(^98) FLYLIFE
ongratulations to Daniel and Simone
Hackett and their RiverFly guiding and
outfitting business for striking Gold at
this year’s Australian Tourism Awards.
I believe that this is the first time any Australian fly-
fishing operator has won a national tourism award —
in this case, for Specialised Tourism Services. The
awards are based on an independent audit of the
service — not only assessing the product, but also
how it contributes socially and environmentally to
the greater community.
Daniel and Simone have fought hard to build
their business, and even harder to establish their
eco-friendly Western Lakes Huts base at Lake Ina.
No doubt winning the award will bring great
benefits to RiverFly, but also to recreational fishing
in Tasmania and beyond. It reinforces fly fishing
as an important part of the wider tourism industry,
and can only lead to stronger advocacy and greater
political awareness.
At the opposite end of the Western Lakes, the
recent official opening of Thousand Lakes Lodge
had even the state’s Premier spruiking fly fishing.
Sheltered behind the Lake Augusta dam wall at the
gateway to the Nineteen Lagoons, the new lodge is
ideally placed for exploring the accessible waters
nearby and the untold lake systems beyond.
With its exposed moorlands and labyrinth of
waterways, the Western Lakes fishery is not for the
faint-hearted (see page 32), but it must be at the
top of every serious fly fishers bucket list, to be
experienced at least once. To catch a trout here is
the ultimate challenge, and being right on the spot
is such an advantage in terms of making the best of
prevailing conditions. So why not do it in style?
Marcos Ambrose hasn’t cut any corners (one of my
better puns) in refurbishing the shell of the former,
and long abandoned, Antarctic training base. The
days of bunk beds and communal showers and
toilets are long gone, replaced by classy en-suite
rooms with all mod cons. Let’s just say the new
development is a thousand times better, offering
affordable comfort for those less inclined to roll
out the swag (see ad on page 37).
The long weekend in March also brought the
annual Forum ‘Gathering’ to nearby Liawenee;
this being the tenth such gathering, returning to its
inaugural venue. A motley crew of old stagers and
some new recruits, all dressed in the same green
Gathering shirt, were crammed into the Tiger Hut
at night and scoured the banks of nearby lakes by
day, catching, as usual, not much. Regardless, it was
another great get-together, with regular participants
coming from as far away as Darwin and WA.
Libby and I contributed some of our homemade
Rosé and locally grown Pinot Noir (thanks Vanessa —
backpaddockvineyard.com) to the Gathering, which
seemed to go down without too many complaints
even though the regular crew are more your heavy
red and whisky drinkers. Thanks also to Peter Morse
(celebrity guest) and Brad Harris (supporting act) for
helping to wave the FlyLife flag. Yes, the Forum still
exists, though recently reincarnated, and face-to-face
Gatherings are held around the country each year.
Another perennial, Nick Reygaert’s travelling fly-
fishing picture show will be touring Australia and
New Zealand again this year. Nick was just putting
the schedule together when I asked for this update.
The Rise Film Festival will start mid-August with
at least 27 shows in all. Films will feature New
Zealand, Mexico and Russia with contributions
from festival favourites Gin-Clear Media, Off The
Grid Studios, and Jako Lucas. The festival will also
showcase an episode from Nick’s latest venture —
Series 2 of Pure Fly NZ. Don’t miss it.
Rob Sloane
FlyLife Editor
Last Cast
from the Editor
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