A CONTINUING interest in historical Murray River vessels has prompted a young local to release a new book.
Renmark’s Jackson Wickham will later this month launch his new book A Renmarkable Vessel, examining the history of the Paddle Steamer Renmark.
Mr Wickham said the book began as an article for social media and was expanded to mark the 70th anniversary of the boat sinking.
“The book wasn’t really planned because I started this five years ago by writing a story on Facebook,” Mr Wickham said.
“That was about 7000 words and I think this one is 49,000.
“I like writing about history on Facebook and post it for anniversaries. I wrote this story originally focused on the burning of the boat, but I went back and ended up doing the whole history of the boat.
“It was the last cargo boat built at Goolwa, and the second to last paddleboat built in Goolwa during days of the river trade.”
The PS Renmark sunk – and still remains – in Goolwa due to fire damage on February 2, 1951.
Mr Wickham said the vessel was vital to the transportation of goods along the Darling River for the Murray Shipping company.
“When it was still a cargo boat it was mainly used on the Darling River,” he said.
“They formed Murray Shipping Ltd who owned the boat, and was made up of five of the biggest companies that were dying off and got together for a last-ditch effort.
“It would spend a whole season on the Darling and then return to Morgan at the end of the season.
“It was the last cargo boat operating for Murray Shipping Ltd in 1945… then there wasn’t enough work to sustain a crew.”
Mr Wickham said his book launch event – to be held at the Goolwa Wharf – would also feature guest speaker and former PS Renmark crew member Trevor Reed.
“After I started thinking about putting this into a book, I realised it was the 70th anniversary this year, so I got my act together and finished it,” he said.
Mr Wickham’s A Renmarkable Vessel book launch will be held at the Wharf Barrel Shed, on the Goolwa Wharf, on Sunday, February 21, from 11am.
For further information, or to order a copy of the book, email majac04@bigpond.com.