THE provision of funding from a local council is set to help a volunteer group repaint an historic Riverland barge.
Renmark Paringa councillors at last month’s general meeting endorsed the donation of $1500 – to be used on paint and oil – for members of the Olivewood Committee to restore the Argo Barge.
A Renmark Paringa spokesperson said council agreed to provide the required materials after Olivewood Committee members offered to perform the works.
“During the formulation of the agreement for the transfer of ownership from the council to Olivewood Museum… the painting of the barge was considered and discounted, as the barge was in better than expected condition following its salvage from the river,” the spokesperson said.
“Representatives subsequently expressed an interest in having the barge painted and asked council to consider the provision of the materials to carry out this work… (indicating) their volunteers would be able to complete the work if the materials were donated.”
Olivewood Committee chairman Ann Ryan said new paint and oil was required for the vessel’s long-term structural integrity.
“I just found it amusing (council) thought it was being painted and oiled to make it look pretty,” Ms Ryan said.
“It’s nothing to do with that. It’s to preserve it, because if we don’t oil the timbers and redo the paint the thing is going to rot.
“The wooden part has never been painted from what we can work out, it’s only been oiled and tarred.”
The Argo Barge was relocated to Olivewood Historic Homestead by Renmark Paringa Council in May.
Ms Ryan said Olivewood would “wait until we have enough volunteers” before beginning to paint the vessel.
“We’ve got a couple (so far)… we’ll get a pressure cleaner to give it a good clean first and take as much paint off as possible,” she said.
“It’s not going to be working on a scaffold, you could be standing on a ladder at the most and you would be able to reach pretty much all of it.
“People can come in and let us know, then we can organise a working bee and get onto it.”
Any locals seeking to assist in painting the Argo Barge are asked to contact Ms Ryan on 8586 6175.