A creative collaboration with the Albany Shantymen was undertaken to broaden the appeal and delivery boating safety messages using social media.
The Albany Shantymen describe themselves as ‘…a rowdy bunch of local blokes paying homage to Albany’s maritime heritage with rhythmic and rousing songs that stir the blood and soothe the soul.’
The group has a strong following on social media and internationally recognised with their work noted in Rolling Stone magazine and featured in the WA episode of English comedian Bill Bailey’s Australian Adventure (TV series 2023).
The collaboration, which involved local recording and filming in Albany at key locations featuring the region’s maritime heritage, resulted in three shanties to reinforce the safe boating message.
Topics covered include wearing a lifejacket, keeping a good lookout and always check the weather.
Watch the sea shanties
Transcript
[Text on screen: Albany Shantymen - Lifejackets. Transport WA.]
[Visual: Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure logo. Seven Albany shantymen choir members stand in front of a boat mural having fun and singing. An anchor follows the subtitles in karaoke style.]
Shantyman 1: What do you wear when you go boating?
Shantymen choir: What do you wear when you go boating? What do you wear when you go boating? Every time and always.
Shantyman 1: Wear an approved lifejacket.
[Visual: Lifejackets pop onto all the shantymen choir members.]
Shantymen choir: Wear an approved lifejacket. Wear an approved lifejacket. Every time and always.
[Visual: Camera cuts to a closeup of all the buckled lifejacket before returning to a full view of the shantymen standing.]
Shantyman 1: Check the fit for everyone.
Shantymen choir: Must be snug and not undone.
[Visual: Shantyman 2 pulls the cord on his inflatable lifejacket and shows amused facial expressions as it inflates.]
Shantymen choir: Keeping safe when you’re having fun.
[Visual: Shantyman 3 pulls the cord on his inflatable lifejacket and shows amused facial expressions as it inflates.]
Shantymen choir: Every time and always.
[Visual: Shantyman 1 pulls the cord on his inflatable lifejacket, shows amused facial expressions and stands proud as it inflates.]
Background: Laughing.
Shantyman 1: What do you bring when you go boating?
Shantymen choir: What do you bring when you go boating?
[Visual: Cut to Shantyman 4 waving a flare in his hand before cutting back to the whole group.]
Shantymen choir: What do you wear when you go boating? Every time and always.
Shantyman 1: Be prepared and bring your gear.
[Visual: Cuts to hands holding a handheld marine radio; a yellow strobe flare, an EPIRB, and a red distress flare.]
Shantymen choir: Be prepared and bring your gear. Safety is in your hands. Every time and always.
[Visual: Shantyman holds up a Safety Grab Bag.]
Shantyman 1: Disaster strikes and you’re in strife.
[Visual: Shantyman holds up a red flare. Cuts back to Shantyman 1.]
Shantymen choir: One wrong move is the edge of a knife.
[Visual: Shantyman 1 wears an uninflated lifejacket. Hands reach out around him holding the safety items.]
Shantymen choir: We’ve got stuff that can save your life. In a bright Grab Bag.
[Visual: Shantyman 1 holds up a Grab Bag. Cuts from the group of shantymen without lifejackets and with empty hands to the shantymen wearing lifejackets and holding the safety items.]
Shantyman 1: Wear an approved lifejacket.
Shantymen choir: Be prepared and bring your gear. Safety is in your hands. Every time and always.
[Visual: Blooper of Shantyman Gary unsuccessfully trying to get his lifejacket to inflate.]
Man in background: What’s the matter Gary? It’s alright you won’t be able to come out fishing.
[Sound: Laughing in the background.]
[Text on screen: Filmed on Menang country. Government of Western Australia Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Special thanks to The Albany Shantymen and Albany Maritime Foundation Inc.]
End of transcript
Transcript
[Text on screen: Albany Shantymen - Lookout. Transport WA.]
[Sound: Seagulls]
[Visual: Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure logo. The sailing rigging of the Brig Amity fills the frame. A shantyman pops up from a deck hatch, singing and swaying. Animated waves move behind the subtitles, which change colour karaoke-style in time with the song.]
Shantyman 1: So, come all young and old that follows the sea.
Shantyman 2 [Shouts offscreen]: To me
[Visual: An illustrated fish jumps out of the animated waves – with a speech bubble reading “to me”. Five Shantymen wearing bright yellow jackets and inflatable lifejackets sway back and forth in time to the singing.]
Shantyman choir: Wey, hey! Lookout is key.
Shantyman 1: Now please pay attention and listen to me.
[Visual: Shantyman looks out to the sky.]
Shantyman choir: Time will tell you, that lookout is key!
[Visual: Shantymen stand around the ship’s wheel.]
Shantyman 1: There’s so much to find down under the deep.
Shantymen [shouts]: To me!
[Visual: The illustrated fish jumps out of the animated waves – with a speech bubble reading “to me”.
Shantyman choir: Wey, hey! Lookout is key.
Shantyman 1: And then up above there is plenty to see.
[Visual: Scanning upwards into the Brig’s ropes and then back to the shantymen looking out to sea on both sides of the Brig.]
Shantyman choir: Time will tell you that lookout is key!
Shantyman 1: There are all types of craft and not one is the same.
[Visual: The illustrated fish and the text “To me!” flash in front of the shantymen. One shantyman holds binoculars.]
Shantyman 2 [shouts]: To me!
Shantyman choir: Wey, hey! Lookout is key.
Shantyman 1: Charting a course but for not where they came.
[Visual: Three shantymen lookout with different types of binoculars.]
Shantyman choir: Time will tell you, that lookout is key!
Shantyman 1: Theres divers with flags and there’s skippers about.
[Visual: The illustrated fish jumps out of the animated waves – with a speech bubble reading “to me”. A shantyman pulls on the Brig’s ropes.]
Shantyman 2 [shouts]: To me!
Shantyman choir: Wey, hey! Lookout is key.
[Visual: Shantyman with binoculars.]
Shantyman 1: Not a sign, not a voice, and not even a shout!
[Visual: Shantymen stand around the ship’s wheel.]
Shantyman choir: Time will tell you that lookout is key!
[Visual: Shantyman with binoculars.]
Shantyman 1: So come all young and old that follows the sea.
[Visual: A shantyman licks his finger and tests the wind as the illustrated fish jumps out of the animated waves – with a speech bubble reading “to me”]
Shantyman 2 [shouts]: To me!
Shantyman choir: Wey, hey! Lookout is key.
[Visual: Shantymen stand around the ship’s wheel.]
Shantyman 1: Now please pay attention and listen to me.
Shantyman choir: Time will tell you, that lookout is key!
Sound: seagulls in the background
[Visual: Shantyman standing across the bow]
Shantyman: Did you get it all.
Videographer: Beautiful! Yep!
Shantyman: Wonderful
Shantyman: Excellent. That will do. Thank you very much.
[Text on screen: Filmed on Menang country. Government of Western Australia Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure. Special thanks to: The Albany Shantymen; and WAM (Western Australian Museum).]
End of transcript.