Reflections on a first trip to the Australian Nationals by Graeme Dawber

The Australian Nationals are run a little differently to those of the NZACA, and one of those differences may be the reason for the decline in our representation. I am referring here to the length of their event. It is over a nearly three week period and includes three days of off-shore boat fishing, three days of rock & beach fishing, three days of estuary/river fishing (something which we do not do here, and whilst possible for the shore fisher the boatie has an advantage) and two days of dry casting. To give a break from fishing (and it is possible to fish all disciplines if so desired) they have lay (rest) days so the 17-day program is quickly filled up.

Not everybody is in a position to take a three-week break and consequently by far the largest proportion of competitors appeared to be in the veteran group. However inter-state competition is strong and the two closest states at this year's carnival (NSW & QLD) did field strong teams in all the age groups. Whilst we felt we had travelled a long way, it must be remembered that to travel right across Australia, as some competitors had to do, was equally a very long way as well. We heard of some folk who had been on the road for months in the camper heading for this year's event at Yeppoon on the Central Queensland coast.

In addition to the fishing program there is a very extensive "social" program for non-fishers, wives etc. This included on-site activities such as crafts and line-dancing to name just a couple, trips to nearby places of interest such as coffee plantation, gem field, crocodile farm, Great Keppel Island, etc. The inclusion of such a program meant that husbands & wives, and families, could all participate in activities and make the three-week carnival enjoyable for all.

Naturally of course the end-of-day activities were always enjoyable, especially being based at a licensed club. The Kiwis were privileged to be invited by the West Australian Team to an evening function and dinner. There was much socialising between groups and it was very evident that, like the NZACA Nationals, people enjoyed renewing friendships with people they met at each bi-annual carnival and many sported badges and memorabilia covering many past carnivals.

The Carnival/Convention is opened with a very formal occasion. Each State, resplendent in some form of uniform (NZ shirts kindly supplied by Kilwell Sports) marches to a central public arena where flags are raised, both National and State, National Anthem sung and speeches of welcome given by appropriate persons. The NZ contingent was also invited to attend a mayoral reception along with other State Delegates.

Casting is a keenly supported competition, some States more than others. The Western Australian Association flew in people just to compete in the two days of casting and then they flew home again. There are two distance accuracy, imitation bait and distance casting events. They do not use shock leaders and is referred to as level line casting. The great majority of reels being used are the Alvey type side casting reel. Courts are similar to ours. Longest casts were : men 197.39, ladies 132.95, vet' men 176.02, vet ladies 120.02, golden oldies 114.51 and juniors 159.61 mtrs. They have team as well as individual competition. To become a carnival champion you must cast as well as fish.

With the fishing it is a similar situation to here. Those who know the area and the methods to use get the best results. The boating sections tending to land the bigger fish. Unlike us they fish for the heaviest bags with a separate side competition for the heaviest fish in some species only. Consequently, especially in shore and estuary there were quite large bag limits for some species and whilst often these were small fish, numbers counted as they increased bag weights. Many of these fish were looked down on by us kiwis as being baitfish or bait sized fish and as a result we never featured very well in the competition stakes. Bait was also interesting and we spent a pleasant hour or so one morning pulling great long worms out of the sand (nearly a metre long in some cases).

Others spent time pumping the sand flats for yabbies as there were a number of species that only took such types of bait and one used very small long shanked hooks. Makes life interesting when one fishes on the shore beside signs telling you not to go into the water or stand to close to the shore because of crocodiles !!!

Good looking water around headlands did not produce the fish we would expect to land here in NZ and there were plenty of sharks and rays available if you presented the right bait but such were not on the eligible species list. In many instances the weight of our gear was to heavy for the Aussie fishing conditions in that part of the country.

After each days fishing there is a weigh-in and presentation of prizes for the days catch for which points were awarded. At the end of the carnival (that's what they call their Nationals) those with the highest points received the trophies (and more prizes). There is also a trophy for the kiwi that has the most points (good on you Ray) which stays in Australia. Interesting to note they have problems too in getting trophies returned and returned clean and in good condition. There is a team competition as well as the individual competitions. At the final presentation night there was the Angling Champions (those with the highest fishing points) and the Carnival Champions (those who fished and cast), but more often than not they were the same people. They relied very much on sponsors for the daily prizes and had different levels of sponsorship. I understand that to stage the carnival the figure was getting very close to $100,000 and this was mostly met from sponsorship.

Yes there were meetings. Each State has a similar Association to that of the NZACA (and yes have very similar problems to us). The AAA is the Federal Body encompassing all of the States and is based in a different State every two years with that State supplying the officer bearers and staging the carnival. Another State has the permanent on-going responsibility of being the Record Keepers for the whole country based on information received from individual State record keepers, whilst another State has the permanent job of looking after the Constitution of the AAA. At the Carnival was the Federal Body (AAA) AGM and Federal Executive Meeting to which just Delegates attend. On the last day of the Carnival is a Convention Meeting, which is open to all, and the opportunity given to discuss the Nationals and other federal and inter-state activities. At this meeting each State (including NZ) presents a report on their activities.

The carnival is a lot of fun and great camaraderie with some taking the competition a lot more serious than others. Like NZ, where possible much research is done prior to the event on the locality and best fishing spots etc. There was great spirit and friendliness and one was made to feel very welcome and of course the Aussie/NZ rivalry was very much to the fore at times (especially when the All Blacks beat the Aussies !). We were very much part of the carnival and certainly not seen as outsiders or simply visitors.

With our formal official invitation for the AAA to join with us in Napier next year it is hoped that we might end up with the situation where the Aussies join us one year and we join in with them the following. Their next event is in late February early March 2007 in Victoria at Philip Island near Melbourne. If this interchange can be encouraged we will see our two countries becoming closer together in the fishing scene. We do have a lot in common and the cheaper airfares now available make the whole idea more feasible. However I realise that for us to take a three week break in Aussie means families need to start planning and saving very early, and maybe we should start to think perhaps of some form of group sponsorship and even fund-raising to assist the sending of such a team. It would be great if someone would volunteer to take on this task on behalf of the Association Members.

In closing, it was great to go and attend and take part. Circumstances being right I would certainly like to go again. I would thoroughly recommend and encourage others to do their utmost to undertake a similar trip - you wont be disappointed.