Aussie is waiting

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 19

Aussie is waiting

When “All the Rivers Run” was shown on Australian television, many Australians were moved to book holidays on the Murray River, locale for the series. Australian tourism offices expect a similar mini-boom in New Zealanders visiting the Murray River as a result of this week’s screening of the series on Two.

“All the Rivers Run,” based on the bestselling novel by Nancy Cato, revolves around Delie Gordon (played by Sigrid Thornton) who is shipwrecked on the Victorian coast as a youngster, goes to live with her uncle on a farm near the Murray River port of Echuca, and at 18 becomes part-owner of a paddlewheeler.

Delie meets a riverman, Brenton Edwards, whom she eventually marries — on the river. The two become involved in many adventures, one highlight

being a dramatic paddlesteamer race. When Brenton is seriously injured, Delie directs her energies into becoming a riverboat captain herself. Throughout the series, the Murray River provides a colourful scenic backdrop, in addition to the key role played by the paddlewheelers themselves. Riverboats and river scenery are much the same today, according to the Australian Tourist Commission. The Murray even continues to breed and attract individualists — people of character and colour. The commission’s New Zealand regional manager, Bernie Scholz, expects the television series to enthuse many more New Zealanders to holiday in the Murray valley region, which runs

through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Mr Schulz says visitors can still experience the river by paddlewheeler. From Echuca, home port for Delie’s P.S. Philadelphia, a paddlesteamer called the Emmylou cruises throughout the year. Emmylou was built only a few years ago, but to a classic design and with a veteran steam engine. Another new paddlewheeler, the Murray River Queen, is built on traditional lines and cruises from the South Australian riverport of Goolwa, close to the Murray Mouth.

Her owners will soon have another replica paddlewheeler in action, but this time built to the design of old-time Mississippi steamers. The Murray Princess is scheduled to commence cruising from Renmark in August. The Murray Explorer, which sailed regularly from Renmark for many years, has now moved to Mildura in Victoria. Its weekly cruise programme includes a visit to the historic New South Wales port of Wentworth. The Explorer is a Rhine-style cruiser. Mildura is alive with paddleboats, offering scenic cruises, lunch trips or longer excursions. Short paddlewheeler cruises are also offered at Swan Hill and other points along the river.

Bernie Schulz says another popular means of holidaying on the Murray is aboard a houseboat. “Roomy, well-appointed boats can be rented through travel agants. They allow flexible sightseeing and recreations such as swimming and fishing,” he says.