How can you help?

The MV Cape Don was one of three purpose built ships that serviced navigational aids and lighthouses around the Australian coastline for a period of 37 years from the early 1960s. The 'Don' is the last remaining vessel of its type, her two sister ships having gone to the breaker's yards. The ship was left derelict on Sydney Harbour until our team of volunteers, including past crew from all three vessels, took on the task of restoring her under the umbrella of the Sea Heritage Foundation (a charitable Trust established for the specific purpose of holding the vessel in trust).

We have no paid staff carrying out this work, and without public support, donations (private & commercial) and the Society's volunteers, the Cape Don will follow her sister ships to the breaker's yard.

Your donation will be used to purchase materials, repair tools and equipment, and to restore and paint areas of the hull and superstructure in an effort to bring her back, as far as possible, to her original 1960s condition.

Please help by either

• Donating online or by post;
• Becoming a member of the MV Cape Don Society (visit our website at www.mvcapedonsociety.org.au and click on 'Join the Society')
• Become a volunteer, either working onboard the ship or behind the scenes, helping to raise the necessary funds. You don't have to be a qualified person, just someone who would love to work with great people, your fellow shipmates, who do not wish to see one of Australia's maritime heritage vessels lost for all time.

Benefit to the community

The community will benefit by being able to take part in a Bridge to Bilge tour of a 2000t ship of the Commonwealth Lighthouse Service Museum, being able to observe maritime equipment and machinery in use and, in the future, actually taking part in operating engine room machinery. Having the knowledge that there is a vessel available on Sydney Harbour to be used as insitu training for various sea going trades..

Key Areas of Expenditure