Historical information

This life saving device was on the steam tug Wattle to be thrown to a person if they fell overboard. This ring has either been repainted since Wattle moved from Sydney to Melbourne or was part of the new equipment installed when Wattle was transferred to Melbourne in 1971

Physical description

Ring of buoyant material painted in white, red and blue with metal inner rim and metal outer rim with loops for attaching throwing rope. The life buoy is constructed of a foam centre and outer coating of fiberglass. An inner metal rim reinforces the construction while the outer metal rim assists with reinforcement but also provides 4 loops at 2pm, 4pm, 8pm and 10pm locations on the face of a clock. These loops have rope threaded through them to provide hand hold and grips and a method of attaching the life buoy to the boat. Decorated with red and blue lettering and insignia

Inscriptions & markings

Printed on ring "WATTLE / MELBOURNE"