Hoba rt goes HOLLYWOOD 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 [email protected] 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. 2 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 Hobart really came to life last June with 10 days of celebration for Errol Flynn’s editorial 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. Two lovely models, Rory Flynn and Prince Regent. 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 Membership Fees exhibits. They were all impressed by her friendliness and she not only spent time meeting Categories of membership and all those downstairs but popped upstairs to say G’day to Laurie Bahr who was alone in the annual fees effective each year 1 July library. After signing our visitor’s book ‘love Tassie’ she vowed to return on a private holiday to 30 June (including GST) for a longer period and said one of her fi rst ‘ports of call’ will be a leisurely tour through our Individual $27.50 Maritime Museum. Having charmed all our staff she then left to rejoin her ‘minders’ who Family $38.50 were patiently waiting at the door. Concessions: $15.00 Many thanks also to our ‘celebrity cameramen’ Bob Andrewartha and Rex Cox for covering Interstate $16.50 Rory’s visit to MMT. Overseas $16.50 + Now, 100 years after his birth in Hobart, it is time for him to be honoured by that city by additional postage $8.50 erecting a statue and/or naming our airport ‘Errol Flynn International.’ (through out the Quarterdeck $25.00 plus $275.00 world it is common practice to name airports after famous people.) Apart from giving him donation the honour due to him for his magnifi cent career in fi lms, it would prove a great tourist Life Membership $1000 attraction for this state. Not everybody knows where Tasmania is on the map, but people once only, or 4 years Quarterdeck from every country where fi lms are shown know it is ‘where Errol came from’. Hopefully it membership. would bring visitors to our wonderful state ‘in like Flynn’. Pirate Club $5.00 Bob Petrass. Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 | 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITORR 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. Hi Bob, sit bbackack anandd yarn witwithh tthehe miner in tthehe Bob, pipit,t, tthehe ffarmerarmer in thethe paddockpaddock andand thethe I told my daughter in the U.S.that I Hope the attached may meet your bushies deep in the backblocks of a vital was researching the ‘Montevideo Maru’ suggestion of excerpt. lt could go under state. and she got this info from the Internet a query head of ‘what happens to old and forwarded it to me. I presume the If you feel the excerpt I’ve provided is sailors’ but think it could have a few photo is the ship in question. Also, it’s right for your magazine just use the Wal readers. amazing a crew member came forward Davies Byline. You know myTassie time holds a after 60 years ! I have more or less given up the idea lot memories and truly for a guy with —Bill Nicholson. of getting ’Shakin’ the tree’ published experience all round the world and in there are no blocks to using the stuff’... major cities Tasmania had for me, a lot Thanks Bill, the information your daugh- Thanking you for your interest ter sent you and the great story you have going for it. Regards and best Wishes, sent me will be a featured in a coming Starting as editor of the “Northeastern edition. Advertiser” at Scottsdale. Editor (and sole Wal Davies editorial staff) I must add, I got an insight Thank you Wal, we’ll be publishing the into country style life that gave me an excerpt from your ‘waiting for a publisher’ new members appreciation of the people in the state book in our next issue. still regarded by some as “the state not We are delighted to welcome the quite Australia” and the adaptability in MARITIME TIMES AWARD following NEW MEMBERS to the the face of a degree of isolation from the Goes to Ian Nicholson who has been Maritime Museum. mainland that has always been evident. a regular and very reliable volunteer Edward Domeney (Individual) When I look back and see places like since joining in June 2008. Thanks Thomas Fricke (Interstate) Nowhere Else, Paradise, Mathinna and Ian for the excellent work you do, Barbara Hayes (Volunteer) all the smaller places to which my work it is appreciated very much and John Hutcheon (Volunteer) with The Examiner took me, names like congratulations on the award. Alexander Macnight (Individual) Don VonBibra, Garth Napier, Eric Reege, Kerry Mayfi eld (Concession) Roy Hudson, Joe Fagan ,the O’Connors, Margaret Muir (Concession) those of all nationalities that I met while Ross Rattle (Volunteer) covering the various HEC schemes there so many with qualities that stood out Louis Rodway (Concession) The Errol Flynn that made ‘my Tassie’ something special. Alan Scholten (Individual) Society of Tasmania The ‘can do ‘attitude of people Paul Webb (Concession) founded 1979 whose effort made a difference to their To become a member of our happy communities provided me with the band and enjoy our monthly social Vale opportunity ,as a jourmllist, to ‘shake the events, just contact: It is with deep regret that we report the tree’ by their stories. Genene on (03) 62494700 or passing of Gerald Atkins a member for Maybe I never did break any of the big errolfl [email protected] many years and former volunteer. stories but I did enjoy the opportunity to You will be made most welcome. 4 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Winter 2009 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.