WALLY GIBBINS: January 2013

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

VINTAGE PICTURES (Personal collection)

Wally when aged about 42 returned to the spearing competitions he'd shunned for good reasons.

Probably the first spearfishing trophy in Australia - the Chesty Bond trophy won by W. Gibbins for the heaviest fish in a special competition. Engraving says "Blue Groper 45 and (unreadable in the photo) possibly 'quarter' pounds. May 1951 In effect this would make it an unclaimed NSW spearfishing record as well.

CLASSIC. Speared Mulloway, 1950s (pre wetsuits). Forester's Beach, Central Coast of New South Wales.
Published in People Magazine, picture of Wally Gibbins courtesy of Jeff Carter

Friday, 11 January 2013

CMAS World Championships French Polynesia (Tahiti)

1966

First fish picture after winning the world title, Ron Taylor at Montague Island with Yellowtail Kingfish.

FOOTNOTE: A common account on the Maori wrasse capture has it that Ron Taylor 'lost' this big fish and was helped to find it again by one of the English team. This is to imply that a diver of Ron Taylor's experience, couldn't relocate a cave that he'd just left. The UK diver who shouted or said words to the effect 'the fish is here' was in all probability making an incidental remark. This does not prove Taylor was confused. That Taylor didn't know where his speared fish with broken spear-line attached, was holed-up. According to Taylor's account of the incident, he broke the spear-line in haste as time was running out. This could hardly constitute 'losing' a fish while the first spear was attached. It would be highly unlikely that Taylor didn't know where the cave was and required someone to help him. On the other hand, maybe there was confusion in those final minutes and maybe the UK diver did help by marking the location of the cave?