Wednesday 31 July 2013

1963 HERON ISLAND, TIGER SHARK


The above screen shot is the opening of a scene that runs at 6.0 to 9.0 seconds in from the start.  In the above still shot John Gallagher (third from far right) adjusting his Bolex 16mm movie camera.  This three second sequence would be from Ron Taylor's 16mm camera.  This was Heron Island during the divers festival in November 1963.  Wally Gibbins ashore with an 11 foot Tiger shark brought back from Sykes Reef where he'd shot it with a 10 gauge powerhead (a larger cartridge size than a 12 gauge).



Longer same scene is also near the end of this French language sharks documentary  at 1.22.50 which was broadcast 24 September 2013.
FRENCH DOCUMENTARY SHARKS   < Click

New footage of sharks in slow motion.  See SHARKS DREAM: Marine videos - carefully chosen.  <Click


Friday 19 July 2013

AUSTRALIAN MADE 'SPEAR GEAR' late 1940s





Underwater Spear Fisherman's Association  (USFA) was formed at a meeting held (probably after a dive) at Long Reef, Sydney in 1947.  Wally Gibbins would have been aged seventeen then and we can assume was in the group.

Bill Heffernan was 'an old guy' almost aged 40  and a friend with Dick Charles - the founding president of the association.

The old guys helped new members in those days. Kerry Heffernan was there too as a baby, age THREE and a paid-up member number 15 of the USFA - the youngest ever.

Kerry Heffernan provided this booklet of his father's equipment. (to be continued...click REFRESH or reload on your browser when returning later).

The USFA today <Click










SCUBA: WALLY GIBBINS (COFFS HARBOUR)

Port Jackson (shark) eggs recovered.