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Pirate
boat a labour
of love
A personal tragedy and a can-do attitude are the inspirations behind an unusual project, writes WO2 Graham McBean.
Edition 1171, July 26, 2007 |
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EVERYTHING’S SHIPSHAPE
Hull: 8000 cans (approx)
Length: 9.1m
Width: 1.8m
Glue: More than 12 boxes of silicone.
Internal decking: 20mm compressed styrofoam, with ply and fibreglass.
Weight: Unknown, but can be lifted by two people.
Power pack: 3 outboard motors and 3 masts
Firepower: 8 customised cannons
Charge bags: Customised party poppers (original contents removed and replaced with black powder and paraffin which gives it that blast effect)
Donations: $60,000 (approx) aiming for $100,000. |
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Beer-can broadside: Pte Brad Gillam test fires a cannon before sailing HMAS Saraya – named after his daughter, who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – on the Brisbane River to raise funds for SIDS and Kids.
Photos by WO2 Graham McBean |
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PTE Brad Gillam has turned to piracy to transform tragedy into triumph and is raking in the booty for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) research in Australia.
Brad and two mates from 25/49RQR’s Toowoomba depot, LCpl Rob Meharg and Pte Chris Taylor, spent the past two years drinking 8000 cans of XXXX Gold “with the help of friends” to make a pirate boat with eight cannons.
The slightly eccentric trio had always intended to sail the boat for charity when personal tragedy struck and Brad and Belinda Gillam’s 10-week-old daughter, Saraya Rose, died of SIDS in January this year.
Both Rob and Chris had deployed to the Solomon Islands on Operation Anode when Brad emailed them about the death of Saraya Rose – it was unanimous that the charity would be SIDS and Kids.
The 80km maiden voyage of HMAS Saraya down the Brisbane River from June 22-24 launched the Red Nose Day fundraising, which is Australia’s signature fundraising activity for SIDS.
Brad and the crew of HMAS Saraya already have raised more than $60,000 toward the ultimate goal of $100,000 for SIDS and Kids Queensland.
While the original sense of fun was still a large part of the pirate enterprise it is now a labour of love for Brad to remember his daughter.
“I don’t think it’s closure. Losing your child is something you never forget,” he said.
“Hopefully, it will show others that you can move on with your life but at the same time you don’t have to forget about your child.”
Brad, Rob and Chris became inseparable friends after meeting in the Army Reserve and having a few drinks in the backyard work shed had become a regular social event.
On one particular day they lamented the lack of a nearby creek, fishing rods and a suitable boat.
The three men were inspired by the Beer Can Regatta held in Darwin and their “creative recycling project” began to channel their empty beer cans into a pirate ship.
The hull, which is 9.1m long and 1.8m wide, is double lined with empty beer cans and glued together with more than 12 boxes of silicone.
Internal decking consists of 20mm compressed Styrofoam to protect the beer cans and is topped with ply and fibreglass.
Expanding foam has been used to plug gaps in the beer cans – but the boat takes just two people to lift it because of the empty beer cans.
Functional power is provided by three outboard motors and three masts have been added to lend a pirate chic to the vessel.
It has eight functional, but harmless, cannons manufactured by Brad that are used to put on a show for spectators who turn up to support the cause.
Brad’s aim is to use the media focus from the slightly wacky adventure to channel money into SIDS research.
“I know it is going to be money well spent in research so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Brad said.
SIDS and Kids spokeswoman Yvonne Amos said the incidence of the mystery disorder was again on the increase in Australia after a 10-year drop in fatalities.
“Obviously the donations are welcome but Brad’s boat has been extremely important because it has put SIDS back on the agenda,” Ms Amos said.
“I can talk all night about SIDS but unless you have lost a child then it doesn’t mean the same – Brad and Belinda are a normal couple and their story makes it real.”
And like all good pirates, Brad said even the date of June 22 was selected as an omen with the number 22 being Brad and Belinda’s special number.
“We met on the 22nd of October, we got married on the 22nd of October and Saraya Rose was born on the 22nd of October as well.
“Hell or high water we were going to set off on the 22nd of June.”
The maiden voyage ended on June 24 and the trio was hosted at the Naval Headquarters in South Queensland for a Sunset commemoration for Saraya Rose.
Brad said his crew had already received a challenge from a team in Victoria which intended to create a beer boat from Victoria Bitter cans to race the pirates next year.
Donations will be collected until July 30 and can be made at www.sidsandkids.org. Any assistance will be appreciated.
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