Life Members

I was exposed to the reef as a teenager, loved it so much, I bought my own boat and in company, fished the reef many times. However the weather made it too hard to plan ‘trips’ to the reef, so I decided to join the Ross Island Fishing Club. I was made very welcome and it has remained that way to this day. I consider myself very fortunate to meet so many people over the years and also reacquaint myself with guys who I grew up with. This is a club that has many talented members, who have contributed so very much to the maintenance, and necessities of the boat, fundraising and involve the families and children, of which I am very proud. There can be no doubt that our club trained skippers have contributed immensely to the longevity of this really great club. I well remember receiving and making phone calls from skippers desperate to make the numbers for the trip to’ happen’. One brings to mind a skipper who was a pilot; he had been involved for 36 hours in an aerial search for a missing boat. He said he would take the boat out if we would help him .Ok was the answer Keith and friend took charge at Maggie Is skippered the Compas Rose, each of us seasick in turn over the side, navigating by the stars,(each time we looked at the compass we would be over the side again). The strangest thing, of all the trips that I have been on, the coral trout were consistently the largest I have caught. When the club bought the Saxon we had very little money to convert it to what is today. We begged and bartered from known businesses to build new fuel tanks, bunks, a canopy and upgraded the refrigeration. It was a great achievement and the bonding has never left this club. I believe we should do what you can when you can, always be a cheerful, and be a giver/doer. Be mindful of each person’s individual talents and encourage each other to have the future of the club at heart.