Bulletin - Vol 9 No. 2 March/April 2006

Welcome everyone to the March/April 2006 edition of the Lighthouses of Australia Inc Bulletin

This Bulletin begins with the feature story of Denise's exciting trip to Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse in New South Wales. The trip was tinged with sadness, as it was the last opportunity to meet up with Mark Sheriff and view his magnificent collection of lighthouse artefacts, before he was required to pack up and leave, as New South Wales Parks & Wildlife are restoring the cottages with a view to renting them out as tourist accommodation.

In another story, Erika Johnson, who with her husband Alan have spent the last few years as caretakers on remote Tasmanian lightstation islands, tells the history of the Cape Rochon lighthouse, a light erected on the remote Three Hummock Island off Tasmania's north-west coast.

Pharology 101 continues with the revolution in lighthouse technology with the introduction of kerosene as an illuminant.

In News, the Saving the MV Cape Don Society have made enormous progress in the restoration of the MV Cape Don, the last of Australia's lighthouse supply vessels. Here we reproduce their latest working bee report.

News snippets include details of the forthcoming lighthouse stamp release, reports that the Polly Woodside Melbourne Maritime Museum is to temporarily close, and information about lighthouses in the movies and books.

John Ibbotson has published the third book in his lighthouse series, Lighthouses of Australia The Offshore Lights, which gives a fascinating insight into those lights that are often only seen by those who maintain them. Advances in technology and newly discovered needs to light navigational paths are always arising, and John's latest book showcases some of these offshore lights, which are often located on spectacular islands and reefs.

Don Charlwood, another lighthouse author, has also published a new book, The Wreck of the Sailing Ship Netherby - A Miracle of Survival, which discusses the 1866 shipwreck and the pivotal role the keeper at Cape Wickham played in saving the lives of those onboard.

The International Lighthouse Conference in Canada is coming up soon, so if you are able to get there to take part, book your place now. The Beacons by the Sea Exhibition is continuing to make its way around Australia, moving from the Queensland Maritime Museum to Bribie Island.

Lastly, we have a number of letters from readers, some of which coincidentally tie in with a couple of our stories in this edition. We have a query about keepers at Point Perpendicular, a heartfelt letter lamenting Mark Sheriff's departure from Sugarloaf Point, and a query about pigeons being used as messengers on Tasman Island.

Enjoy this Bulletin, and I welcome your feedback - send your comments or suggestion to me via feedback@lighthouse.net.au.

We also hope that as ongoing Bulletin subscribers, those of you who are not members will take up the opportunity to join LoA Inc, and assist us the preservation of Australia's lighthouses.

Regards,

Kristie Eggleston
LoA Inc Webmaster & Bulletin Editor

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