PAT LEVY

Hall of Fame Inductee – 2018

In an age when everything has a use-by date and companies and brands come and go, longevity is rare. JM Gillies has written its story into history and significantly helped shape the fishing industry in Australia. For JM Gillies, this story spans 90 years.

Over the years, JM Gillies has distributed brands such as Plano, Rapala, Maxima, Berkley, Basser Millyard, Classic, Bomber, Killalure, Warlock, Tassie Devil and SeaDog.

JM Gillies was established in 1928 by John Malcolm Gillies in West Melbourne. His vision was to service the fly industry. Fly tying was the core business, building a foundation and a name for the brand in Australia.

At the start of 1987, Pat Levy, a young storeman and packer, risked everything and bought the business.

Gillies had several warehouse moves quickly due to the expansion of the business before finding a base in Port Melbourne in 2000. The business expanded, and some neighbouring warehouses were taken over before finally running out of space and moving to a purpose-built building in 2009 that is still home today.

During the company’s 90 years, JM Gillies has distributed and manufactured more than 70 brands of fishing products and sporting goods. For Pat, it’s always been about providing the best service and brands. The service side has been a foundation for the company with a core sales team and internal staff that has been largely unchanged for the past two to three decades. Although brands and products come and go, the team at JM Gillies have become a family with a common goal and has established excellent relationships with tackle stores nationwide and internationally.

Pat Levy was inducted into the AFTA Hall of Fame at the 2018 AFTA Gala Dinner and Awards Night in recognition of his services to the fishing tackle industry.

Pat is recognised for his passion for the recreational fishing sector and his ability to prioritize the industry’s needs—sometimes to the disadvantage of his own business. He is a straight shooter and isn’t afraid to call a bluff or challenge an issue, no matter who makes the claim.

Pat has been very proactive over the years in getting others involved in representing the industry and encouraging fresh faces to join the AFTA board. Thank you for your contributions, Pat. The industry appreciates everything you do.