Grand Old Dame Sets Course For New Shore

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 15, 2009

By STEPHEN RYAN

IN a scene that could have come straight from the history books, the schooner Alma Doepel slipped gracefully out of Newcastle Harbour yesterday bound for her new home in Melbourne.

The century-old ship was in port to gather supplies and and for her crew to make minor adjustments before the next leg of their voyage.

The three-masted topsail schooner has been based in Port Macquarie for seven years and will undergo further restoration once it reaches Melbourne.

Built at Bellingen, on the NSW North Coast, in 1903, the Alma Doepel was originally used to carry timber from Port Macquarie to New Zealand.

She has had numerous owners and performed various tasks over the years, including a stint with the Australian Army during World War II.

The Alma Doepel has also been used as a training ship for novice sailors and in 1988 joined the Young Endeavour for Australia's bicentennial celebrations on Sydney Harbour.

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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