Our maritime history & present day news. No 60 Spring (September) 2017. $2.50 where sold. Dragon Boat Racing at Tasmania’s Lake Barrington will be a feature of the XVI Australian Masters Games Games in October 2017 Maritime Recreation DRAGON BOAT RACING – FOUR FOOT TWOS – SAILING – DIVING PLUS 30 years of the replica Lady Nelson – The return of Tassie Too news from AMC – and SY Aurora remembered Current exhibition at the Museum’s Carnegie Gallery is THE TURNING TIDE – Australia’s War at Sea in 1942 from the president’s log Our flagship Westward spent most of August on the RYCT slip for its annual maintenance. Maritime Museum of Tasmania The work was very by Kim Newstead ably undertaken by CARNEGIE BUILDING the Bilge Rats team. Cnr Davey & Argyle Streets It was completely Maintenance on Westward Hobart, Tasmania stripped back to far left: back to bare timber Postal Address: GPO Box 1118, bare timber above left: with a new coat of paint Photos : K. Newstead Hobart, Tasmania 7001, AUSTRALIA and below the water Phone: (03) 6234 1427 (left) and then given Committee member Michelle Blake has Fax: (03) 6234 1419 new topside paint and antifouling (right). compiled a volunteer survey, which all I was very pleased to see that the Huon volunteers will shortly receive. It is aimed email: [email protected] Pine planks are in remarkably good at ensuring that the volunteer experience www.maritimetas.org condition and all is now looking very at the Museum is rewarding, and beneficial shipshape. Committee member Roscoe for both Museum and volunteer. This is Open Daily 9am–5pm Barnett is assisting John Wedd look after an opportunity for volunteers to offer (except for Good Friday & Christmas Day) Westward; he has made a new celery top views on topics the committee wishes to Layout: fineline studios name plate that will remove the need consider for improving and developing the for new signwriting with each repaint. volunteer program and communications Thanks, Roscoe. to help the Museum continue to grow with a secure future. I urge all volunteers to take MMT Committee Members for 2017 We are progressively undertaking work at a few minutes to complete the survey. the Museum to improve the general layout Kim Newstead, President Rex Cox, Vice President 03) 6224 6660 03) 6234 1865 and efficiency of various office spaces Our Heritage Coordinator, John Wadsley, [email protected] [email protected] including the shop area. It’s a bit like a jigsaw has had a very busy couple of months. as each area is dependent on another, so He organized the school holiday program Beth Dayton, Secretary Ross Studley, Treasurer Campbell Peter Channel Photo: in D’Entrecasteaux work has to be scheduled in sequence. The ‘Nautical Fun and Games’ in July. It was a 0407 873 852 [email protected] [email protected] first area to be done will be the committee great success with 60 children plus carers room in the annex at the southern end of attending the four days of the program. Michael Stoddart Roscoe Barnett May Queen the Carnegie Gallery; this then enables us It was so popular we already have people 0409 854 847 0438 300 229 [email protected] [email protected] to greatly improve the use of space and booking for the next holidays! John and amenities in the general office. We are very the team also developed ‘The Turning Chris Tassell Michelle Blake Tide’ exhibition currently on display in the [email protected] [email protected] grateful to John Clennett who has kindly donated the cupboards, benchtop and sink Carnegie Gallery. This exhibition deals with in this issue for the new committee room which will also the dramatic events faced by Australia in The Committee also includes representatives from Theme: Recreation Background image: Background 1942. Japanese expansion into south-east external organisations: improve our ability to provide facilities to assist with functions in the Museum. Asia and the Pacific seemed unstoppable, Alderman Eva Ruzicka (Hobart City Council), 07 Diving Lake Illawarra Scott Carlin (TMAG), and Kevin Moore (TasPorts) but within a few months, the tide had I am delighted with the progress being turned after pivotal naval and land 09 Gipsy Moth made by the UTAS students in the engagements, including the Battle of the development of our first app. This app will Coral Sea. The exhibition also looks at the 11 AMC news be available free to the public to download impact of the war in Tasmania, from defense The Maritime Museum of Tasmania acknowledges for Android and Apple devices and is against sea and air attack, to local ship 12 Four Foot Twos the support of the City of Hobart, based on a self-guided walk ‘The Whalers building and war industries. Frankie Reed, Murdoch Clarke Lawyers, and TasPorts. Walk’ around the docks, covering many US Consul General officially opened the 14 Dragon boat racing elements of Hobart’s whaling industry, exhibition, which is supported by a grant history and heritage. We intend over a year from the Centenary of Anzac program. 16 SY Aurora memorial Maritime Times of Tasmania welcomes original articles for publication or two to develop two or three more apps Well worth calling into the Museum to see on specific themes. The apps will finish at it. However, don’t leave it too long as it will 18 Tassie Too Contributions may be historical or newsworthy Ideally, your contributions will be in a Word Please submit contributions to The Editor and with themes reflecting the Museum’s document, with embedded images and/or at the postal address above or email to the Museum to encourage visitors to learn end in November to make way for Richard mission to promote research into, and the with separate 300dpi JPEG or TIFF files. We can [email protected] more about each topic. Michael Stoddart Bennett’s photographic exhibition: 40 19 Varg update interpretation of, Tasmania’s maritime heritage. accept legible handwritten articles, with loose Alternatively, you can leave your contribution and Mark Hosking have worked with the years of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. They may be short notes, or articles with text photographs, which we will copy. at the front desk of the Museum at the street students to provide the content, and the 20 Lady Nelson about 700–1200 words, accompanied by Images should have a caption, be credited to address above. Please remember to include students have developed the use of the I will be overseas in September and early images if possible. Text may be edited, and the photographer or to the source, and have your contact details. technology which, believe me, at the back October. During this time our most able Vice + book review and publication is at the discretion of the editor. written permission to publish. Deadline for the next issue is 15 November 2017 end is incredibly complex. President, Rex Cox, will act as your President. regular features 2 | Maritime Times of Tasmania Spring 2017 MaritimeMaritime Times Times of of Tasmania Tasmania Spring Spring 2017 2017 | 3 | 3 from the brig the carnegie gallery Amusing and engaging small, and sometimes not so THE TURNING TIDE - Australia’s War at Sea in 1942 has its small, children in museums is a challenge. Our own focus on the naval war in the Pacific and south-east Asia during attempts included, back in Secheron House days, what would become a pivotal year in the Second World War. encouraging our volunteers to engage young visitors The exhibition was researched and curated by Maritime in conversation so that they wouldn’t become a Museum of Tasmania staff and volunteers (see ‘high and dry’ ‘distraction to our adult visitors’. on page 25). Comprehensive interpretation of a number For a number of years one game we have played with of interrelated themes is complemented by artefacts and young visitors has been to encourage them to hunt for models from the museum’s own collection and on loan from our rat, hidden somewhere in the gallery. If they find other organisations, along with two short films loaned by the Ratty they bring him to the front desk and can then Australian National Maritime Museum. A photograph album go off and hide him somewhere else. While doing this, documenting Neal Holdsworth’s service aboard Bathurst they may also happen upon Trim, our cat (named after Class Corvette HMAS Launceston from 1942 onwards is Matthew Flinders’ feline companion), displayed, as are the bell and plaque from HMAS Hobart, who seems more content to just hang loaned by Navy Headquarters Tasmania. around spying on visitors than seeking The exhibition, prepared with the help of a Centenary of out the rat. Anzac grant, shares the Carnegie space with the Museum’s There have been a variety of rats employed over collection of Haughton Forrest paintings that continue to the years. I brought one back from the gift shop at delight our visitors. Kenilworth Castle and a visitor gave us a crocheted rat once but both have vanished. However, there is new members OPEN UNTIL Sunday 5 November 2017 a stalwart rat that appears to have been around for at least fifteen years. He’s known as Ratty, but no one We welcome new members: seems to know where he came from. If you recognise Ratty from the photo below and can help me add to J. Loosli Alan Wickham his biography then please do get in touch. Dr Ursula Rack Capt. Mark Souter in remembrance Jim Van der Mei Robert Loney Jodie Green Courtney Spencer NOEL BARRETT Carolyn Mason Christopher Daly Museum member and volunteer Noel Barrett passed away recently.