Rolly Taskers new Marine Museum plans get the shaft... WE HAD A WIN!!!

[Wild Dingo]

Most of you would have heard of Rolly Tasker that sail maker fella well he lives down here in Mandurah and has plans for a Marine Museum to be built in town as a gift to the community... Pretty cool stuff!!

Recently theres been a contraversy raging here about Rolly and his museum so I will give some information available from the Mandurah Mail article that showed up today

Now Rolly is 76 years old has raced and sailed since he was 10 and built many of his boats and has made a world wide name for sail making... whats not known about Rolly is that hes a man on a mission and when he gets a mission happening he goes hell for leather...

like the time he decided to build a model of every yacht that competed in the Americas cup since 1851... Rolly couldnt find an artist to do it so what he did was to do it himself... built from scratch some 61 models which is believed to be the only complete set in world... its been leant for display to New Zealand San Diago and Newport.

Now over the years Rolly has collected an awesome array of memorabilia that includes not only the above but also displays of Australias sailing history sicne 1900... A written history of each Americans cup event... 132 scale models of every Australian class yatch to have reached fleet status... 100 framed marine art works by John Mecray and Tim Thompson among others... An honour board for Australian Olympic sailers... Burgees from all Australian yatch clubs... 12 wax figures of famous skippers commodores and owners... scale models and illistrations of the 62 challengers and defenders of the Americas cup since 1851 ... among other marine related memorabilia.

Now Rolly is wanting to build {at his own cost} a museum on the forshore on his own land near the new whacketty dak marina hes had the architects draw up the plans not once but in total some 4 times to placate the local shire council... who keep changing the rules to suit... 2 house owners! ...Now this is the same shire council that allowed development to begin of a over height over width over everything backpakers hostel that will effect 80 home owners whos complaints along with those of many community members were totally ignored at every meeting... but this is also the shire council who states its "for the tourist" with some really excellent developments that have and will cost many millions of dollars but do infact enhance the region as a good tourist venue...

However! When Rolly offered this in the first place this same council said ooh thats flamin great mate! draw up some plans and we will see... so hes drawn and drawn and drawn and every time hes foiled by the same council.

In Rollys latest statement to the local community he is as he says "getting on a bit" and this whole deal of wanting to freely give back to the community this monumental marine gift has begun to wear him down...

Now Rolly and his wife have headed down to New Zealand to enjoy a respite with the Americas Cup mob... and good on him!... but hes wearing down I fear... after some two years of fighting with the Shire it appears that soon hes gonna find another shire or country that will bend over backwards to help him after all its not going to cost them anything!!... Personally I think this museum SHOULD go ahead as I for one would love to be able to go and have a gander!! what a collection!

So John B if your there mate and you see old Rolly {and hes a pretty nice chap from all reports!} let him know there are some fellas who are takin up the baton over here and not to give up on Mandurah yet!!!

And no I havent managed to wangle a looksee but then Im just getting arcked up about this so Im hopefull if I can stir something up then he may say "well done young fella come have a gander" and then I can post some amazing photos!!!

email letters of support through the local rag would be appreciated through Mandurah Mail The shire can be blast... err emailed at Mandurah Shire Council web site

Any support would be appreciated!
Take it easy
Shane

Okay I just checked that Mandurah Mail link and Im damned if I can find anything on the story! anyway its title was "Planning wrangle holds up sailing museum" by Daniela Englmayr subtitles of "setback dispute stalls plans" "The man behind the project" seems that this issue is one the Mail doesnt want aired outside the area?? the letters section has one as well titled "Museum should be given go ahead" by Robina McConnell but hey guess what? it aint there! so all your gonna get is what Ive said above and whatever else I can get!!... ****es!!

[ 02-20-2003, 03:52 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

[Mike Field]

.
Well, I emailed them for you Shane. But I've had quite a bit to do with Council Planning Departments over the years, and I don't think I've met up with a competent one yet. (Let's face it, local councils are largely staffed by people who don't know how to think for themselves, and directed by people who don't want them to.)

You might be better off going to your Planning Tribunal to get the Council to show cause why a permit shouldn't be issued. If you do that and get the permit, then of course you'll need to be prepared to battle the Council all over again to get a building permit. And getting the building permit will be harder than it would otherwise be, if you've had to lean on them (via the Tribunal) to get the planning permit in the first place. Am I being clear?

Tasker would find his life a lot simpler I think if he just offered the museum to the next Council up the water.
.

[Wild Dingo]

Yeah Mike and I think hes probably thinking the same thing by now... bloody shame all the same... well thanks for the emails mate never know enough interstate and or international emails along with us locals and who knows?? Like to think positive anyway

[Lucky Luke]

Thank you Mr. Shane / Wild dingo / Superman a.s.o...a.s.o... for your concern about Rolly Tasker. A nice man he is -I can confirm -, and his collection too, although it was far from what you describe at the time I knew him. I was wondering where he had gone since we both were working in Thailand (I had "something" to do with the Mirabella super-sloops there, and quite some with present Mirabella V). I know he moved from Pattaya to Phuket (both places in Thailand), but did not know he was back in Oz. What you tell is - alas - significant of the lack of interest that many councils seem to have -worldwide- for personal efforts to keep alive the history of yachting, and even of Maritime history. Here, in France, it's only thanks to the efforts of well known Eric Tabarly that our National Maritime museum is still alive in the center of Paris. Other museums have diappeared, and -that will make you sad - some of their boats SCRAPED!!! So, Mr "Wild Dingo", if you, "mates", can do something to help good old Rolly, please, do it. Thank you.
(sory for my mistakes: English is not my mother language)
LUKE

[ 02-17-2003, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: Lucky Luke ]

[paladin]

I also will vouch for Mr. Tasker......He built two suits of sails for two circumnavigations on my boats when he had the loft above Anthony W.K.Wong's yard in Hong Kong. His son now runs the Phuket loft and has recently quoted new sails for me. Give my regards to the old man....

[Wild Dingo]

Chuck no worries mate... but I think hes still sittin over there in Kiwi land watchin the big boats flop around over there in the Americas Cup ... Mind here I do intend to track him down and make his aquaintanse when he returns! ...I now have a very real NEED to see this collection!!

Originally posted by Lucky Luke:
Mr. Shane / Wild dingo / Superman a.s.o...a.s.o

ROFLMAO!!!

[Wild Dingo]

Update...
The Mandurah Mail carried this story about Rolly's museum

It appears its NOW got the green light! Id like to think that we had some small imput into that decision by the way... CHEERS! to all who took the time to email either the shire or the mail with their views.

Yes from the story Id say the 2 affected land owners are still not happy with it but hopefully the shire will keep their word and it will be built!

JohnB if you get a chance to see Rolly? [img]smile.gif[/img] Just let him know it now seems the museum is a goer! Mind here mate if you do see him tell him Shane would LOVE to have a gander when he gets back here!!!

Again thanks!!!

[ 02-20-2003, 03:50 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

[Jerry Sousa]

All together now... "for he's a Rolly good fellow..."!

[Wild Dingo]

Gidday there Jerry!!

Hows your boat going? How about posting an update?

I rang the shire and mail today after I posted the one above... and spoke with a couple of people I know there and seems both places recieved "a quite a few emails from all over the place" about it with the comment "someone must have some serious contacts" {didnt mention it were me and me mates! } and they were all tabled along with the letters and emails from the local community at a meeting the other day {that I didnt know about! } and it was decided to adjust the shires recommendation and let it go ahead...

So it does seem that we had a bit of a win alright!! ...WBF People power!!...

Now about your boat Jerry hows it coming on??

[ 02-20-2003, 11:37 AM: Message edited by: Wild Dingo ]

[Johannah]

Shane, will you for heaven's sake take credit for the win. You ARE the one with the connections, though wisely didn't say so to the locals. Let 'em wonder what really powerful and famous person it was who sicked the world on them. I think the affect on their decision is legit because we all know about Mandurah now, are therefore more likely to visit and recommend it to friends as a must see (home of famous human marsupial and brood) and we just happen to care about maritime history. So legit! But take a bow, little brother.

Sis

[Jerry Sousa]

Now Shane, I'm thinking that you'd make for a passable tour guide in Rolly's new museum or better yet, what about as one of the exhibits!!

You know, - "the Shipwrecked Mariner", com'n man I've seen your picture, you were born for the part!! Think of the attractions; you'd never have to buy a razor blade again in your life, could walk bare footed in shorts around the "island", all the while clutching a dead seagull in one hand and schooner plans in the other.

You'd have to give the punters a bit of chat, no problem for yourself there, something like:

"Uffa Fox sake, why'd I go drop ma laptop in the deep blue sea, oh woe is me, it's in the deep blue sea. Tools I have in my old sea chest, and a rusty nail or three. But how's a man to build his boat, without the help of the WoodenBoat Forum family."

Ahh... the report on Teakila will be ready any moment now Cap'n.

[Johannah]

If someone on the forum knows how to contact Rolly Tasker, maybe they could send him this whole thread. The Dingo could be a useful man for a museum that's nautical. Not silly at all, I think. Hmmmmmmm......

Tell him lot's of us (including me) have bought his sails.

[ 02-20-2003, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Johannah ]

[Otter]

Well.. the first thing that crossed my mind was, "Just how much does he charge for those sails??"

[Wild Wassa]

Dingo, we have plenty of room next to our boat sheds. He could put the museum there. It would fit very nicely between our boat sheds and the Australian Swimming Federation's HQ, that has just been completed. There are only three buildings on the site. So much space, it's criminal. The third one is the Water Police. They have moved out and we (Sea Scouts) have moved in, ... two new boat sheds.

Dingo when he returns let him know. If your Council doesn't appreciate an Australian Icon, I think we would. We are big on museums in Canberra. As you probably know.

The Museum of Australia looks lonely on the headland, that would be another good spot. Right between the new Museum of Australia, and the Australian National University. On the shores of Lake Burley-Griffin. We are on Lake Ginninderra. He could launch a yacht on LBG. Send him over Dingo.

He could call it the 'National Capital Maritime Museum'. The passing tourist traffic would be amazing.

Warren.

ps, If he's into swinging cats, ... he wouldn't hit anything.

[ 02-20-2003, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]