The Mid North Coast has maritime links that span many countries but few would be aware of the role Taree has had in helping re-establish a Sacred Heart Mission in Papua New Guinea through the mission boat, the Morning Star.
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The story of the Morning Star is but a small part of the long history of Catholicism in Papua.
It starts in 1605, when the Spanish Expedition under the command of explorer Luis Vaez de Torres sailed into the Pacific and came to the shores of what is now Papua New Guinea.
His ship, the Elmoranta, dropped anchor on the south side of Sideia Island at the eastern end of Papua.
Torres named this island the 'Island of Saint Bonaventure'.
A Franciscan Chaplain was on board; it was the custom on all Spanish expeditions for the priest to go ashore wherever the ship anchored.
This event is recorded on a white wooden cross that was erected on this spot.
Written on the cross are the words: "Here on 28th April 1605, the Franciscan Chaplain on Torres' Ship came ashore and said the first known Mass to be celebrated in Papua."
The Sacred Heart Mission on Sideia Island was established in 1932.
It flourished until 1942 when Japanese forces attacked the area. The war years witnessed the complete destruction of much of the mission.
In 1944, the first missionaries were able to return to Sideia and begin the re-construction of the mission.
Because the mission consists of so many isolated islands, boats are essential.
The most important boat was the Morning Star, a Taree-built ship that became the flagship of the Sacred Heart Mission fleet on Sideia Island.
The Morning Star was built by Bill Ryan and launched at Taree in August 1946.
She was purpose built for the Sacred Heart Mission at Sideia, near Samarai, Papua.
Father Jim Dwyer, a missionary of the Sacred Heart, commissioned Messrs. W. O. Ryan and Sons to design and construct a 52ft. mission vessel.
Jim Dwyer had only been released from his army chaplaincy in 1944 and had returned to the mission at Sideia to help rebuild after the wartime destruction.
Due to the pressure of war-work for the Ministry of Munitions, Ryan was unable to lay the keel until August 1945.
Meanwhile, timbers had been ordered - spotted gum for the hull and framework, an abundance of ti-tree knees and white beech for her decking.
Backed by nine years' experience of small craft in the tropics, Jim Dwyer instructed the builders that all fastenings on the ship above and below deck should be of copper and brass only.
Father Dwyer supervised the vessel's completion.
Not only was the hull built in Taree but every component was installed in Taree.
Haden Bros. installed her 60 h.p. 'Vivian' diesel engine, and all the electrical installations throughout the boat were made locally.
On May 12, 1947, the vessel was complete and loaded with mission goods, stores and medical equipment ready for her maiden voyage.
The crew of six members comprised: Captain Cecil O'Dea, Sydney solicitor and ex-R.A.N. officer; engineer Pierce Quinlan, of Sydney, and formerly of the R.A.N.; mate, W. Ryan, jun., of Taree, and three seamen - Tommy Forsythe, Frank Geddes, both of Sydney, and Bill Thomas, of Taree.
She sailed via Bundaberg and Cairns, arriving safely on Sideia on Friday, June 6, 1947.
Within a short time she was dispatched on her first voyage.
Maximo Castro was appointed the first captain with Joe Tanby as engineer.
The first trip to the Trobriands was successful and the Morning Star proved her sea-worthiness.
In early 1948, a lay missionary, Kevin McGhee, came to Sideia and took over the Morning Star from Maximo Castro; he remained as captain for five years.
Such was the connection between Taree and Sideia that Bill Ryan offered to help local people build boats on Sideia.
On April 1, 1948, Father Kevin Murphy arrived at Sideia and with him was Bill Ryan and his son.
Along with local craftsmen they laid the keels of three new 30ft launches.
The Morning Star was in constant use along the Papuan coast until 2007.
During 1964 Brother Moore and his boatbuilders completely overhauled the Morning Star and rebuilt the cabin and superstructure.
Papua New Guinea achieved independence on September 16, 1975 and Sideia celebrated with a special mass.
The new flag was raised and three days of celebration followed.
December 10, 1980 was the day that shocked the entire mission.
Their flagship, the Morning Star, with a load of school children on board, hit a reef in the Nivani passage whilst en route to Rossel Island.
Local planter, Dusty Miller, dispatched his small launch and made his way to the Morning Star.
Dusty's launch came alongside and the smaller children were transferred and landed safely on a small sandy atoll.
Eventually all passengers were safely brought ashore by the little launch and after a few days the Morning Star was freed from the reef.
Following the events of 1980, the Morning Star spent many months on the slip and under repair; the engine was completely overhauled in Australia and the ship re-surveyed by the government.
The final report from 2007 describes the celebrations on the island of Sideia marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first Australian missionary, Father Frank Lyons on April 22, 1932.
In perfect weather, the Morning Star, filled to capacity with visitors, anchored off Sideia Island late in the morning on April 22, 2007.
The final fate of the Morning Star is yet to be uncovered.
For more shipping history from the Manning and Great Lakes, click here.
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