“I suppose I missed the river and its boats — I came back to work, didn’t I?” he said.

“In the years I have been working here the river has not changed significantly, but there is a lot more reed growth along the edges.

“There is also a lot more wattle and red gum suckers growing along the banks because we are not getting as many floods as we used to — also, there is a lot more houseboats.”

“I think it is a privilege to work on the river and 99 per cent of the time I love coming to work, meeting people and talking about the river.

“It’s not a bad office.”

Murray heritage excites tourists

ECHUCA-Moama, like Albury-Wodonga, sprawls along the banks of the Murray River.

Both have a history of riverboats, but that is where the similarity ends.

Certainly, the river at Albury-Wodonga, with its low banks and near clear water, is vastly different to the river at Echuca-Moama, where it flows — the colour of weak milk coffee — between towering banks.

But Echuca has capitalised on its river heritage to the extent that today it is home to the largest riverboat fleet in the world, not to mention houseboats by the dozen.

The importance and the value of the riverboats to Echuca-Moama was recognised many years ago and a major restoration of the port, including the wharf, started in 1973.

To complete the picture for tourists, who flock to these twin river towns by the tens of thousands, the process included the preservation and restoration of historic buildings in the port precinct to give visitors a glimpse of life in the halcyon days of riverboat trade.

The wharf, originally built in 1865, once extended for 1.2km along the river.

At the height of the river-boat trade 120 boats were tied up to the wharf at the same time.

A number of paddle- steamers offer cruises up and down the river.

Visitors can choose from the PS Pevensey, probably better known as the PS Philadelphia in the television mini-series All The Rivers Run, or the PS Adelaide, at 142, the world’s oldest wooden-hulled paddle-steamer.

The PS Alexander

Arbuthnot, the PS Canberra, the pride of the Murray, and the PS Emmylou also offer cruises.

It seems that life, and business, in Echuca-Moama, revolves around the river.

If the riverboats don’t get you, the houseboats will.

Or perhaps you might be tempted to hook into an old Murray cod or yellowbelly.

If water-skiing is your thing, each February the Southern 80, the longest water-ski race in the southern hemisphere starts 80km downstream at Torrumbarry Weir and finishes at Echuca.

Echuca and Moama are both home to numerous caravan parks and holiday parks near the river.

The river is the reason why these twin towns lure the tourists Albury-Wod­onga craves.

That begs the question: If towns like Echuca and Moama can use the river to their advantage, why can’t Albury-Wodonga do the same?

River better than Riviera

THE discoloured water, soaring banks and ubiquitous river red gums of the Murray River at Echuca are a far cry from the sparkling water of the Mediterranean Sea and mega-yachts of the rich and famous.

But for Beresford Ralph, the Murray River at Echuca and its riverboats are just about perfect.

Water and boats have been part and parcel of Mr Ralph’s life since 1983 when he joined the Royal Australian Navy where he served on the frigates HMAS Derwent and HMAS Parramatta.

“After I left the navy I crewed on mega-yachts of the rich and famous in the Mediterranean for eight years,” he said.

“Once the water is in your blood it stops there.”

Mr Ralph is a qualified riverboat skipper and engineer and at the moment he fills both roles on the paddle steamer Emmylou at Echuca.

He first worked on the Emmylou as an engineer in 1993.

About four years ago he had spent successive seasons as captain-engineer of the PS Cumberoona in Albury-Wodonga.

“I came back here because you cannot beat it,” he said.

“As they say, there is no place like home.”

The engineer’s role was to keep the boiler stoked with red gum logs to keep the steam up to enable the skipper to manoeuvre the boat.

“You also have to keep the fire tubes clean and you run a fire brush through them once a week.

“You also have to keep the bearings aligned and keep oil up to them.”

Mr Ralph said he planned to stick with the river and its boats.

“I think the riverboats will remain a part of the river,” he said.

“What we do is about preserving a part of our history.”

Mr Ralph said he, Tony Brown and other skippers and engineers were always training a new skipper or engineer, but there was not as much interest in a career as a riverboat captain or engineer as one would think.

“This is not as severe as the ocean, more subdued, but it is the next best thing.

“I am a yachtie, I love sailing, but this is the next best thing and you get paid for doing something you love.”

Mr Ralph lives just downstream from Moama and also operates a bed and breakfast with his wife, Jennifer.

He describes Chiplands as “a peaceful two-storey homestead with balcony perched atop the banks of the mighty Murray.”

“From both houses you can see the river; it is stunning,” he said.

“I have the best of both worlds.”