| ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OF FISHING | |
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| HISTORY OF THE A.F.A. | |
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| | Compiled by Don Fleming Updated by Arthur Ciantar and Paul Ryan | | |
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| Back in the year 1895 a group of dedicated anglers got together in a cafe in Sydney and formed a fishing club known today as the | |
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| Amateur Fishermen's Association of N S W limited. The man responsible for the formation was a Sydney journalist Mr. Charles Thackeray who was the first secretary and the driving force for many years in the club. Mr Thackeray held many positions on different committees and was President in 1909 to 1910 and in 1928 to 1929 and again in 1935 to 1936. | |
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| His contemporaries affectionately knew Mr. Thackeray as "Wobbygong". He is considered our founder and his photo hangs in our present Clubrooms at the Canada Bay Community Centre at 1a Gipps StreetConcord. | |
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| Insert is a cutting from a Sydney paper about 1900. | |
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| Charles Thackeray founder of the | |
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| Amateur Fishermen's Association. | |
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| The first president was Mr. Shipway who held the chair for five years. | |
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| The first minutes of the club meetings, which we hold in our library | |
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| were written on the 3rd of February 1896 on the occasion of the first Annual General Meeting. | |
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| Mr Shipway was re-elected as president, Mr Thackeray and Mr Willis were re-elected as joint Secretaries. | |
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| The first AGM was held in rooms of Rainfords' Club Hotel in Oxford St.Sydney. | |
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| In those early days it was difficult to get attendance and the minutes show meeting had to be abandoned through lack of a quorum. | |
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| Discussing this problem in June 1896 it was suggested that meetings be held fortnightly or monthly. | |
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| Another suggestion was that members be written to requesting their presence at meetings. Fortnightly meetings were introduced. | |
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| In August that year Mr. Murphy speaking from the floor off the meeting asked, could the club secure a good meeting room centrally located in the City with a piano and eventually a billiard table? Games of chess, draughts and other games could be provided for members only. | |
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| After much discussion it was agreed to elect a committee to look into the suggestion. | |
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| After some weeks searching this committee found rooms in the Imperial arcade, which could be rented for 1, pound a week ($2.00). | |
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| On Monday the 14th of September 1896 the first meeting was held in these rooms. Chairs, tables and other equipment were purchased including chessboards, packs of cards etc. | |
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| Members donated sets of rope quoits with pegs. A map of SydneyHarbour was donated with other items to enhance the rooms. | |
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| With the opening of their room meetings went back to weekly. A piano was purchased it cost 30 Guineas and was paid off at 1 pound ($2.00) per month after a deposit of five pounds ($10.00). | |
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| Members were each supplied with a key to the room at a cost of sixpence (5 cents). Membership increased with up to 30 attending meetings. | |
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| On the 4th of January 1897 the Treasurer reported the bank balance was 4 shillings 3 pence (42 cents). There was great concern amongst the members of the committee who took the step of asking all trustees to donate 2 pounds ($4.00) each to the association so that rent could be paid. It was also decided to increase the annual subscriptions from 5 shillings (50 cents) to 10 shillings six pence, (5 cents) to assist with finances. | |
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| Even with these increases it was impossible to maintain the clubrooms in these premises. The committee's immediately left the Imperial arcade and moved into rooms at 111 Pitt St.Sydney. These rooms were used by a club called ";The Idlers Club" and the A F A was to share the rooms for 10 shillings $1.00 per week. | |
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| The clipping below below was from an article from the Daily Telegraph dated 3/ 2/ 1897 | |
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| the next article was published on the 3/ 7 / 1897 and shows the results of the elections of the board of directors. | |
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| Sharing a room with another club didn't work out and in December that year the club moved to room 15 in the Temperance hall for a cost of five shillings for (50 cents) per week paid monthly. | |
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| With the new inexpensive rooms the fees went back to 5 shillings (50 cents) per year with a shilling (10 cents) joining fee for 1898. | |
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| That year a fishing trip was organised to Watsons Bay. The transport was by horse and cart, kindly supplied free by a member Mr Wood's. After the long trip to the bay the horses were released to graze while anglers went about their business of catching fish. Some good catches were made including snapper. After the fishing trip ended the horses were harnessed up for the long trip back to Sydney. | |
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| The club in its fight to pay expenses put on concerts and dancers. | |
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| On the 10th May 1898 a hall was booked for the cost of 10 shillings sixpence ($1.05) to hold a dance. Double tickets were 1-shilling sixpence (15 cents) and single tickets one shilling (10 cents) a profit of three pounds 15 shillings six pence ($7.55) on the evening to the delight of the treasurer. | |
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| That year a trip was planned to NarrabeenLake and fishermen were warned to take their own food and water, as no facilities were available in the area. | |
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| QUEENSLAND GROPER ( Promicrops itaiara ). | |
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| (Attains a weight of more than 400 pounds. ) | |
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| In September 1898 first edition of the A.F.A news appeared under the title of the Cat Fish Budget. One of the adverts to appear in the Budget was for a hotel at Como tariff was 4 shillings (40 cents per day). | |
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| Reported at a meeting in May 1899 a Mr Cole had landed a 22-pound snapper from the rocks at old man's hat near North Head. The fish was 3 foot three inches in length. A certificate was presented to the angler. | |
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| In those days rowboats were available for hire for two shillings (20 cents) per day. | |
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| A large tin of live worms cost six pence (5 cents). Fresh lobsters were 1 shilling (10 cents) per pound. | |
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| In May of that year illegal netting was reported in BlackwattleBay. The club wrote to the fisheries board in August to complain. | |
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| Before the turn of the Century, Prouds the Jewellers donated a shield to be fished for annually. This shield hangings in our present club rooms today. | |
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| In 1907 the President drew members attention to the installation of the first aquarium. The same consisting of tadpoles, various water bugs as well as weeds with distinguished names. The President explained a start had been made to what should be a great aquarium. | |
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| A billiard table had been added to the club's assets. This proved the main source of revenue. A stocktake off the club's assets for insurance showed London 425 pounds $850.00, which included the piano and billiard table. | |
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| In 1905 Mr, Eastway, one of the presidents, spoke of a fishing trip to Bobin head by motorcar that the importance at the time was not the fish caught, but the means of transport to the fishing. | |
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| The same year a letter was received from a Mr Prince who was secretary of the Sheep Breeding Association complaining of the influx of women in the clubroom on occasions and the playing of the piano. This complaint was dismissed. | |
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| On the 24th of November 1905 Mr Cec Hollingdale reported that Mr Lead, a member of the club, had caught a 13 and a 1/2-pound Jew fish on a 704 Janro line in the Hawkesbury River. The line is similar to a number 24 twist.
A certificate was presented. | |
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| The annual report for 1905 showed the Association, although not having large cash balance 7 pound 10shillings & 4 pence ($15.04) was in a flourishing condition showing our assets had greatly improved. | |
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| Mr David Stead, noted ichthyologist of the day, gave a lecture on the teeth of fish. | |
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| In 1908 it was reported at a meeting that Dingo's were hunting in packs in the National Park and were a menace to Game. | |
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| The same year it was decided to have a telephone installed in the rooms for members use. The telephone number was City 254. During 1910 the club moved to 40 Pitt St. where a full time caretaker was hired for 25 shillings ($2.50) per week. | |
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| That year the club was registered with the Company's Office and became a Limited Company. A badge was struck; this badge is in use today. | |
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| A letter was written to the Fisheries Board requesting the stocking of fish in Toongabbie Creek. The department wrote back saying that perch would be put in the tributaries of the ParramattaRiver. The newly formed Journalists Club, met once a week in our rooms and paid 5 shillings (50 cents) per week. Members were playing billiards and cards. The piano could be hired out for
5 shillings (50 cents) a night. | |
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| . Money was rolling in. | |
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| On the 18th of June 1915 a dinner was held at Sargents Cafe in | |
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| Market Street 95 attended and all profits went to the Belgian Relief Fund. | |
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| 5 pounds 5 shillings ($10.50) was sent in response to an appeal by | |
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| Madame Melba for the Polish Relief Appeal. | |
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| At a meeting in June a member, Mr Boxton announce he was leaving for the front; the First World War was in progress. | |
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| It was resolved to purchase a suitable gift. It was also resolved that any member joining the forces would remain financial until their return. | |
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| On the 28th July 1915 the club held an auction in the rooms for the Australia Day benefit fund, | |
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| The proceeds raised were to go to the Australian wounded soldiers who were taking part in the present war with Germany, Austria and Turkey. The Australia Day Collection, auction and Raffles raise a total of | |
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| 665 pounds 12 shillings 4 pence ($1,221.23). | |
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| In August 1915 it was proposed to purchase a poker machine. | |
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| Carried. | |
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| On 26 of August 1915 a quote was received from a company called Althouse and Geiger for the supply of a roll of honour stand (this sign writing company is still in business). It was resolved all members leaving for the front be given a sheep skin vest. Carried | |
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| On 11th April 1916 a cast of a black bream was presented to the club the fish weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces and was caught by Mr Negus on a fine silk Japgut to a 2/0 look at high tide at Baldface, Georges River. The cast hangs on the wall of our classrooms today. Official information was received by cable on 11th November 1918 that the armistice set by the Allied Powers was signed by the representatives of Germany on that day. no meeting of the Association was held as all members were taking part in National celebrations. | |
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| A smoko social was held in the clubroom on 2nd November 1919 to welcome back members who had returned from the War. | |
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| An ice chest was purchased for members use. | |
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| In May 1920 Mr Salmon proposed that the Association purchase a piece of land for the purpose of building a boat shed at HawkesburyRiver, GeorgesRiver or Woy Woy. A committee was elected to investigate this project. | |
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| The next year in September an auction sale was to be held for blocks of land on danger Island. | |
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| At a meeting the President, Secretary and one other were instructed to purchase a suitable block at this sale. | |
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| To build a clock room and boat shed. It was estimated to spend up to 300 pounds $600 on the site. | |
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| The committee purchased block No. 6. | |
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| Towards the end of 1922 the building of the clubhouse was ready to begin. A building community had been elected which called for volunteers. There were many volunteers who went with a great deal of enthusiasm. They laboured on weekends and got the framework of the building erected. Unfortunately when they went home a wind came up which blew the building over. At the next meeting there were members who criticise the workers and suggesting they were incompetent. However a vote of confidence was given to the building committee after they agreed to employ a professional carpenter. | |
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| At an extra cost of 80 pounds the building was re- erected and remained upright. | |
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| On 30th of February 1923 Mr G Thomas was installed in the clubhouse as caretaker. His cost to take care of the clubhouse was 6 pounds 10 shillings ($1,300) per month and the use of a boat. | |
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| Lockers were installed in the room which were hired to members for | |
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| 45 shillings (50 cents) per year. (Supply your own lock). Members were charged 2 shillings per day. The clubrooms were suitably furnished. | |
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| On Sunday 20th March 1923 the dangerIsland room was officially opened by Mr Charles Thackeray and given the name of Booralee. Some months later a cookhouse was added at a cast of 25pound ($50). | |
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| In April Mr Thackeray drew attention to the necessity of having weather cocks on the top of the town hall and other suitable buildings in the City for | |
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| the convenience of fishermen and it was decided to write to the town clerk, Grace Brothers and Marcus Clark in this regard. | |
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| The minutes fail to reveal any results to the suggestion the buildings seem to lack the proposed weather vanes. | |
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| The two clipping below were printed in the early in 1899. | |
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| On the 13th May 1924 Mr David Stead was made a life member of the Association. | |
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| The same year a third billiard table was purchased together with snooker and pool balls. | |
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| In July of that year Mr Shipway, the first President of the club past away. | |
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| During the 1920s - 1930s much billiards, cards and snooker were played. Games were played against other clubs including Manly A.F.A., which kept the members busy. This period was A.F.A.'s most financial time with over 4,000 pound ($8,000.00) in their account, this being a lot of money in those days. | |
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| SPEARFISH OR MARLIN SWARDFISH CAUGHT | |
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| BY NET IN PORT JACKSON | |
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| During 1926 slips for a boat and a jetty were added to the Dangar Island clubhouse. | |
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| Fishing report 18th September 1920 a Mr R Selkrink who was general manager of Reuters in South Africa, hooked caught and landing a man eating shark weighing 2, 176 pound on a 18 cord line with an 11 foot rod. The fight lasted from 2.30 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. and was conducted by Mr Selkrink from the shore and without any assistance. | |
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| During 1928 a visitor to the club was a Mr Zane Gray from America. | |
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| In 1929 the club moved to 192 Castlereagh St. City. The 1930's came with the depression and the club's finances began to dwindle. An oyster lease was taken out and built at Dangar Island. | |
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| A wireless set was installed in the clubrooms on approval. Minutes of the meetings during the 1930's are missing. | |
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| It seems that during that period the N.S.W. Rod Fishing Club was formed and the Great Barrier Reef Fishing Club. These clubs amalgamation and a lot of the members of the A.F.A. joined them. Mr Errol Bullen was one. | |
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| Out of these clubs came the N.S.W. Game Fishing Club which | |
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| Today operates from the jetty on WatsonsBay. | |
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| During the 1940s membership and finances dropped and the board of directors showed concern. In 1940 for the bank account was in the red. A letter was received from the bank referring to the arrears. At the next meeting a discussion took place regarding the serious financial position of the club. | |
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| The high cost of maintaining the DangarIsland club (due to lack of supervision) was one of the reasons for the clubs plight. | |
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| At a meeting in 1944 a member asked the Secretary to contact Mr Thompson, secretary of Fisheries and asked him to use his powers to eliminate use of foreign language in the fish markets. | |
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| It would appear the letter achieved nothing. | |
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| After further large maintenance bill for the DangarIsland clubhouse it was agreed at a meeting in 1948 to sell the premises. This was done in October for 1,050 pounds ($2,100). | |
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| That same year on the 5th of June Mr Charles Thackeray died. | |
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| A company was formed in 1949 called Amateur Fishermen's Association Enterprise. The object of this company was to make money for the A.F.A. It was decided to produce a fishing magazine to be called the Anglers Digest. The first edition of this magazine reached the shops in September 1950 costing 2 shillings (20 cents). The anglers digest ran for 21 years in 1969 it was produced by Fishing News and was taken over by Modern Magazines in 1971. | |
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| An association of fishing clubs known as A.F.C.A was controlling fishing on the North and Central coast under the presidency of | |
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| Mr Harry Pontey, a past President of the A.F.A. Mr Harry Pontey approached Mr Don Flemming, the then President of the A.F.A. with the view to starting a Metropolitan Division of Amateur Fishing Clubs Association. Mr John Flemming called a meeting of Sydney clubs on 14th August 1962 in the clubrooms of the A.F.A. | |
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| At that meeting Mr Charlie Boylan was elected President of the new division and Mr Bob Bacina was elected secretary. After this meeting when Mr Bacina found it was necessary to write to all clubs in the metropolitan area he pointed out that he didn't have a typewriter. A | |
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| Mr George Pratt said that he owned a typewriter so he was informally elected secretary in place of Mr Bacina. | |
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| It is now history that Mr George Pratt with the able assistance of his wife, Joan made the Metropolitan Division the success it is today. | |
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| With 1965 came the news that the building at 192 Castlereagh Street was to be demolished. As no rooms were available that the club could afford, all goods were packed in cartons, billiard tables dismantled and store in a garage at RoseBay. For three years the club meet in rooms in the YMCA cafes or hotels until the maritime services board made rooms available in Kent St.. 295a Kent St. had two floors and the club flourished under the presidency of the colourful Hank Newman. | |
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| From 1968 till 1975 these rooms at Kent St. were headquarters for many Sydney Fishermen. | |
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| The maritime services board asked a 300% increase in rents and the A.F.A. was once again on the move. Goods were once again stored in garages and meetings were held in Scout halls and football clubs. | |
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| In 1980 Mr Bob Weymouth of Western Suburbs Soccer Club was approached with the view to using a vacant room in their club. The A.F.A. move into the premises of Western Suburbs Soccer Club in 1980 and a team of volunteers were to make the clubroom as attractive as possible. Two years after moving in the, soccer club decided to use our room for a new dining room but offered a room at the other end of the top floor. The late Mr Fred Jackson worked hard in making the room even better than the first. | |
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| In 1985 the A.F.A. celebrated its 90th birthday at the Western Suburbs Soccer Club. The A.F.A. enjoy wonderful conditions and hospitality from the Soccer Club and Mr Bob Weymouth who was a patron while we were there. | |
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| Late in December 1989 the A.F.A. received a letter from the Soccer Club informing us that we would have to vacant our room. | |
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| Once again the A.F.A. had to place all of their possessions into storage. The Soccer Club gave the A.F.A. permission to hold its meetings in the main auditorium of the club but found it was inappropriate because of the noise from the poker machines and patrons of the soccer club. | |
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| The A.F.A. had developed a strong following in the Western suburbs of Sydney and Mr Don Fleming visited many other clubs in the area looking for suitable accommodation. Although many clubs were prepared to allow us to hold meetings, they could not accommodate the large amount of memorabilia that we had collected over one hundred years. Other members had also been looking for alternative sites. Arthur Ciantar Found a club at Tempe that was prepared to welcome us and our possessions. In April 1993 the A F A moved to new premises at the Cocks River Motor Boat Club. We purchase a shipping container at a cost of $1,700 and took our possessions back from storage and place it all into the container until we could set up our clubroom. | |
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| Mr Don Flemming had not enjoyed good health for a number of years and on the 16th December 1993 the club was informed that its most cherished member, Mr Michael Don Flemming had died of a heart attack while in hospital. He will be duly missed by the members of the A.F.A. for in losing him we have lost a piece of the A.F.A. | |
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| In February 1996 the board discussed our options in finding new promises Independent of other clubs and somewhere we could call our own club. Hunters Hill, Drummoyne, Ashfield, Ryde, Strathfield, Leichhardt and Burwood. | |
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| It was decided at a meeting in May 1996 that the A F A should definitely start looking for new premises as the motor boat club has informed us that we will have to take our fish casts trophies etc. down from the walls. We decided that in not having our memorabilia on show that we would not be able to remain a separate identity from the motorboat club. | |
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| On the 6th of March 1997 the board of directors held a special meeting at the new possible club rooms at the west harbour rugby union club at 1a Gipps St concord. | |
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| The AFA held their first meeting at the new clubrooms on the lower level of the West Harbour Rugby Union Club formally known as the Concord West Bowling Club on Gipps Street. | |
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| It was also decided to hold the meetings on Wednesday nights at 8pm. As of the 9th of April 1997. | |
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| A letter from A.F.A. to the Cooks River Motor Boat Club was sent giving A.F.A.'s Appreciation for the use of their club | |
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| In 1997 A.F.A .had troubles with Sydney Metro. in regard to holding an Estuary competition at AFA's new club. Sydney Metro said that a lot of members fishing the competition would not be able to find our clubs new position. They then proceeded to give the competition to St George or Caringbah. This AFA protested against. | |
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| In July 1997 the A.F.A. Discussed dropping out from Sydney Metrop: it was decided to send a delegation to a Sydney Metrop meeting to discuss the problems that we were having with Sydney Metrop. (ie) because of the estuary competition that they took away from us. It was decided that A F A would stay with Sydney Metrop after a vote from other clubs delegates who did not want AFA to drop out of Sydney Metrop. | |
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| On Wednesday 28th of January 1998 the A.F.A. had an Extraordinary meeting to determine if the A.F.A. will stay as a Limited Company. It was voted on by the membership that we become incorporated with the Department of Fair Trading unanimously. Once again our history has changed and from next year we will be known as The Amateur Fishermen's Association of N.S.W. Inc. | |
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| On the 6th of October 1998 Harpurs Tunny (a Southern Bluefin Tuna), which was the first Gamefish, caught on rod and reel in Australia. Was stolen from the lock up of the Amateur Fishermen's Association of N.S.W. along with a mould of a kingfish don in plaster, some fishing equipment that was to be used for raffles and a quantity of beer. | |
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| STOLEN FROM THE CLUB ROOMS OF THE AMATEUR FISHERMENS ASSOCIATION ON THE 6TH OF OCTOBER 1998. | |
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| The A F A has been quite successful in A F C A competitions and actively promotes a healthy rivalry amongst its members. | |
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| The past 110 years has had its share of ups and downs and the club is once more in a sound financial position. The present Management Committee is dedicated to the advancement of the club and it is hoped that the next hundred years will be as exciting and fruitful as the first. |
