Donation for Alma Doepel

By Mindy Gill

Alma Doepel was granted a $7500 cheque last month from the Freemasons Foundation of Victoria to assist with her restoration.

The Alma is owned by Sail & Adventure and director Sally Shepherdson told Docklands News that the grant covered the cost of the timber for the horizontal spar.

“It’s the one that voyagers actually have the most fun on: when they go up the mast. It’s where they can hang off,” she said.

The cheque covers the purchase of Douglas Fir, imported from Oregon, to restore masts, booms, gaffs, yards and derricks.

So far, Sail and Adventure has hit the halfway mark at $1.5million in funding for the restoration, with $1.5 million to go.