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23.01.2022 In 2015 I had a chat with Paddy Maguire of Smithton Tasmania about some of his experiences as an abalone diver off North West Tasmania. Sadly Paddy 'crossed the... bar' in 2017 - a fine man taken too soon. Paddy will appear with other experienced people in my upcoming DVD on the history of abalone diving around Tasmania. Paddy also appears in my previous DVD, 'Trading Out of Stanley', available from the Tasmanian Maritime Museum on 03 62341427. See more

22.01.2022 I recently spoke with Portlander Hallett Shueard, historian and author, about his acclaimed book, 'THE FORGOTTEN MEN' in which he sets out to dispell the myths ...and present the facts of the European settlement of South Australia and Victoria, especially regarding the early sealers and their aboriginal 'wives'. Two of these women living with sealers on Kangaroo island who were full blood Tasmanian aboriginals outlived Truganini who is claimed to have been the last. See more

21.01.2022 I was asked if I knew anything about the keel of the 105 foot Denison Star, built by Ray Kemp for Reg Morrison about 1969 for the Gordon River tourist run, so I... cut this little interview I did with Rex Kearney out of the DVD 'Two Men in a Punt, in the Wake of The Huon Piners'. The whole three hour DVD is available from Boat Books Australia on 0294391133 or by clicking on this link https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/product/two-men-in-a-punt/ See more

15.01.2022 Was BERT WILSON of Portland AUSTRALIA'S LAST COMMERCIAL SEALER ? Mainly a shark fisherman at the time, but later a top tuna fisherman, in 1950 he obtained permi...ts from the Victorian Government to harvest seals at Lady Julia Percy Island off the coast of Western Victoria. Bert can also been seen along with many other local identities in the DVD, Cape Bridgewater, a Social History, available at local bookshops. See more

14.01.2022 Last week I was out on Badger island, Eastern Bass Strait, for the shearing. An ABC Landline crew were there as well. When I made the doco, 'Wooden Ships and Stockmen, the Passing of an Era in the Bass Strait Islands', five years ago, Alf Stackhouse at the age of 86 was talking about giving up Badger Island, which he has leased since 1952, and retiring. At 91 he has reconsidered, thinks he might keep it on a while longer! Reminds me of that thing, 'Live like you are going to live forever, Dance like there is no-one watching' etc. These people are an inspiration! To see a promo of my DVD click To buy a copy click

14.01.2022 I have put together eight promos of my LOCAL HISTORY SERIES of DVD's. Over the last 15 years I have interviewed a total of 150 people from all walks of life for... the series. Some have been on screen only a short time, others longer, but all have contributed to the end result. It has been a wonderful experience and privilege to have them share their memories with us. Sadly many are no longer with us. These DVD's are available from Portland Books & Giftware 116 Percy St. 0355235433. The Paper Nautilus Bookshop 65 Bentinck St. 0355235454, or the Heywood Newsagency. See more

13.01.2022 It's that time again - off to the biennial Tasmanian Wooden Boat Festival, the largest show of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. A very social three days! We... are cruising to Hobart in 'Jane Kerr' via the Bass Strait islands and the east coast. Armed with three recreational craypots and fishing gear we hope to keep ourselves in crays, abs and flathead. I thought it appropriate to post a short wooden boat excerp from my DVD, Crayfishing Around Tasmania. This DVD is available from the Maritime Museum of Tasmania, or Boat Books Australia on 02 94391133 or by clicking on this link https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au//crayfishing-around-tas/ See more

11.01.2022 In 2001 I had a chat with Jean Burgess, nee Heather. Her family operated a sawmill at beautiful Cockle Creek in the far south of Tasmania. During the war years ...with manpower in short supply Jean and her sisters helped work the mill, including falling huge trees. Timber was freighted to Hobart in the last of the sailing ketches. Duration of this clip 15 mins. The history of the ketches is told by Jean and others in my DVD, Trading Out of Hobart, available from the Maritime Museum of Tasmania on (03)62341427 See more

10.01.2022 THE LAST CAPE HORNERS are pictured here at their last major gathering at Port Victoria in 2009. These men sailed in the very last of the great sailing ships in ...the 1930's and 40's.Four of these amazing men have since 'crossed the bar', most recent being Alf Jarvis, bottom right, who crossed at the grand old age of 102, fit till the finish. I feel it a privelege to have known them and been entrusted with their stories. For a promo of my Australian Maritime History series of DVD's including The Couta Boat, The Pearl Shell Divers and Crayfishing around Tasmania, click on this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roMXEozxoEs To purchase call Boat Books Australia on 02 94391133 See more

09.01.2022 While on the subject of sailing ships, in 1933 the big Finnish Pamir was ordered to load wheat in Sydney for Europe, by way of Cape Horn. A Movietone news crew ...went to film the event, including some of the crew singing a song afterward. When filming for the DVD The Last Cape Horners in Mariehamn, Finland, in 2004 the same man came to the museum and played the same violin for us! Sadly Pamir was lost in the Atlantic in 1957 with great loss of life while acting as a sail training ship. See more

09.01.2022 Des Whayman has been a scallop fisherman, cray fisherman and involved in aquaculture. He fished the wild south and west coasts of Tasmania. He once saved the li...fe of fellow fisherman, Barry Bosworth, under very exceptional circumstances. I've known Des since 1975, in 2014 we had a chat with the camera running. Duration of this interview 21 mins. For more on cray fishing around Tasmania see my DVD of the same name. Available from The Maritime Museum of Tasmania or Boat Books Australia on (02)94391133. See more

08.01.2022 Evaleeta was one of the finest ketches built in Tasmania. Tim Phillips of The Wooden Boatshop at Sorrento has had this beautiful model of her crafted by Clive B...arnard. Seeing the model reminded me of comments made about her by men who knew her when I was doing interviewes for the DVD's 'Trading Out of Hobart', and 'The Trading Ketches of South Australia' back in 2002-3, so I put a little eight minute clip together. The DVD's which run for over an hour each are available from the Maritime Museum of Tasmania on 03 62341427. See more

08.01.2022 I well remember the construction of the harbour in the 1950's. As kids it was one big adventure playground, climbing all over and marvelling at the big Euclid ...trucks, draglines and dredges. (And I don't remember anyone being injured) It was a joy 50 years on, and a re-engagement with the past, to be able to interview men who had operated that machinery and produce the DVD, 'Construction of Portland Harbour, the Workers Story.' (just as well it was built when it was - imagine trying to do it now with all the bureaucracy and red tape!!) Available from Portland Books and Gifts 116 Percy street and The Paper Nautilus Book Store 65 Bentinck street. See more

06.01.2022 Those who enjoyed PADDY MAGUIRE'S interview may be interested in watching this 23 minute promo of my 9 part Maritime History Series of DVD's. All available from Boat Books Australia on 02 94391133 or by clicking this link https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/

05.01.2022 Bluefin Tuna Fishing in Australia. A History. 'Those Were The Days'. This DVD runs for over two hours with 30 people interviewed. Period covered 1940's till the... 1990's. The 'big days' in the fishery. A history of boom and bust and boom again. Available at Eden and Port Lincoln newsagents or Boat Books Australia on (02)94391133 or click on this link https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/ See more

04.01.2022 We enjoyed a lovely cruise to Hobart for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Made better because I had Garry Stewart, John Clue, Ted Banks and Rob Gault with me, sailing in company with 'Jane's' owners Tim and Sally Phillips in the beautiful 1925 classic fishing smack, 'Storm Bay'. Spent a bit of time in the Eastern Bass Strait island, Deal, (photo from up on the hill) Inner Sister island, Babel island, Lady Barron, and Armstrong Passage. Feasted on cray, gummy and flathead.... Wineglass Bay on the east coast of Tassie is a beautiful place (photo of crays on the table) but the almost landlocked Fortescue Bay is my second favourite anchorage after the Gordon River. The festival was wonderful as usual - hundreds of boats and shore based displays and activities. Hectic as usual and very social - caught up with lots of old friends and acquaintances. The launch of the DVD 'The Piners Archive, Stories From Tasmania's Wild Rivers' was well supported. If anyone is interested in a copy click here... https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au/product_info.php See more

03.01.2022 Maurice Corigliano is one of only a handful of men left in the world who crewed in the very last of the big square-rigged commercial sailing ships. I interviewe...d him in 2004 about that incredible voyage from Australia to Europe by way of the notorious Cape Horn in 1948.Maurice lives in busy retirement in Adelaide aged 90. His and other seamen's stories are captured in my DVD 'The Last Cape Horners, the End of the Great Sailing Ship Era'. Available from Boat Books Australia on 0294391133 or by clicking this link https://www.boatbooks-aust.com.au//the-last-cape-horners-/ See more

02.01.2022 BOB (COWBOY) CRANE of Strahan 1922-2019. Stable boy, horse driver, miner, piner and sawmiller. A humble and intelligent man. A legend in his own lifetime. A pri...vilege to have known and one of my favourite people. This is part one of an interview we did with him in 2001. The complete interview and that of other piners is included in the DVD 'The Piner's Archive, Stories From Tasmania's Wild Rivers'. Two disc set, Four hours viewing, available from Boat Books Australia on 0294391133, the Tasmanian Maritime Museum or most Strahan tourist shops. See more

02.01.2022 RABBITS WERE IN PLAGUE PROPORTIONS on Bridgewater in the early days. The sandy ground made for easy digging and the burrows did not flood in winter. For some, r...abbit eradication was a full time job. In the 1870's and 80's many farmers gave up and walked off their land. This is a five minute excerpt from the 100 minute DVD documentary titled CAPE BRIDGEWATER, A SOCIAL HISTORY. Available from Portland Books & Giftware 116 Percy St. 55235433, and Paper Nautilus Book Store, 65 Bentinck St. 55235454. See more

01.01.2022 Third generation fisherman Leonard 'Dugga' Beazley and his cousin Bill were the last of the true PORT MELBOURNE FISHERMEN. Dugga was forced in to early retirement at age 75 by Government commercial fishing licence buy-backs. I interviewed Dugga in December 2016.