Saturday March 10 2007 saw an illustrious gathering at the Branfords Fishing Museum in Bransford’s Tackle
shop at Clifton Beach. Over 7000 people including many celebrities have visited in the past year, but this
particular evening was particularly special. The initial inductees into the North Queensland Fishing Hall of
Fame were present to receive their awards and their names read like a roll-call of the North’s greats.
The nominees chosen for the Hall of Fame by the public and their peers were selected for their often quiet but
incredibly significant contributions to our sport. They were selflessly involved in conservation, education,
guidance, development and the open and candid sharing of insights and information for almost 50 years. They are
a group of modest, self-effacing gentlemen to whom we should all be grateful. It is in no small measure due to
their efforts that we enjoy the wonderful fishing we have today.
Six of the eight nominees were able to attend in person and the gathering of so many greats in one place was
something unlikely ever to be seen again.
The inductees, in the order they received their awards, were Vic McCristal, OAM, Barry Cross, Gary Wright, Terry
Holman, Jack Leighton and Laurie Woodbridge. Ron Gallo was unable to collect his award in person due to the ill
health of his wife, and the Late Bob Bradley’s family were also unable to be there.
(L to R) Gary Wright, VicMcCristal OAM, Laurie Woodbridge, Barry Cross, Jack Leighton, Terry Holman
Vic McCristal, OAM was recognised for so many things, including his books, his being a founder member of ANSA and
his many informative articles bringing the North to life for grateful anglers around the world. He is rightly known
as the “Father of Northern Sport Fishing” and was the guiding light for so many – several of the other nominees
were quick to cite him as their personal inspiration.
Barry Cross was chosen for his excellence as a gameboat skipper, his involvement in the tackle trade and his fine
achievements in light line-class fishing.
Gary Wright is probably the most successful pioneer fishing guide who led the way for anglers to enjoy the amazing
fishing in far northern Cape York. He was also an early editor of Fish & Boat and is an exteremely accomplished
photographer.
Terry Holman is a household name in Japan and has done more than most to publicise the northern sport fishery in
the Land of The Rising Sun. The consummate guide and an extremely skilled light tackle angler he has personally
achieved several world records.
Jack Leighton was nominated as the man who cracked the code of impoundment barra fishing. He became the first
guide to fish Tinaroo and led clients to several world records, as well as catching one or two himself. His
devotion to conservation and stocking has been instrumental improving fingerling survival rates and the
development of the catch and release fishing we enjoy today. It’s fair to say that without his efforts many
of us wouldn’t have caught our own personal fish of a lifetime.
The Late Bob Bradley, who passed away several years ago, was the consummate barra fisherman and guide. He knew
their whereabouts as a matter of instinct and was ever-willing to pass on as much of his knowledge as he could
to his clients. He always promised to refund any clients who didn’t catch and in all his years of operating
only ever had to do so once.
Ron Gallo is the North’s estuary expert. He was the owner of one of Cairns’ first tackle shops and his generosity
as a retailer almost sent him broke. His lure-making skills are superb and he always has the time to help others,
particularly youngsters. His achievements as a barra fisherman speak volumes and his knowledge of Lakefield is
unrivalled.
Captain Col Beck
Laurie Woodbridge. Affectionately called “Wood” by those who know him, he has often been called the most naturally
gifted fisherman ever. He is known for his incredible awareness of his surroundings and powers of observation.
He has an almost atavistic ability to find fish. He excelled as a marlin skipper, being recognised by the IGFA
as a World Captain of the Year, but is also a magnificent inshore angler and barra are his first love. His early
barra seminars stirred the imaginations of so many aspiring lure fishermen and the knowledge he shared has helped
countless anglers throughout his glittering career.
The ceremony was followed by an informal dinner also attended by legendary skippers Col Beck of Guilder fame and
Dennis “Brazakka” Wallace, who had generously arranged for Vic McCristal to be flown from Cardwell in one of his
GBR Helicopters Group choppers – McSea’s first ever ‘copter flight. Many old frienships were renewed and memories
revived. As Keith Graham, owner of Bransford’s Tackle said at the time: “We are privileged this evening to be in
the presence of these wonderful men to whom we should all be so grateful. Given the ages of several of these
legends, it’s unlikely that we shall ever see such a gathering again. We will always treasure the memory of
having been here.”
Fishing Hall of Fame 2008 Inducts Les Faithful and Dennis "Brazakka" Wallace
NOMINATED for their significant contributions to sport fishing in the region, Les Faithfull and Dennis "Brazakka" Wallace were inducted into the North
Queensland Fishing Hall of Fame recently.
This year’s ceremony was held at Bransfords Discount Tackle Shop’s museum at Clifton Beach on March 15 with a private ceremony followed by a dinner.
Les Faithfull, Keith Graham and Dennis "Brazakka" Wallace at the ceremony. A good time was had by all involved!
The only fishing museum in existence in Australia and housing an impressive collection of the region’s fishing memorabilia; the museum has a small but
steadily growing display of Hall of Fame members.
This year Les and Brazakka were honoured for their lifetime of contributions to the region, an effort keen anglers who voted in large numbers, and Bransfords
Discount Tackle and Bait store owner Keith Graham were delighted to recognise.
Les was recognised for his selfless sharing of a vast knowledge of barramundi fishing and of the Cairns Inlet.
He has been a stalwart of the area’s sports fishing and a generous teacher for almost five decades, helping young and old alike in his quiet and unassuming way.
Many have caught their first barra under his tutelage and have gone on to successful angling careers.
Brazakka was chosen for opening up so many unfished areas of the Cape York Peninsula by heli-fishing. His has been a lifetime of pioneering, from the early
days of prawning in the Gulf, to the game fishing and giant black marlin which made Cairns famous around the world.
Brazakka has always been at the forefront and was the initiator of heli fishing in the region. He has been a tireless promoter of Cairns and the Far North
around the world and through his work, helicopter tours and fishing have grown from nothing to a very significant part of the region`s tourist industry.
Self-confessed fisherman fanatic and curator of the museum Tristram Eley said between 2000-3000 people visited the museum each year. Mr Eley said the awards
also paid tribute not only to those in the sports fishing industry but also recognised the role which sport fishing played in putting Cairns on the map back in the 1960s.
“Australia, and in particular the Cairns region, has some of the greatest sport fishing in the world” Mr Eley said. He said Les and Dennis had left a
lingering impression on the industry because of their passion and dedication to the sport.
“Both, in their own ways, have had a lasting influence and have made a lasting impression on sport fishing in the Far North,” Mr Eley said. “They are fine
gentlemen and very deserving of their awards.”
Nominations to the North Queensland Fishing Hall of Fame are taken from the public every year in November and
two new nominees will be inducted each year.
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