Monday 28 October 2013

Lifesavers want to see mandatory life jackets for rock fishermen

Hunter Lifesaving has reiterated calls for mandatory life jackets after the death of a fisherman at Redhead.

A 35-year-old man was washed off the rocks at Redhead bluff on Saturday afternoon whilst fishing with friends, he was later found on a rock ledge and pronounced dead at the scene.

New South Whales government put forward a discussion paper about the issue in August this year but there is yet to be any direct action.

Hunter Director of Lifesaving, Mick Motley, says education is not enough




"We've been trying education and people are just not listening, so we're going to have to try to put something in place to enforce it," he said, "I'd like to see mandatory life jackets to be worn by all rock fisherman... there's just too many people getting washed off the rocks and being servery injured or drowned (sic)".

Rock fishermen have been advised to wear appropriate clothing and have safety equipment on them at all times.

"If everyone is going to go to the rocks I would like everyone to check the weather conditions, check that they're safe, and I'd plead to wear a life jacket," Motley said.


During the 2011/2012 financial year twelve people drowned whilst rock fishing.

Brett Whiteley sculpture comes to Newcastle

Newcastle Art Gallery is piecing together a giant Brett Whiteley sculpture today.

The sculpture, called Black Totem 2, is an exaggerated white egg perched atop an 11 meter tall black post. Incidentally, 11 meters is the same height as the gallery itself.

Newcastle Art Gallery's Assistant Director, Tristan Sharpe, says hundreds of people have come to see the egg already.

"[It] really has the right feel for Newcastle... that sort of 'industrial' heritage as well as the egg about regeneration and rebirth  which Brett [Whiteley] was very interested in," he said.

 The sculpture is one of two made by Whiteley, the other being the match sticks in front of Art Gallery New South Whales.

Previously, the piece was on loan in Sydney and has been donated to Newcastle by Whiteley's widow, Wendy.


Black Totem 2 in Walsh Bay, Sydney