Joan Pease MP (left) with Simon Steenland OAM. Photo: Supplied.
CONTRIBUTED BY JOAN PEASE MP
Congratulations to Simon Steenland of Manly, Qld, on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), in the King’s birthday honours list, for services to youth and sailing.
This award is a well-earned recognition of Simon’s contribution to his adopted country, Australia, through his conception and creation (in 1993) and ongoing support of the Queensland Sail Training Ship, South Passage.
Coming to Australia from the Netherlands in the seventies, Simon forged a successful career in the building industry. At the bicentennial celebrations in Sydney in 1988, he noticed that Queensland was not represented by a tall ship. He decided to do something about it.
After first building a racing yacht out of aluminium to test the material, Simon engaged Brisbane naval architect, the late Rick James, to design the gaff schooner South Passage, based on the lines of 19th-century American pilot schooners.
South Passage was launched in 1993. With a crew of volunteers, he sailed the coasts of NSW and Queensland, canvassing schools and youth groups to engage in the youth development opportunities offered by crewing a sailing ship at sea. She’s been operating successfully ever since.
Although not involved in the day-to-day management of the ship, Simon maintains a keen interest in his creation and is always on hand to help resolve maintenance and operational issues.
His foresight, perseverance and leadership are inspiring to all those involved with South Passage.
Now owned and operated by the not-for-profit Sail Training Association of Qld Inc., South Passage has provided tens of thousands of young Australians with life-lessons in resilience, perseverance, teamwork and leadership through the youth development program known as South Passage – Adventure under Sail.
She has also provided a social outlet, camaraderie, purpose and life skills to hundreds of volunteer crew members over her 33 years of continuous operation, not to mention furthering the marine careers of numerous professional crew members.
All those who have sailed on South Passage would, no doubt, like to sincerely thank Simon for the opportunity he has given them to improve their lives, and congratulate him on this well-deserved award.
