THE Melbourne maritime community is mourning the passing of Captain Dick Francis who died on 10 March at the age of 86.
Captain Francis was in recent times known for his voluntary work with the steam tug Wattle and on the board of Bay Steamers Maritime Museum.
But his maritime career was extensive, including with the Ports and Harbours Trust (PHT), maintaining the port of Melbourne navigational channels and buoyage systems.
He later did a stint at Lakes Entrance in Victoria’s Gippsland region, as master on the dredger April Hamer.
Board member at Offshore & Specialist Ships Australia (OSSA) Ross Brewer said Captain Francis was “a wonderful ship’s captain”.
“Always reliable and everything was done with that wonderful smile that was so infectious creating a great atmosphere on board every ship he worked on,” Mr Brewer said.
“Dick on retirement went on to the board of Bay Steamers Maritime Museum and provided his seamanship skills there. His passion for the restoration of the steam tug Wattle was wonderful.
“Dick was also a very early member of OSSA and contributed greatly to its early formation.”
A few years ago, Bay Steamers then chair Tony Lewis wrote that Dick Francis first came to Wattle in the early in 2000s as a volunteer skipper and quickly became a regular on the skipper’s roster, usually being the first to be asked when a charter was booked.
“Dick captained Wattle on many short trips and many Bay charters and became familiar with Bay Steamers and the volunteers active at the time,” Mr Lewis wrote.
“Something must have clicked in Dick’s mind and appealed to him about us and the ship because before long he was a volunteer himself at the weekly working bees."
Captain Francis was also a long-time member of the Company of Master Mariners Australia where Daily Cargo News had the opportunity to speak with him on several occasions.
A funeral is to be held at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Wilson Chapel, at 10.45am on Friday 20 March.
The family has requested no flowers be brought to the memorial however, flowers or cards can be sent to:
Wendy Francis
Unit 197, Court 11
67 to 81 Maroondah Highway, Croydon, Vic 3136