Seaman Dan interviewed by Karl Neuenfeldt in Saltwater songs collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3127085
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Seaman Dan, 1929-2020, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2004 Apr. 11
- 1 digital audio tape (ca. 24 min.)
- Series:
- Saltwater songs.
- Summary:
-
Henry "Seaman" Dan explains his connection to the "Floria", one of three luggers owned by Burns & Philip: the Grafton, Floria and Galton; a 53 foot lugger; the crew; some of the crew being related or from same island; the work routine; divers; deckhands; the sequence for divers going down; eating while on drift; how divers covered an area; the story about "Old Ground" west of Thursday Island (TI); his survey on "Paxie" and finding a pearl bed; the length of season on Floria; spending spring tide, west of Badu Island getting firewood, replenishing fuel and water supplies; the end of day routine; how the "Floria" was built for the local conditions; having to anchor out from shore and sleep on-board; the main sail being kept up all the times; the big seas at "Old Ground".
Dan discusses how it took several days to get used to motion of boat; the stern tender's job to "watch the weather"; boat sheltering during rough weather; enjoyment for crew being minimal when at sea; on shore, girls would dance on T.I.; the limitations of the boats in rough weather; the crew taking precautions at sea; reputations of the boats being similar; his feelings on seeing the "Floria" being refitted in Cairns; maintenance on boats including the spring tide time at Badu. Big overhauls were on T.I at end of season; he comments on the song "The Floria Sails Again", the vocal recording being done at Badu Island; memories coming back to him whilst recording the song.
- Biography/History:
-
The Floria is a 52-foot Torres Strait pearling lugger that worked the tropical coasts of Queensland, usually with a twelve man crew. It was built in 1914 at Thursday Island (T.I) by Japanese shipwrights. It sank accidentally in Cairn's harbour in 2002 and was raised by the Cairns Maritime Museum and refitted. In the 1960s, Seaman Dan skippered its sister ship the "Grafton". He wanted to write a song about the beautiful boats and hard working crews of that era.
- Notes:
-
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this recording may contain names and voices of deceased persons.
- Recorded on Apr. 11, 2004 at Horn Island, Qld.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (2 p.)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Musicians
- Other authors/contributors:
- Neuenfeldt, Karl William, 1947-, interviewer
- Also Titled:
- Henry Dan interviewed by Karl Neuenfeldt in Saltwater songs collection
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2074 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2004
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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