
MISTER GOOD NEWS FLOATS THE CITY OF ADELAIDE.
With rain brings boats, cork boats made from last weeks wine bottles all weighted down and ready to float. For many rain is bad news, its uncomfortable, its wet, it usually brings mood swings and it may involve an umbrella break or two.
Not the case for the adolescent Mr Good News though, for me rain was great news! After a weeks long deluge I would take to the streets with my cork boat fleet. As strange as it may seem neighbours wore their curious eye, advancing towards me as I prepared for “The gutter boat races” to be held just short of the sidewalk.
I had and have always been a passionate sailor, dreaming of adventures near and far on some rickety vessel. So when I came across the English built City of Adelaide neurons began to fire off and spark my imagination once again.
Just like my late grandfather “Dibbles”, this worn but solid vessel tells a thousand tales that are all but true. Built in the the late 1800′s the ship was soon to carve out a 23 year long career ferrying immigrants from Scotland to Australia. Without such a ship a new beginning for the Scottish folk may not have been possible, nor would our countries early and vital development.
Spending much of its later life in England and Scotland the City of Adelaide was soon to be repurposed. For 27 years its galleys and decks were transformed into hospital grounds and shortly after it was enlisted as a training ship for the Royal Navy of England. Fast forward to the year 1995 the City of Adelaide was now part of the Scottish Maritime Museum after it was raised from an underwater grave in 1992.
Failing to secure financial backing the museum was forced to propose for its destruction in mid 2000. A campaign was soon after established opposing its break up. In 2010 it was announced that the ship was returning to Port Adelaide after being purchased by an Australian bidder. The ship would now stand tall and proud with long awaited dignity as part of the cities decorated Maritime History.
This is good news of a different kind, an inspirational piece whereby its participants and subsequent heroes saved the City of Adelaide from its pending death. Valued for not what it is but for rather what it represents it will soon be on show to inspire us all….
HOORAH!!!!
Row, row, row your boat…..
This is Captain Good News :)
Original Article THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Titled HISTORIC CLIPPER RETURNS TO SUN AFTER 150 YEARS. Written by Billy Briggs March 24, 2012
The City of Adelaides as it once was.