Featured News 25 Jul '08 MINISTER GARRETT DELIVERS THE GOOD OIL: Commonwealth Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett this afternoon stood on the jetty at Half Moon Bay to gaze at Australia's last remaining colonial warship and ponder its fate. Joined by representatives of the National Trust Australia, National Trust Victoria, Friends of the Cerberus and a bevy of media Mr Garrett announced the first ever funding by an Australian Commonwealth government to aid in the preservation of our most at risk heritage asset. ... (read the entire item here). 22 Jun '07 MADDEN MOVES ON CERBERUS: In correspondence dated 20 June '07 the Victorian Minister for Planning, Justin Madden MLC, has confirmed his recent formal approach to the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Resources suggesting that <quote> "our respective departments develop a joint funding proposal on Cerberus. I have asked Heritage Victoria to pursue this proposal with its colleagues in Canberra." ..... (read the entire item here). 11 Jun '07 HMAS CASTLEMAINE CELEBRATES 65th ANNIVERSAY - 17 JUNE '07: One of 60 'Corvettes' built in Australia for service during WW2, HMAS Castlemaine emerged from Williamstown's Naval Dockyard in 1942 and went on to serve as an escort in Australia, New Guinea, the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the China Sea during WW2 in addition to use as a minesweeper, survey and supply ship. For more than 20 years following the war it became a training vessel at HMAS Cerberus, Western Port and is currently a magnificent floating Maritime Museum at Gem Pier Williamstown, Victoria. On Sunday 17 June '07 the ship will celebrate her distinguished war-time and peace-time service, which saw the restored Castlemaine ultimately become a museum ship in 1971. (cont'd on the network news page). 17 Dec '06 NATIONAL HERITAGE PLACE AT RISK: An engineer consulting with Friends of the Cerberus has indicated that the only ship on Australia's National Heritage List has begun to lose alignment due to twisting of the structure as she settles unevenly under the massive weight of her armour. If some serious preservation work is not commenced on the Cerberus soon we will be embarrassed by the first demise of a heritage icon from the National Heritage List. This news comes barely a year after the much celebrated inclusion of the former warship HMVS Cerberus on our federal government's premier heritage listing.  (full details on the network news page). 05 Sep '06 HMVS CERBERUS - HUGE CROWD GATHERS TO CELEBRATE: Congratulations to Friends of the Cerberus on attracting large numbers of supporters from across the generational divide to last Sunday's celebration of Australia's only battleship. Network Administrator and Friends' President John Toogood has labelled the event as "our most successful 'call-to-arms' yet". Mr Toogood made particular mention of some groups and individuals whose contributions, in addition to those of their hard-working board members, "continue to inspire rapidly growing support for our cause". In addition to Friends' Patron John Wood (Commander - Victorian Navy), other notable attendees during the afternoon included Cr Derek Wilson (Mayor of Bayside), Noel Pullen MLC (State Member for Higinbotham), Janice Munt MP (State Member for Mordialloc), Senator Lynne Allison (Leader - Australian Democrats) and Lindsay Rex (President - Maritime Heritage Association of Victoria). Friends of the Cerberus' board extends a vote of thanks for "attending our showcase promotion of the year and the visible expression of support that your actions convey".  (cont'd on the network news page). 20 Aug '06 DEVELOPER STEPS IN TO SAVE THE CLIPPER 'CITY OF ADELAIDE'?: The historic clipper 'City of Adelaide', which still holds down the #4 spot on our Network Heritage List, may have been saved from right under the wrecker's ball by a corporate 'white knight' in the guise of property developer Tim Roper. Mr Roper is reported to have purchased the ship for just £1 stirling. (cont'd on the network news page). 27 Jun '06 JOHN BROADWATER (PROJECT MONITOR) HERE FOR CERBERUS: Dr John Broadwater, famous for his key role with ongoing efforts to preserve remains of the USS Monitor, has indicated that one of the primary reasons for his travelling here to attend the upcoming 'Iron, Steel and Steam seminar' is to visit Melbourne and the Cerberus. In recent communications he has also briefed senior officials from the 'Monitor National Maritime Sanctuary' on our preservation plan and efforts to secure funding. Dr Broadwater maintains a keen interest in preservation efforts currently pursued by Friends of the Cerberus and has made himself available to assist in any way during his short stay.  (see Press Release on the network news page). 19 May '06 JOHN WOOD COMES OUT IN SUPPORT OF CERBERUS: The renowned gold Logie winning television star has today been 'outed' in the Herald-Sun as a 'Friend of the Cerberus'. Mr wood has accepted the role of Patron to the organization charged with leading a campaign to 'save the Cerberus. The announcement of his support for efforts to preserve the ex Victorian Navy flag ship comes just in time to add weight when it is most needed as the campaign enters a critical new stage. "The Americans would kill for a piece of history like this" said Wood, star of the long running series Blue Healers. "It's our heritage and we owe it to the next generation to keep it intact. ... She is worth saving and it has to be done now because time is running out," he said. (cont'd on the network news page). 20 Apr '06 PRINCE'S PIER RESTORATION GETS FUNDING Great news for current #2 spot-holder on the Network Heritage List (Cultural), the following was posted yesterday (19 Apr) by ABC NewsOnline - 'The Victorian Government will spend around AUD 14m refurbishing the historic Princes Pier at Port Melbourne. (cont'd on the network news page). 14 Dec '05 With a stirring commendation of campaigners who have worked to preserve the historic ship our Federal Minister's representative Andrew Robb AO MP threw his support and that of the department behind them with an announcement earlier today that Victoria's own HMVS Cerberus has been included on the National Heritage List (cont'd on the network news page). 04 Mar '05 The main armaments of Victoria's one-time flagship and the Royal Australian Navy's first capital warship (19th century iron monitor HMVS Cerberus) have been lifted clear of the massive turrets that housed them since 1870. This historic task was finally completed on the afternoon of Thursday 3 March 2005 (photo's below). Membership details can be found on the "Network News" page. To join The Heritage Network as an associate simply send the administrator your contact details. 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