The Lake Mac Heritage Series was placed to pay homage to the people, places and events that contributed to building and pioneering the Lake Macquarie region. The pick and shovel were chosen in this geoart series to symbolise the hard work the people of Lake Macquarie put forth into the region.
Alby Burgin
Alby Burgin was born in Boolaroo in 1915 and built his first boat at the age of 9 years. For several years he sailed Lake Macquarie waters, exploring the five islands, Cockle Creek, Warners Bay and the upper reaches of North and South Creeks, camping overnight among the river gums. These areas were largely uninhabited bushland in those days. At 10 years of age, he became crew member of an 18 foot yacht and the owner taught him how to sail, splice ropes, tie knots and hand sew japara sails. He won his first New South Wales championship, held at the Toronto Sailing Club, in 1933 with Barry Steel in a V.J. called "Rival". After WWII he began sailing with the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club and completed many coastal ocean races.
"Vanessa" was his first wholly owned yacht - a 34ft lake boat he had converted into an ocean racer in 1954, winning many lake and coastal races with his two daughters and an all girl crew. In his 66 years of competitive sailing, Alby logged more than 400,000 sea miles. Among his many sailing achievements, Alby competed in 31 Sydney to Hobart races between 1955 and 2000, winning the race in 1962 aboard "Rival", a yacht he had helped to build. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia lists Alby in its Sydney-Hobart race statistics as the oldest skipper (the 2000 Sydney to Hobart at the age of 84) and oldest sailor ever. He also won the solo New Zealand to Australia yacht race and the Bicentennial Around Australia yacht race in 1988.
Alby was granted Freedom of the City of Lake Macquarie in 1987.
In 1991 he was awarded life membership of the Shorthanded Sailing Association of Australia for his outstanding contribution to the sport. In 1994, at the age of 79 he sailed "Alstar" in the 50th Anniversary of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. His last race was the 55th Sydney to Hobart, December 1999, the last race of the 20th Century. After this race he withdrew from ocean yacht racing, aged 85, having never retired from a race. He was a volunteer in the Sailability program at Belmont 16 Footers, helping disabled children enjoy Lake Maquarie as much as he did, on a boat he had donated to the program. He died in November 2008, aged 93.
The puzzle
All historical and heritage information courtesy of Lake Mac Libraries
Any questions regarding this puzzle cache or the LMHS geoart series will be answered by clicking HERE
*** The LMHS geoart was placed in conjunction with the OzGeoMuster 2018 mega event. The Oz GeoMuster 2018 committee would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this series. ahomburg, day1976, sedgwickDave, The Morris, bobbiesgirl, and the_garbageman.***
Enjoy!
Marcus Vitruvius