A Gala Black Tie Fundraiser will be held at the National Maritime Museum on Saturday the 20th of November 2021 to raise for funds for the heritage vessel Cape Don and for indigenous maritime training programmes.
The event will be held in the appropriately named “Lighthouse Gallery” to assist in raising funds to dry dock the ship at the Garden Island Naval Dockyard in the new year for some maintenance, repairs, a hull clean and a re-paint with Thales Group.
Guest speakers for the night are:
- Ms. Linda Burney MP, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians
- Captain Melwyn Noronha, Chief Executive Officer, Shipping Australia
- Commodore Charles Huxtable RAN, Commodore Naval Training Command
The Sea Heritage Foundation has been restoring the ship, with the assistance of the volunteers and members of the MV Cape Don Society.
The Cape Don, built at the Newcastle State Dockyards, NSW, and completed in January 1963, is one of a unique class of ships that was purpose-built to service navigational aids (including manned lighthouses), primarily along the Western Australian coast. It was built as a mini-liner, with lavish passenger accommodation necessary to carry officials, technicians, relief lighthouse crews and their families, for prolonged periods.
In addition to the ship’s current role as a maritime museum (the Commonwealth Lighthouse Museum), the board of the Sea Heritage Foundation has expanded the strategic plan to provide a static training platform that will create positive social and economic change in closing the Indigenous employment gap within Australia’s maritime sector.
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The pilot program, scheduled for May 2022, will be specifically tailored towards indigenous people who want to undergo General Purpose Hand training on board a ship. This will help break barriers restricting pathways to employment.
The vessel will also be delivering community engagement programs to educate school children about the maritime industry to provide insights into career opportunities while showcasing the ship’s valuable role in our maritime history.
“With the end of lockdown approaching, you deserve a night out in a COVID-safe, socially distant environment. Dust off your tux or evening gown and join us to celebrate the future of the MV Cape Don at the National Maritime Museum. The night will be filled with excitement as we reflect on the ship’s history while looking to her exciting future. Enjoy 5-star fine dining, and the excellent conversation of our guest speakers with the twilight flicker of Darling Harbour lights only meters away!” exclaimed a spokesperson for the Sea Heritage Foundation.
To purchase event tickets from Humanitix, click here (tickets are tax-deductible donations). Tickets can be purchased as single items or as whole tables with several pricing options to chose from. Companies with an ABN number may buy tax-deductible tickets by invoice.
