Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: aussiebasser on September 23, 2010, 09:17:03 PM
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With the tragic passing of Malcolm Douglas, I've been thinking and wondering who's left. Who is there, still with us, who had done what people of my generation admire. Who is there for the younger generation. I'm not talking about show pony sportsmen, who are paid a fortune to do wha they do, I'm talking about true blue Aussies who do what they do for the love of the country and lifestyle. I'll put forward Harro, although he'd smack me around the head for doing so, and that's part of the reason he'd get my nomination. I'm really racking my brains trying to think of someone. Please share you ideas.
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Les hiddins is about the only one i can think of ive spent hrs watching his films
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If anyone didnt know les hiddens is the bush tucker man
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From the hip...
I'll throw Rex Hunt up there as probably the most influential person in fishing in modern times. His on screen presence, passion, yibbida yibbida, thank ya mother for the rabbits & fish kissin are iconic.
Harro is a definate. Some love him, some hate him, but nobody can deny he has been a leader, innovator & his own man throughout.
What about the other Icons we've lost.....
Peter Newell. Lure designer / maker par excellence. His like may never be equalled, particularly as the day of computer design will elliminate the age old trial & error method mixed with on water experience to get a lure that worked.
Cheers,
Fitzy...
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We can't forget this bloke either.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2006/1689055.htm
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I quized my old man about it and he could only mention the barefoot bushman although i didnt know much of his work .
Rex hunt was a huge influence on me fitz when i was a kid the main reason i would get up early in the morning to catch his show shame about all the later mishaps with him
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Have to add Vic McCrystal to the list.
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No Oz ones come to mind, (Although Russell Coight was getting close before he mysteriously disapeared ;D ) but I reckon for a modern day icon for your kids its hard to go past that Bear Grills bloke from the UK.My kids love him, and I'm more than happy about it!
Outdoorsman, chief scout, done lots of good stuff for charity, and biggest of all he is not a drongo with his pic in the sunday paper once a month for brawling, peeing in public, molesting women or any of the other rather attractive traits of the modern sportsman!
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I'd have to add Jack Erskine a real gentlemen and a innovator.
The Bomber
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Thanks Bomber, Jack Erskine definately. The Bush Tuckerman, maybe, for mine, a bit too commercial, Rex Hunt, yes, what happened to Rex was disgusting, again a tall poppy cut down by an out of control press pack. Johnny, Harry Butler, yes he is up there, thanks for reminding me. Bear Grills, the Pommy, although I've heard that the people of Stanthorpe swear he comes from there. Bear is just that little bit unbelievable. He might be drinking his own urine from a recently skun snake skin, but if you look at the shadows in the foreground of some shots, there's a team of about 3 guys there with him and probably a catering truck nearby. With Malcolm's videos you could often see he was alone, and operating the handy cam himself, or maybe he had Boondi do it. We probably have Trawler captains every bit as brave as the ones we see fishing the Berring Sea, but we don't hear about ours. Keep them coming.
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Heres a few guys,
Harro, Jack Erskine, Rex Hunt, Mal Florence( RIP) ,Peter Pakula ( sport /game) , Vic Micristal , Peter Goadby, Buschy, The Leyland Brothers, Harry Butler, Bush Tucker Man, Dick Lewers and sadly Malcolm Douglas
Edit- Sorry guys forgot to mention Ron Calcutt. Still wish I could find someone who has the Fishermans World tapes
I know some of these have passed away and there legacy lives on in those associated with the sectors of the fishing fraternity, somewhere.
There are also bound to be handfuls of others. But when you really sit down and have a really hard look at what one characteristic ALL of these guys have its- PASSION.
Passion for fishing, passion for how and what they do and more importantly a passion for teaching and showing others how things are done so they can then gain maximum enjoyment out of this great sport.
No one should ever take any of these people for granted, for, as we found out yesterday, all to soon they will all be gone and the stories and knowledge they have will be lost with them- forever.
There ARE others whom shall remain nameless who obviously believe that they are legends ,but only in their lunch box, NOT mine.
Just my two bobs worth.
Pete
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Well i still think of the times sitting around watching Rexy and the bush tuckerman with my old man. i was only young and they are some of the better memories i have of my dad. dont see him to much these days...
bear grill, i think is a serious champ. Yeh he might have 3 camera blokes around, and even if he has a chopper sitting out of camera with an allocate (cant spell) menu. The dude still gets stung, bitten, eats and drinks some stuff i would never even consider doing if someone was paying me. I really like the one where he is in the desert and tries to get some honey from a bees nest... gets one in the face. Then finds a snake and eats it... tv doesn't get much better now days.
Jacko
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Waspy, you're spot on mate. Passion is the word I was looking for. I'm seriously not pocket p!ssing here, but if you've ever heard our resident short legged fisherman, Fitz, do a presentation on sweetwater fishing techniques the main thing that comes through is his passion for the sport. I talk to him most days, and a lot of the time he just talks bullchit but when you get him onto his favorite subject his eyes seem to light up, then glaze over, and he's off. Even his body language tells you that he's talking from his heart. Sorry to embarrass you little brother, but even at your age you've earnt a place among the others mentioned, and I'm sure those in that group would welcome you into the fold before they nominated themselves. And I'm sure if Harro could get past that stupid bloody Barramundi question to rejoin he'd be the first to agree with me.
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Waspy, you're spot on mate. Passion is the word I was looking for. I'm seriously not pocket p!ssing here, but if you've ever heard our resident short legged fisherman, Fitz, do a presentation on sweetwater fishing techniques the main thing that comes through is his passion for the sport. I talk to him most days, and a lot of the time he just talks bullchit but when you get him onto his favorite subject his eyes seem to light up, then glaze over, and he's off. Even his body language tells you that he's talking from his heart. Sorry to embarrass you little brother, but even at your age you've earnt a place among the others mentioned, and I'm sure those in that group would welcome you into the fold before they nominated themselves. And I'm sure if Harro could get past that stupid bloody Barramundi question to rejoin he'd be the first to agree with me.
Your not too far wrong there i havent met the man but i can already tell he has earned a great deal of respect amongst the fishing community
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"I'm talking about true blue Aussies who do what they do for the love of the country and lifestyle."
A personal one,Dr Wirginia Maixner.
She lead a team of 16 neurosurgeons that planned and performed the marathon separation of the conjoined twins Krishna and Trishna.
As a brain surgeon,she had the most difficult task out of all of the specialists involved.
She also helped relieve my daughter from crippling epileptic seizures with a 14 hour operation to remove part of my daughters affected area in her brain.
Does it all from the Royal Melbourne Childrens Hospital(public system),know she could command any amount in the private sector...but insists on helping EVERYONE.
I have no icons,sporting or otherwise,than this amazing woman using her work to aid others.
Truly defines the Australian spirit of helping others, and a fair go for all.
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True Mick, and you have the first hand experience of her great work. I wonder how many Aussies would recognise her name, and yet she's up there with Fred Couples in what she does. There are so many anonymous icons that don't get the accolades they are due.
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Non Fishing / Outdoors Folks that were standouts for their chosen field & Aussie Icons worthy of an Aussie Hall of Fame nomination
Victor Chang
Fred Hollows
Slim Dusty
Peter Brock
Paul Hogan. (Got a funny story about Hoges ;D not for public consumption tho)
Steve Irwin - Crickey!!!
Ted Knoffs
Just shootin from the hip there sitting in Melbourne airport.... A hundred more will come to mind after I hit the submit button.
Basser - I've got a looong list of ex girl friends who would give you an even longer list of negatives ::) . I only go fishin to stay out of trouble. :P
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Plenty of deserving names above but in terms of being a household name and filling that outdoors bill there has been only two of recent times. Steve Irwin and Malcom Douglas. That's not to say they sit at the top of the tree in terms of knowledge or nouse but they were the ones who packaged themselves well enough to find a way to get into everyones living rooms and become that household name. And the world was richer for it. :)
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Basser - I've got a looong list of ex girl friends who would give you an even longer list of negatives ::) . I only go fishin to stay out of trouble. :P
Maybe you should have fished more often mate.
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Basser - I've got a looong list of ex girl friends who would give you an even longer list of negatives ::) . I only go fishin to stay out of trouble. :P
Maybe you should have fished more often mate.
Seems to be the best way to get myself in more trouble ... go fishing
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Basser - I've got a looong list of ex girl friends who would give you an even longer list of negatives ::) . I only go fishin to stay out of trouble. :P
Maybe you should have fished more often mate.
Seems to be the best way to get myself in more trouble ... go fishing
That's weird I'm quoting Fitz??????????
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I think that Malcolm Douglas and the Leyland Brothers opened up this country in regards to people getting out there and seeing it. When I was a kid, the outback (desert) was somewhere to avoid. With the advent of their TV shows these people showed us city dwellers that you can visit there if some caution taken. Now there is a veritable stream of people going to the Cape, doing the Birdsville and Strezlecki (sp) tracks and a lot of other places. I think that good ol Russell Coight honoured them in his own inimitable way.
On the saltwater front Ben Cropp deserves a mention and so does Bob and Dolly Dyer (for those old enough to remember their marlin expoits).
Who can remember one of Australia's true great sporting legends..he started Australia's first water skiing club...was one of the founders of Mt Panorama racing circuit..and a complete nutter and larrikin..the late great Gelignite Jack Murray. If you get a chance read his biography, a fantastic read.
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They were regularly on the tv,just good honest shows,interesting,informative. I used to watch another guy,Jack I think Absolom?always finished with a painting(bit like Rolf lol).Good shows not like the dribble we watch now.
Paulo
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Maybe you should have fished more often mate.
Now you tell me!!!?? :-X Can't hurt tho.......... 8)
gf