Photo: Jim Hamilton.
When new Lion Jim Hamilton proposed a fishing clinic for kids to his club in 2012 he said he had no idea it would be chosen to represent Australia in an international forum.
The Esperance Lions Club fishing clinics for kids will vie with other national bodies for the Lions International ANZI most innovative club project at Brisbane next month.
“That’s not due to one person though, it’s due to the members of the club,” Mr Hamilton said.
“We all owe a vote of thanks of the community too.”
Mr Hamilton said it all began when, as a new member, he mentioned he had been a volunteer with the Fisheries Department before the project was closed down.
“I got backing from the club to try it, so we applied to the Shire and we got a grant which gave us enough to get us a trailer and they came up with a few rods and reels,” he said.
“Since then it’s just expanded and expanded from 10 rods up to 42 now.”
According to club data the Club has conducted 93 clinics for 806 young participants supported by 224 parents or guardians plus 298 special needs clients and 80 carers.
Photo: Jim Hamilton.
On the first Sunday of the month, the clinics teach young people not only how to fish, but to do it ethically, sustainably and safely.
They focus on practical skills like tying knots, casting and identifying fish within a supervised, family-friendly setting on the wharf at Bandy Creek boat harbour.
All fish are released back into the water.
Mr Hamilton agreed that the clinics had been the “right choice” for both Esperance and the club, which had plenty of keen anglers as members.
“We’ve got a beautiful coastline down here, not that we use the beaches much because it’s too dangerous for kids and the families who don’t know anything about fishing,” he said.
“But they bring the kids along and they begin learning a bit too and that they retain that along with the kids.”
Australia has 25,000 Lions in 1200 clubs, and this year the Esperance Lions youth fishing clinic was judged most innovative club project, first for WA and then for Australia.
Esperance Lions secretary Brian Hunter said: “I think the award is a great reflection on the amount of effort that Jim’s put in over the last 10 years and it’s been a very dedicated effort”.
“But it’s all through the members of the club as well because one person can’t do it on his own.”
