People

Composite bird habitat photo

Did you know?
For the past four years Lakes and Coorong fishers have donated their time, boats and navigational expertise to take part in the annual summer wader survey.

Did you know?
In 1999 the Southern Fishermen's Association (SFA) produced the first Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for a fishery anywhere in the world. It was signed off by all 38 fishers in 1999. This led to a partnership with WWF who sourced funds for the fishery to undergo MSC certification. Stage two of the EMP is currently under development.

Composite picture of cockling

Mullet fishing in the Coorong

Henry's fishing family

My family has been involved in the fishing industry for six generations, five of them have fished out of Clayton. However Gloria and I were the first generation to live in Clayton. They were great pioneering days and turned out to be some of the most exciting and rewarding parts of our lives. No power or telephones when I first moved in, in fact with others I had to build the first party telephone about 10kms. Telephone number 47D. I can tell you I was tickled pink when a lady urgently asked to use our phone and then asked the operator at Milang exchange for a London number on my stretched out fencing wire and got through. My family has been involved in the fishing industry for six generations, five of them have fished out of Clayton. However Gloria and I were the first generation to live in Clayton.

They were great pioneering days and turned out to be some of the most exciting and rewarding parts of our lives. No power or telephones when I first moved in, in fact with others I had to build the first party telephone about 10kms. Telephone number 47D. I can tell you I was tickled pink when a lady urgently asked to use our phone and then asked the operator at Milang exchange for a London number on my stretched out fencing wire and got through. We also established two shops. The first in old Clayton with petrol bowsers and twin coppers that used to cook yabbies to be sold to the public hot and cold. We could write a book on this.

Remember this little shop was served by very bad roads but was developed into a great little business selling fish and yabbies. Many of our customers in the 1960's - 70's were great pioneering characters in their own right and they leave us with wonderful memories. The next shop was the famous Yabby City and this business just astounds me how successful it was. It started with the worst roads and even with out a telephone and a couple of inexperienced owners who had never eaten at a restaurant in their lives. People used to flock to it in cars, buses, tourist boats, trailer sailers, runabouts and even helicopters. The next shop was the famous Yabby City and this business just astounds me how successful it was. It started with the worst roads and even with out a telephone and a couple of inexperienced owners who had never eaten at a restaurant in their lives. People used to flock to it in cars, buses, tourist boats, trailer sailers, runabouts and even helicopters.

We were kept off the streets by running Yabby City Restaurant, bottle shop and general store as well as fishing which has always been our main money earner, running a school bus, serving a 10 year term on District Council, Captain Coach of the successful local football team, part of a successful Premiership cricket team, President of Southern Fishermen's Association, Captain of CFS, gas rounds, petrol rounds and many other minor jobs. Gloria was President of the Milang School Welfare Club for many years, head chef of our successful restaurant and most importantly a caring mother of our children. About three years ago we sold Yabby City to semi retire to fishing since then I have been asked to be President of South Australian Fishing Industry Council, appointed to the South Australian Fisheries Research Advisory Board that decides where research monies should be used, The Murray Darling Native Fish Strategy Committee and Murray Darling Community Reference Group plus a myriad of committees that go with being the President of the South Australian Fisheries Industry Council (SAFIC). We don't have much time to get bored with one another, especially when you add in six grand children. Enough of the Jones dynasty.

South Coast Environment Group (SCEG) member Courtney plays football for the Goolwa/Port Elliot Saints at the very hard Strathalbyn ground

Wooden boat festival displays