Tourist, local favourite destroyed despite refloating efforts

PORTARLINGTON is lamenting the loss of a pier-side local favourite and tourism attraction after the sinking of popular fishing vessel “Betty”.

The ship’s stern suffered significant damage while moored at Portarlington in the past month, prompting owners and locals including the Portarlington Community Association (PCA) to frantically explore a rescue mission.

Ideas to save the ship after the damage failed to bear fruit; lifting the ship onto a towing vehicle to be transported to land was deemed to great a risk to the structure of Portarlington Pier, while a plan to tow the ship by sea to Queenscliff also sank due to fears of Betty breaking up further en route and leaving debris that would cause navigation hazards for other vessels.

The wooden former scallop boat was a favourite at Portarlington for its aesthetically pleasing, classic design that was a nod to the town’s heritage as a fishing village.

PCA president Geoff Fary said Betty would be missed near the Portarlington shore.

“She was regarded as being a quintessential part of Portarlington’s early maritime history. We had a fond regard for her,” he said.

“She was a very pretty little boat. She was one of the most remarked-on vessels by people in Portarlington and visitors here.

“She often appeared and photographs and paintings and the like.

“The new owner came to the party with a proposal, believing she was capable of being restored.”

Ideas raised for the new life of the vessel included a floating men’s shed, where local residents could be involved in the restoration of Betty to make it a community asset.

“People seemed to have a degree of support and enthusiasm for that,” Mr Fary said.

“Sadly, we weren’t able to bring that to fruition when she sank in the mooring.”

Betty was ultimately taken apart and sent to the scrap heap after efforts to refloat the ship fell short.