Welsh choir sings to save Docklands’ maritime heritage

The future of Docklands’ heritage fleet will be in the spotlight this month, with the Australian Welsh Male Choir hosting a special sing-along to raise support for the preservation of Melbourne’s precious ships.

Locals are invited to join the free event at the Mission to Seafarers on Wednesday, May 14 between 7pm and 9pm, where the choir will perform traditional songs once sung by sailors to lift spirits at sea.

The Alma Doepel, Enterprize and steam tug Wattle have been iconic fixtures in Docklands for decades, but their futures remain uncertain amid ongoing redevelopment of their current home at North Wharf in Victoria Harbour.

The choir said that the ships, all Australian-built, played a vital role in Melbourne’s tourism economy, education, and community life, and it hoped the event would bring more attention to the need for a long-promised permanent facility in Docklands to house the fleet and safeguard its legacy.

The setlist will include the protest song Where will Alma Go? recently written by fellow mariner and former skipper of the Lady Cutler Melbourne Showboat Jeff Gordon.

Doors and the bar will open from 6.30pm, with no tickets required. Visitors can enjoy a fun and lively night while supporting the Mission to Seafarers and Melbourne’s maritime history.

The Australian Welsh Male Choir, well known for its warm community spirit, also welcomes new members to its regular rehearsals at venues across Melbourne. For more information phone Geoff Selby on 0405 987 567. •