This week I had a second meeting with Dr Michael McCarthy, Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the WA Maritime Museum. His department is responsible on behalf of the Federal Government for all the historic wrecks off the coast of Western Australia. The reason for the meetings – Mack has a small project for me.

As mentioned before, one of Western Australia’s most important wrecks is that of the Dubrovnik-flagged vessel, the Stefano. Numerous studies and books have been written on the subject – but there are some gaps in the information published.

More research needs to be done in Rijeka where the boat was built about its construction and fit-out, and the Dubrovnik’s archives need to be plundered for anything else important.

Also Mack would like some design input on a possible monument to the men of the Stefano and the local aboriginals who saved the survivors.

There is a small mention in their latest newsletter.

And why do this research? For a possible future Masters in Maritime Archaeology.

While there I showed Roklan his great-grandmother’s and great-grandfather’s names on the Immigrants’ Memorial in front of the Museum. Dida (Ante Pecotich) arrived on the SS Cephee in 1927 and Baba (Danica Panzich) on the SS Otranto in 1937. Neither of them looks particularly luxurious.

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