Why the spotlight is on Oscar

There are times when life is all about numbers, and the 30th anniversary of the first South Australian Wooden Boat Festival is one of them.
The 16th festival from April 22-23, 2017 will be held in the 110th year of the paddle steamer Oscar W – the pride of South Australia’s wooden boat fleet – being commissioned by Frans Oscar “Charlie” Wallin.
This grand vessel, symbolic of our historic river trade which ended 90 years ago, was named after his son, Oscar William, and this festival year represents the 100th year of his death, on September, 20, 1917 whilst serving the 8th Australian Infantry Battalion during the Battle of Menin Road, Belgium. He was 21, and one of 5000 Australians killed in this battle just on this day.
Also, 2017 is the 30th year of the Oscar W being recommissioned, with the South Australian Tourism Commission and the Alexandrina Council then being its lifeline.
Late October, the Oscar W played a pivotal role in Meningie’s 150th celebrations by re-enacting the mail run, which ended dramatically with another paddlesteamer Cato being stuck on a sand bar whilst crossing a treacherous Lake Albert.
This historic event, led by its captain “E.J.” Errol Thorp, included turning on the Port Malcolm Lighthouse at Narrung – Australia’s only inland lighthouse and perhaps the only one in the southern hemisphere – for the first time in 80 years. It was a stunning, well-organised three-day event celebrated by 2000 people.
Among the 15 volunteers on this special run were Christina and Malcolm Somervaille, who have worked on the Oscar W for 25 years, making their combined contribution spanning half a century remarkable.
Their journey started from their homeland in New Forest, Hampshire, southern England when they migrated in 1989, and after driving around Australia in a beat-up Kombi van discovered Goolwa and have lived here ever since.
“Malcolm had worked as a shipwright all his working life, and got a job with a local boat builder while I did secretarial work for a nursing home,” Christina said. “It didn’t take long for the Friends of the Oscar W to find us so here we are.
“I was made secretary and I held the position for 18 years. I never nominated once, but I would do it all over again. I have loved every moment.
“We were with the Oscar W from 1991 when it was in dry dock getting up to survey standard, which didn’t happen until 2008. This steamer was always a big part of the SA Wooden Boat Festival, and always will be. We are coming up to our 13th festival, and with every one I think just how important this is for the whole region, not just Goolwa. It’s about re-living our heritage; what we are all about.
“Where we came from (New Forest) is so much like Goolwa with the Isle of Wight and the character of the town, but it never had something like the Oscar W. It is so special.”
On this trip across Lake Albert to Narrung for the lighthouse and mail run everyone played a key role as a volunteer, including chairman of the Friends of the Oscar W, Dave Finnie, who has since retired after 12 years including two as chairman because of ill health. He has been replaced as chairman by Dennis Borchardt.
Committee member and a previous chairman Graham Pratt said the Oscar W represented a huge challenge with volunteers because of the need for qualifications to actually run the boat. There is a standard crew of seven with the skipper needing a Master 4 ticket, his mate with Master 5, an engineer with a Marine Engine Driver 2 steam certificate, and a fireman also trained as boiler attendant. There are three deck hands including Christina, who is probably the most popular because she is also the cook.
“With the qualifications needed for some of the positions you can see there is always a challenge that lay ahead for us,” Graham added.
“The fireman’s role is filled by Angela Meade, and she represents the future of the Oscar W. We need young people like Angela who has the passion and enthusiasm to get involved and learn all about paddle steamers.”
There are numerous other volunteering roles without key qualifications required to keep the Oscar W going, so it’s all about the numbers again. As Christina said, it is a wonderful part of our local heritage and pride. It’s part of what Oscar William Wallin died for almost 100 years ago.