Hal Harpur Awards

The Association presents awards each year to the people who, in the past 12 months, have undertaken projects which contribute to our objectives of encouraging the retention of traditional wooden boat building skills or the preservation of historical wooden boats or maritime artefacts.

In 2026 the award was expanded to recognise contributions in various categories. The best overall contribution to these objectives receives the the Hal Harpur trophy, a perpetual award named after one of the Association’s founding members, the late Hal Harpur.

Completed entries should be sent to the WBA NSW Secretary – secretary@wbansw.asn.au or posted to our mailing address as shown on the Contact page.

The requirements and rules governing the awards can be found on the back of the entry form.

Download Entry Form

Entry Form

Download Award Process

Award Process

Past Hal Harpur Award Winners

2025

Ian Smith

For the 10 year build of the Ranger Class yacht  Volunteer. Nominated by Peter Widders

Other nominees:

  • Shane Greaves, Ross Venner and member Paul Scotland of Concord and Ryde Sailing Club’s (CRSC) Winter Build Program for the Rainbow Class Dinghies Bendigo and Lorikeet. Nominated by Dave Giddings
  • Finn Irvine for his restoration of the Wayfarer class dinghy, Belle. Nominated by Guy Russell
2024

Francesca Greaves

For the Imperium Moth Escaping Darkness

Other nominees:

  • Making Waves Foundation – Rainbow Class Dinghy
  • Concord and Ryde Sailing Club Winter Build Program – Rainbow class dinghies COLOUR SPECTRUM & POT OF GOLD
2023

Shane Greaves for two Scow Moths

Other nominees:

  • Michael Hale and Dick Bedell – Gartside Rowing Skiff
  • Matt Goddard – Ross Lillistone sail/power and rowing craft
  • Michael Coleman – self-modified McGreggor canoe design
  • Peter Widders – self design & build of 2.8m canoe
  • Shane Greaves – Rainbow Class yacht
2022

Lake Macquarie Classic Boat Association

For their four David Payne Pittwater rowing skiffs

2021

Bob Tullett and Mile Warner

For the multi-year restoration of the Lake boat One Day

Nominated by Rob Hardy

Other nominees:

  • Matt Tyler and Grant Mason – Vivier-designed Ilur, Vagabond
  • Neil Henderson – Oughtred-designed Gannet, Plockton
  • Bill Thompson – Folkboat, Isabella
  • Malcolm Boyd – 6 ft Oughtred Pram, Jabiloo
2020

‘The Crew’ Jervis Bay Maritime Museum

For the multi-year restoration of the fishing boat Crest

Nominated by John Bell

Other nominees:

  • Bob Davies, – Judges’ Commendation – Glen-L Riviera
  • Ian Smith – “The 18 footer Britannia: 100 years of a Sydney Icon”
  • Eric Simes – model of a Paul Gartside designed skiff
2019

Ian Smith

for Wooden Boatbuilding – The Sydney Wooden Boat School Manuals

Nominated by Peter Widders

Other nominees:

  • Ken Ewings –restoration of Sandpiper 4 a 65-year old 5.5m clinker boat formerly a mooring minder
  • Mark Pearse –scale model of a Cliff Gale- designed 28ft harbour racer.
  • Andrew Brodie –Iain Oughtred-designed Penny Fee8m skiff.
  • Simon Jonas –5.9m Glen L – designed Monaco
2018

Karen Portch

For the completion of Isis

Nominated by Jon Bell

2017

Tim Calleia

for building an Arch Davis Penobscot 14

Nominated by Jay McCord

Other nominees:

  • Chris Cleary (2 craft) – sunfish and sailing canoe
  • Adrian Laing – red dory
  • John Capaldi – houseboat
  • Dirk Schneider – red runabouts
  • Greg Widders – Thames Skiff
2016

Ken Barrows

For building a 14ft Tomales Bay One Design, by Paul Gartside

Nominated by Dave Giddings

Other nominees:

  • Michael Bourne – a 4.57 metre beachcruiser sail boat
  • Marcel Kievit – a 4.8 metre Fisher Design Canadian Canoe
  • Kevin Isle – 
  • fabrication of a half scale model of a Robert Logan yacht
  • Gary Thorn – fabrication of a tunnel race boat based on a 30 year old vessel
  • Antony Harvey- building a 4.2 metre Selway Fisher style cat boat
  • Mark Swithenbank – a 4.6 metre ‘Stevenson’ Weekender
2015

David Glasson for the restoration of a 5.7 metre ships boat originally from HMAS Parramatta

Nominated by Peter Cole

2014

Peter Gossell for the fabrication of a sea cheat from “materials on hand” to house a signalling canon.

Nominated by Christopher Goddard

Other nominees:

  • Brian Jones – almost 60 plywood canoes & paddle boards
  • Antony Harvey – building a 4.5 metre boat
  • Antony Harvey, for building a 3.6 metre row boat
2013

Kevin Isle

For building a Courting Whitehall dinghy, oars and fitted with a Seagull outboard motor

Nominated by Alan Stannard

Other nominees:

  • Keith Chambers Mid North Coast Maritime Museum – Flagstaff Signal Station
  • Steve & Annabel Gunns – restoration of Hurrica V a Camper & Nicholson 72ft triple headed gaff ketch with main jackyard topsail
  • Peter Kershaw – restoration of the 102 year old 12.7 metre, Utiekah II
  • Alfred Jacobsen, – 10 foot historical skiff based on a 100 year old design
2012

Martin van der Wal

For restoration of Hoana

Nominated by the late Tony Curtis

Other nominees:

  • David Lance – restoration of putt putt Ruby Louise
  • Reg Walker – timber launch Bellallysier,
2011

Andrew Randell

For restoration & part build of a 23ft sailing vessel, Jackie R

 

2010

Jerry Bengtsson

For restoring a clinker double ended sloop, DELFIN brought over from Sweden

2008
David Hardy
For the 2 year restoration of Toby II

Other nominees:

  • Dal Harpur – clinker rowing boat
  • Henning Therkildsen – Pippen
  • Ron & Mathew Balkwell – Rubytoo

2007
Christopher Dicker
For 8 year re-building of the Jock Muir sloop Westwind
Nominated by Kate Dixon and the late Paul Smith

2006
Tony Mackay
For replacing the deck & restoring the 65’ Halvorsen, Silver Cloud
Nominated by Ken Travers

2005
Rob & Bob Gordon
For the building of the 28’ sloop Ivy
Nominated by Jan deVoogd

2004
Wal & Chris McCadames
For their restoration of Little Prince
Nominated by John Dikeman

2003
Ian Smith
Researching, building & racing Britannia (Historic 18ft Skiff)
Nominated by Bob Major

2002
Robert & Barbara Tullett
For their 3 year restoration of Faerie
Nominated by the late Giff Turner