaphores and all the to commemorate the largest wildlife life and the people of the Tamar Estuary diff erent forms of communication used rehabilitation program in Australian and surrounding coastline. Thousands at Mount Nelson Signal Station over the history, the generosity of thousands of seabirds and animals were poisoned past 200 years, plus jazz music from the of knitters across the world, and the by the oil – and near-by penguin Tasmanian Jazz Band and pipes from place that little penguins have in our breeding colonies were very vulnerable. the Tasmanian Police – all this and the imaginations. The spill inspired the largest wildlife gorgeous views from the mountain top rescue and rehabilitation project in Westward at Opening Day over our waterways. Grab a picnic and Australian history. Many people on the On Saturday 8th of October, a volunteer I’ll see you there! Tamar still remember the stink of the crew set sail with skipper John Wedd on Until next time, wishing you fair winds and oil, and the eff ort everyone went to, to the heritage racing yacht Westward for following seas… Liz Adkins. clean up the spill and rescue and clean the Royal Hobart Yacht Club Opening
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 21 1. Form a bight (in the thicker of the two 2. Bring the Working End of second rope lines if necessary), and lay the other line as through the bight of the fi rst and then across knot so hard shown in Fig 1 the front as in Fig 2 a series by Frank Charles Brown No. 21 Simple Simon Over This knot was devised by Dr. H Asher and is an improvement on the Sheet Bend when using slippery synthetic ropes and is only a trifl e more complicated to tie. 3. Take the second rope around behind the 4. Lead the second rope behind and then bight as in Fig 3 through the bight beside its own Standing Ref. Knots R Hopkins Part as in Fig 4
BBenjamin’senjamin’s PPirateirate CClublub 5. Dress down as in Fig 5
Congratulations to Ben again & again Our junior volunteer, Ben Denduang, is in the news yet again. As vice-captain of Sandy Bay U13’s Australian Rules Football Club he won their ‘Nick Riewoldt Medal’ for Best & Fairest (Nick started his junior football with S.Bay) and also won the ‘Robert Beakley Medal’ for the Best & Fairest player in the Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League. He has already received a congratulatory card from the Sydney Swans.
The—THREE AT A TIME—Superstition! Isn’t it amazing how things always seem to happen in threes. This year we lost 3 of our greatest sporting legends. Former World Boxing Champion, Lionel Rose Geelong Captain and also Premiership Coach, Bobby Davis * Sailor’s Word Book - A Dictionary of Five time Olympic Equestrian & gold medallist, Bill Roycroft Nautical Terms They all died in the SAME MONTH. And in 2011 three ‘Tasmania Football Legends’ passed away Darrel Baldock, Terry Cashion and Stuart Spencer. May they rest in peace.
22 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 Item contributed by our friends at Devonport Maritime Museum. ‘The Dick’ & DEVON HERALD (LATROBE) July 3, 1878 ‘The Doc’ TORQUA Y (EAST DEVONPORT) (From our own Correspondent) Any news Watson? A serious accident occurred at B.W. Thomas, of Appledore nearly lost Stewart’s Wharf on Friday evening, his own life in endeavouring to save the when but for the gallantry displayed children, as he had two suits of clothes by Capt. Anthon of the S.S. Argyle, on at the time and didn’t wait to throw Yes Holmes, the rebels have taken his second offi cer, Mr. E. Thomas, the off even his great coat. It is intended to control in Libya but they can’t second steward Mr._?_ and a seaman get up a testimonial to the brave fellows start the celebrations until they locate ‘The Colonel’ named Mr. Donald, two lives would who thus succeeded in saving life, at the certainly have been lost. risk of their own, and well they deserve It would appear that after the Argyle it; but I daresay the heartfelt thanks had been made fast to the wharf, of the mother of the children will be Mr.Cole with his wife and family dearer and more precious to the gallant (passengers from Circular Head), left sailors than any gift which may be made the steamer to lodge for the night them. ashore at one of the Inns, but owing Subscription lists are open at Mr. What nonsense, surely to the darkness two of Mr. Cole’s McCall’s, Torquay and at John Hatch and Maccas or Hungry Jacks daughters, aged respectively 8 and Co’s store, River Don. would suffi ce! 6 years, stepped over the side of the *From the money collected a pair of wharf into the water, which is about binoculars was purchased and donated 14 feet deep at that part. The two Val’s Crossword Solution and are now on display at Devonport distinct splashes were heard, and Maritime Museum. the screams of the distracted mother Engraving on binoculars: announced what had happened to those on board, and immediately TO CAPT. JENS ANTHON S.S. “ARGYLE” the four gallant fellows, 3 of whose FROM TASMANIAN FRIENDS names I have given, were in the water RECOGNITION OF HIS GALLANTRY after them, and before two minutes WHEN WITH OTHERS SAVING TWO had elapsed, the children were CHILDREN FROM DROWNING IN RIVER happily rescued; one, the eldest, MERSEY was nearly gone, and has been JUNE 28, 1878 very ill since; the younger one soon Maritime Museum File No. came round and was all right before ANTHON, Capt. Jens morning. Mr. Thomas, the son ofMr. ANVERS Confectionery • Chocolate Tasting • Viewing • Gardens • Cafe and Museum
Indulge yourselves in a Belgian style breakfast in a chocolate factory, morning and aĞernoon 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
Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2011 | 23 Rolph’s Nautical Book Shop A great place to do some Christmas shopping! OPEN 7 DAYS 9am-5pm. Call in to browse Order online + postage & handling
Model fi shing trawler $69.95 Brass Diving Helmet Clock $249.95
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Big range of Tea Towels $15.95 Brass Bell $176.95 Sextant $135.85 Brass Diver $94.25
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