Hi John,
This picture of Vic Ley brings back so many memories for me. Vic was working at Port Macquarie Dolphin Park back in 1975. I was a young guy 15 yrs of age at the time, started diving along the Port Macquarie break wall when I was 13yrs of age and I scored a part time job at the park after school, cutting up fish with the guys who trained the dolphins as well as general dogs body clean up boy. I really enjoyed it. While I was there, I met Vic Ley and struck up a good friendship with Vic. He was larger than life and still held many Australian spear fishing records and championship titles. Vic was so fit looking, he was literally an Adonis. I managed to do quite a few dives with Vic whilst skipping school. Vic was the resident expert diver for the dolphin park and would go out and spear (gently) several small Grey Nurse sharks and others for the dolphin park shark tank. Bring them back and hopefully after the shock of travel back on boat and truck, cart these back to the tank; fingers crossed. More often it was shock that eventually took the animal. Vic taught me the finer aspects of free diving; his knowledge and ability to speak to me in a mentoring way help me throughout my diving career and underwater journey. To this day I still have the wooden frame of a competition spear gun Vic gave me as a gift when I was 16 yrs. I used this for many years and had much fun and lots of good shots. I think Vic Ley left an indelible mark on a young man at a time where old school knowledge was invaluable, and I thank him for that. Thanks John I enjoy looking through your website. I have also been a former student of Bobby Grounds UTC Commercial Diving School (Underwater Training Centre) in Sydney back in the late 70′s at Taren Point, Cronulla. Now 50 yrs of age I only dive when on holidays or trips to the reef and I’m more interested in the conservation of the oceans.
Best Wishes
Greg Gorter
(formerly of Port Macquarie, New South Wales).
Hi john
I’m a mate of the late malcom mcrat McLeod
I’ve got some photos and negatives that mal took in the seventies
I’m now looking for his kids to return them to them
Are you still in contact with the family
Cheers jeff
Presume it is Phil Eather you are after? This is not his web site. He’s in the Noosa region – you might need to look him up via the electoral roll, I could not find a phone number for him. Failing that, the post office at Mallacoota Victoria might be able to help?
Hi John,
This picture of Vic Ley brings back so many memories for me. Vic was working at Port Macquarie Dolphin Park back in 1975. I was a young guy 15 yrs of age at the time, started diving along the Port Macquarie break wall when I was 13yrs of age and I scored a part time job at the park after school, cutting up fish with the guys who trained the dolphins as well as general dogs body clean up boy. I really enjoyed it. While I was there, I met Vic Ley and struck up a good friendship with Vic. He was larger than life and still held many Australian spear fishing records and championship titles. Vic was so fit looking, he was literally an Adonis. I managed to do quite a few dives with Vic whilst skipping school. Vic was the resident expert diver for the dolphin park and would go out and spear (gently) several small Grey Nurse sharks and others for the dolphin park shark tank. Bring them back and hopefully after the shock of travel back on boat and truck, cart these back to the tank; fingers crossed. More often it was shock that eventually took the animal. Vic taught me the finer aspects of free diving; his knowledge and ability to speak to me in a mentoring way help me throughout my diving career and underwater journey. To this day I still have the wooden frame of a competition spear gun Vic gave me as a gift when I was 16 yrs. I used this for many years and had much fun and lots of good shots. I think Vic Ley left an indelible mark on a young man at a time where old school knowledge was invaluable, and I thank him for that. Thanks John I enjoy looking through your website. I have also been a former student of Bobby Grounds UTC Commercial Diving School (Underwater Training Centre) in Sydney back in the late 70′s at Taren Point, Cronulla. Now 50 yrs of age I only dive when on holidays or trips to the reef and I’m more interested in the conservation of the oceans.
Best Wishes
Greg Gorter
(formerly of Port Macquarie, New South Wales).
Hi john
I’m a mate of the late malcom mcrat McLeod
I’ve got some photos and negatives that mal took in the seventies
I’m now looking for his kids to return them to them
Are you still in contact with the family
Cheers jeff
Presume it is Phil Eather you are after? This is not his web site. He’s in the Noosa region – you might need to look him up via the electoral roll, I could not find a phone number for him. Failing that, the post office at Mallacoota Victoria might be able to help?