My involvement with the Oceanic Research Foundation began back in 1997, prior to the vessel arriving in Melbourne. “I'm going to a meeting at Polly Woodside. Do you want to come?” my brother-in-law asked me over the phone. Now, seven years, later my two sons are involved as well as myself. Spending as much time there as we can.
Over the last several years the boys and I have made great friendships, learned new skills and have developed a pride in the knowledge that we are contributing towards Australia's maritime history.
When I first arrived on deck, I was warmly greeted with a smile and a cuppa and given a brief history of the ship. Amazed at where the “little red tub” had been and what it had achieved.
What intrigued me more were the plans that had been put down for the future and how I could be a part of it. So over the years we have cut, scraped, filed, painted and welded to turn that “tub” into the vessel it is today. One small honour that I had was cutting and removing the final piece of the old steel cabin. It may seem small and insignificant, but at the time it was an historic moment in the rebuilding of the ship. As now above deck, everything has been purpose-built with careful thought.
While working on the ship the boys (Daniel, now 14, and Ross, now 17) have grown to treat the others there as an extended family. Daniel has grown from a young 6-year-old helping Joe and Jeff by holding tools and squeezing into the smallest places on board, to a young man capable of carry out any task asked of him. Likewise Ross, who often wishes he could be there more often.
Interested in joining ORF? We need volunteers with any skills or, if you have none, willing to learn to use hand or machine shop tools safely. Would you like to learn welding, grinding, machining, painting, sailing, navigation or survival skills? Whatever your interests there is a place for you in the Foundation.
All that is needed is to fill in a Subscription Request to experience a ‘sea change’ in your life!
With the positive social interaction and passing on of skills happening all the time I believe there is no better place to spend a few idle hours. As mentioned before, the volunteers there are like a big family. The background of the volunteers down there is irrelevant. Everyone has the one common goal, and contributes what they can towards it. Above all, they do it in their own unique, special way.
Volunteering is the life-blood of organisations such as the ORF. You get out of it what you are willing to put into it. But in some cases you get just that much more.
So come on down, have a chat and a cuppa. You may well just be on your way to Antarctica or beyond.
— story and photos by John Tuddin