We would love to be able to put this program into more schools across Australia in due course. It is funded by the NSW fishing license. It’s great to see some money go back into grassroots education and the future of our industry. On a side note, you may want to check out the website, as these teaching videos are available for all to use. With 2 program sets available for download, you may even want to run them locally from your tackle shops, some education for kids.

Let’s Fish Australia (letsfish.net.au) is an initiative of AFTA; the campaign is a series of social media and television clips encouraging families, friends and newcomers to get out there and wet a line. The themes of the project focus on fishing being a perfect choice for fun, relaxation, togetherness, enjoying nature and mental health. The TV campaign is set to begin in August of 2024 across all states in regional areas. This campaign represents the most significant amount of money AFTA has spent promoting recreational fishing. NSW areas will receive the largest spending thanks to the grant funds received on our Let’s Fish NSW grant and the bushfire relief committees (separate from the AFTA board) agreeing to utilise the funds this way when COVID put an end to all of their original plans for the funds. We’re asking all members to help spread the message; please visit letsfish.net.au to download the clips and pop them on rotation on your Facebook posts or stories. If we all work together to increase participation in recreational fishing, we all benefit.

This year, a record number of exhibitors will be at our annual Tackle Show, which sold out months in advance. The event now consists of two trade-only days and one public day, on which the general public can see what will be hitting the shelves of their local tackle stores in the following months. The opportunity to meet some of their fishing idols can’t be forgotten, with many industry personalities on exhibitors’ stands and in discussion forums on the Let’s Fish Australia Stage.

It’s especially encouraging for wholesalers to see firsthand the enthusiasm and passion the next generation of anglers have for our sport. Sometimes, as wholesalers, we can be a little removed from dealing with the public, so this is a fantastic opportunity to engage with our end users.

The AFTA Tackle Show is supported by state government departments from both Queensland and Victoria. Because of the support of the Queensland government, AFTA can offer free entry to all visitors on the event’s Public Day. AFTA advocates tirelessly with state governments to achieve positive results for our members. It reassures us of the value state governments place on recreational fishing as an activity and an industry in Australia. We thank Minister Mark Furner for his attendance and acceptance to open the public day officially.

AFTA must also thank the companies sponsoring this year’s tackle show. Presenting a show of this size is not a low-cost event, and every dollar saved helps AFTA continue our work of Protecting Fishing’s Future. Many thanks go to Shop for Shops, Network Marine Insurance, Maui Jim, Blue Fish Imports, Brandscope, Wilson Fishing and Frogleys Offshore.

AFTA looks forward to welcoming our guests from the State-Based Fishing Organisations AFANT, RecFishSA, Recfishwest, TARFish and VRFish to this year’s tackle show, intending to develop strategic relationships. Relationships go both ways, and it will be great for these key people to gain insight into the business side of the recreational fishing industry.

We invite all members to the association’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday, August 15th, at 4 p.m. Following the AGM, we will hold the biggest industry networking event of the year—the Tackle Show Happy Hour, which Wilson Fishing and Frogleys Offshore will sponsor. Bars will be set up at their stands for all in attendance to enjoy mixing a little business with social time and free drinks to wrap up the first day of the event.

A highlight of the Tackle Show is the annual industry Gala Dinner and Awards Night, presented by the Victorian Fisheries Authority this year. AFTA is very proud of this industry event, and in recent years, we have put special effort into ensuring attendees have maximum networking time at the dinner. This event is a fantastic opportunity for wholesalers and retailers to connect in a relaxed setting and celebrate the achievements of our industry over the last twelve months. Award winners will be announced, including Best in Show, Best Stands, Australia’s Best Tackle Store, Industry Recognition and a new inductee into the AFTA Hall of Fame. This year, you can enjoy a drink or three courtesy of Brandscope. Please don’t leave it until the last minute; purchase your ticket with your show registration.

I would like to sincerely thank each person who assisted AFTA in achieving its aims; it starts with each member of the AFTA Board, Billy Parsons, Ben Scales, Stephen Morgan, Kord Luckus, Greg Seeto, Alicia Bolitho, Jarrod Day and Cameron Jackson, I thank you all for your work and commitment to the future of the recreational fishing industry. Our AFTA Patrons (Immediate Past President Colin Tannahill) and our State Ambassadors (Steve Threlfall – VIC, Stephen Bax – TAS, Tim Farnell – WA, Rocky Edwards – NT) and specific issue Ambassadors (Brent Hancock – Offshore Wind Farm in the Pacific Ocean in the Hunter Region), thank you for your assistance throughout the year, a local insight is of great value to AFTA.

Bob Baldwin, Our Independent Chair, has been busy travelling nationwide and meeting with Ministers and AFTA Members. On behalf of the entire board, I thank Bob for this. Bob’s contacts have helped AFTA gain access to doors previously closed, helping the industry where we can.

Nicholle Smith, our AFTA Tackle Show Organiser, has outdone herself this year, selling out the show floor space by March. This year, more exhibitors are under one roof than ever before, which means some serious creative thinking has been required to meet everyone’s needs as well as the requirements of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The countless hours of work needed to present a fabulous show experience for both exhibitors and our show visitors does not go unnoticed. Well done, Nicholle and thank you for a great job in 2024; there are still a few weeks to go, and then you can relax in September!

Heatha Nicholas, our Communications Manager, is always at the end of the phone line or inbox to assist our members with their queries. Membership is up and the newsletters are informative, this would not happen without Heatha, she is the backbone of AFTA that keeps things running when we all get a little to busy to think about AFTA, Heatha is always there to back us up and keep the board on the straight and narrow. Thanks, Heatha, for all the work you have done to keep AFTA heading in the right direction.

I look forward to seeing many of our industry members on the Gold Coast in August; for those who can’t come, please show your support through an annual AFTA membership. If we all work together to increase recreational fishing participation, we all benefit.

Regards

Michael Starkey
President