Riverboat Postman's Day
by David Ongley 

Click on any photo to enlarge.

It was Tuesday 5th April in the morning when from Springwood through to Penrith 20 members of the Nepean Men's shed along with their wives and friends making up a party of 39 boarded the Blue Mountains train travelling to Central.

At Strathfield we changed trains and boarded the Newcastle bound train for our destination, the Hawkesbury River station where we alighted to board the mail delivery boat moored at the Brooklyn Wharf which was awaiting our arrival.

At the Hawkesbury River station a quick head count was done by our organiser of the day David, all were accounted for thank goodness. Fares paid and shortly thereafter we boarded our very own Ferry the “ Emily Melvely ‘ to commence our adventure cruising upon the Hawkesbury River.

Upon departure the group was seated for morning tea and once the necessary safety instructions had been advised by the crew we sat back and enjoyed a cuppa and a delicious home made Anzac biscuits or two. 

It was a glorious morning on the water with but a gentle breeze blowing, sun shining and not a cloud in the sky to be seen, passengers were free to move around the deck and a lot of us made for the top deck for a better viewing.

Our skipper Randall was very entertaining and informative as we passed by Dangar Island, Long Island, Milson Island.Just near this island is the remains of the HMAS Parramatta which was Australia’s first ever battle ship.

We rounded Bar point where at the public wharf the mail and daily papers where delivered. Leaving Bar point wharf we then cruised by Fisherman’s Point and Pumpkin in the Creek before reaching our turn around point at Marlow Creek to head back towards Brooklyn.

Along the way lunch was served so it was back downstairs to the lower deck to enjoy a Ploughman’s lunch and refreshments.

We disembarked at the Brooklyn Wharf at around 1.20pm and with the next train heading towards home due at 2.24pm, some of us visited the local Club and or Pub for ale or coffee to kill time before boarding the train towards home.

It had been a fabulous day enjoyed by all those who attended.

Editors Note: It should be mentioned that a lot of hard work and planning went into this outing by David. He not only organised the Ferry trip and payment but worked out the train schedule leaving from various stations and then changing trains at Strathfield to arrive at the wharf at the prescribed time. The day went according to plan without a hiccup. Well done David.