Singing Ship
During 1969, the attention of all Local Authorities was drawn
to the Bi-Centenary of the discovery of Australia by Captain James Cook in 1770
and the desirability of having appropriate celebrations.
A meeting was convened of all interested parties and the
Captain Cook Bi-Centenary Celebrations Committee was formed under the
chairmanship of Mr J.B. Hinz, Chairman of the Livingstone Shire Council, with
Tom Edminstone as Secretary and Frank Edwards as Treasurer.
A competition was held for a suitable expression of
commemoration with a prize of $100.00. About twenty entries were received and
the prize was awarded to a tie between Mrs C.M. Westmoreland for her drawing of
the Singing Ship and the Lions Club of Yeppoon for their idea of a Youth Holiday
Camp on one of the islands in Keppel Bay.
The Committee adopted the Singing Ship as its commemoration
object in preference to the Holiday Camp idea as the latter appeared to be more
of a long term project which could not be completed in time for the due date of
May 30th the following year.
The Lions Club persevered with their idea later on and
achieved their objective.
The Committee commenced fund raising with a target of
$5,000.00 and the Lions Club generously donated their share of the prize to the
project. Fund raising progressed slowly, no large donations being received
except for $300.00 from Rockhampton City Council, Fitzroy Shire Council and
Livingstone Shire Council. A collective donation from the Rockhampton and
District Historical Society of $100.00 brought the fund up to its first
$1,000.00.
After inspection of several sites along the Capricorn Coast,
the present site, then known as Churchill’s Lookout near Fishermans Beach, was
selected and submitted to the Livingstone Shire Council for approval, which was
given. Tenure of the land was to be arranged with the Lands Department.
Mr S.W. Kele, a Rockhampton steel and concrete contractor had
become interested in the project, and Mr D. Thomas and Mr G. Cain, lectures in
Engineering and Physics respectively at the Capricornia Institute of Advanced
Education, also became interested. The success of the project was the result of
these people’s knowledge and work.
While George Cain experimented with piping and perforations on
the roof of the Institute to find the correct sizes required for the sound
effect, David Thomas prepared, from the artist’s drawing, section plans for
the structure at various heights, and estimates of the steel and concrete
required.
As Mr Thomas said, such an edifice would require to be moulded
as it was being built, rather than being built to a set plan, owing to its form.
Steve Kele was definitely the man for the job and with only five months to go
before the due date of May 30th, work was commenced on the laying of
the foundation slab which was necessary as there was only sand for many feet
below the surface of the site.
This slab was thirty feet in diameter and two feet thick make
of reinforced concrete. The ship itself was to be forty feet high with
dimensions in proportion to the artist’s drawing. Mrs "Peggy"
Westmorland made a model of the ship, which was of great assistance.
It was expected at the time, that "working bees"
under the direction of Steve Kele would do the job, thus cutting down the
expense, but this did not work out, except for a few individuals who gave time
and effort when they could.
On looking back, the project was a formidable undertaking and
the finished work is a credit to the builder’s skill and ingenuity.
As work progressed, Steve realised that he was being left to
build the Ship more or less on his own resources, with family and hired labour
and no contract. This led to some recriminations later on but they were finally
ironed out.
At last, the Ship was finished and ready in time for the unveiling
and it did sing in the wind as was the artist’s intention.
On a lovely day, May 30th, 1970, in the presence of
a large crowd of interested people, the main plaque was unveiled by the Hon. Ian
Sinclair, Minister for Shipping in the Federal Parliament, who was presented
with a coloured photograph of the Singing Ship as a memento of the occasion. Two
plaques had been cast by Burns and Twigg under the supervision of Committeeman
Mr S.A. Robinson, a former foundry owner of Rockhampton. The main plaque was to
the honour of Captain Cook and the second paid tribute to the Artist, the
Engineer, the Accoustician and to the Builder.
One thing was overlooked at the time, but this was remedied by
the Rockhampton and District Historical Society. It had been intended to place a
Time Capsule in a space left for that purpose in the base of the concrete block
supporting the main plaque. The Capsule was place five years late almost to the
day and is to be opened on the 300th anniversary of Captain Cook’s
discovery.
There remained the payment of the Builder’s account which
had been rendered in detail to the Committee for a total of about $5,500.00 of
which $3,000.00 had been paid. Many things like travelling time, crane hire,
incidental living away from home expenses and general business overhead expenses
had not been charged. Had these been included, and the value of all material and
labour donated, the total cost would have been in the vicinity of $30,000.00.
Mr Kele and his family generously wrote off $1,000.00 and in
recognition of the value of the Singing Ship to the community, the three
Councils donated another $800.00. Finally to the rescue came the Emu Park
Progress Association and the Rockhampton Rodeo Picnic Club with the balance
owing.
In appreciation of the tourist potential of the Singing Ship,
the Livingstone Shire Council, now with a change of members, has constructed a
sealed road and car park at the site.
The many visitors leave favourable comments in the Visitor’s
Book, and the popularity and the more than Australia-wide renown, of the
Memorial is a tribute to those who were inspired to erect it.
It should be recorded that Steve Kele’s interest in the
project did not cease with the finished job. Grass was planted and tended;
stepping stones, seats and a refuse bin were provided; and a Wishing Well with
direction pointers and Visitor’s Book were set up, while Steve and his family
acted as trustees and caretakers.
|
