The promise that was mentioned in the previous blog is an integral part of this voyage. Our great grandfather, Martin A. Petrich started a shipyard, Western Boat Building Co., on the port of Tacoma. The company's work was widely publicized, especially among the pages of a national magazine The Pacific Fisherman. This magazine landed in the hands of the Haldane family in Port Ferry, Austrailia. William Haldane (keeper of the light house in Port Ferry) was very interrested, and started a correspondance with our great uncle Hervey Petrich (of Northwest boat Builders Co.).
In the letters sent back and forth they developed a friendship and later arrived at an agreement for the Petriches to give the Haldanes the plans for one of their greatest boats they'd ever designed. When the cost arose Hervey said "Don't bother paying me for the plans, someday you can do me a favor in return." -- today is the day! The Haldanes are offering us the experience of a lifetime to travel down under with them and reconnect. We are eager to make the most of this.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Journey Begins
We're in count down mode. Less than six months to go!
We, Kathleen and Forrest Petrich, are second cousins but fourth generation Croatian-Americans. We are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. We two high school students plan to venture out of the borders of the U.S. into the waters of the Tasman Sea between Australia and Tasmania in February 2011. We aim to execute a shared promise between the Petrich Family of Tacoma and the Haldane Family of Australia. This blog will tell the story of the boat-building Petriches and the family in Australia that were gifted the plans to the Petriches' Western Explorer to build the FV Tacoma. This is the boat that we will travel aboard from Tasmania to the Australian mainland in February '11. Come on our journey!
We, Kathleen and Forrest Petrich, are second cousins but fourth generation Croatian-Americans. We are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. We two high school students plan to venture out of the borders of the U.S. into the waters of the Tasman Sea between Australia and Tasmania in February 2011. We aim to execute a shared promise between the Petrich Family of Tacoma and the Haldane Family of Australia. This blog will tell the story of the boat-building Petriches and the family in Australia that were gifted the plans to the Petriches' Western Explorer to build the FV Tacoma. This is the boat that we will travel aboard from Tasmania to the Australian mainland in February '11. Come on our journey!
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