AWBF Presentation at The Tasmanian Club

Steve and Lee Knight (foreground) at the Tasmanian Club dinner.

The Chairman of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival Inc, Steve Knight OAM, was recently invited to give a presentation to the members of the Tasmanian Club, in recognition of the Festival, and its importance to Tasmania.  The presentation followed a wonderful dinner held in the main dining room of  the Club at 132 Macquarie Street in Hobart. The Tasmanian Club was founded in 1861 and first occupied the current premises in April 1873.

The dinner was organised by wooden boat enthusiast and keen Festival supporter, Christian Willing, a member of the Tasmanian Club.  Christian has had two beautiful wooden dinghies built by Tasmanian boatbuilder Ned Trewartha.  These two dinghies, named Talisman and Van Diemen, were on display at the dinner in the club.  Ned was also a guest of the club at the dinner.

It was a great night, a good promotion for our organisation and event and provided the opportunity for a number of people not only to hear about the Festival but to also admire Ned’s magnificent dinghies!  Christian had Van Diemen built by Ned in 2019, to the design by Battery Point shipwright and boatbuilder, Bill Foster.  She is built of Australian Red Cedar, and Silver Ash. Talisman was built in 2014, to a design also by Bill Foster.  She is built of the famed Tasmanian timbers Huon, Celery Top, and King Billy Pines.  Both dinghies are 10 feet in length.

Ned Trewartha’s superb craftsmanship on display at the Tasmanian Club.  Photo: owner Christian Willing

Ned Trewartha presenting at the 2019 festival Small Stages program. © Syd Reinhardt | BALLANTYNE Photography