INSPIRED BY ADVENTURE, SHARKS AND BIG FISH

By Greg Pickering

Frank was a very keen and methodical diver as far as I knew. I went to
Ningaloo Station with him in 1994 for 3 weeks. We dived every day and I saw
him dive good depths of more than 60 feet. I had previously heard he could
dive deeper in feet than his age when he was in his 60's.

I believed he started diving at age 38. His favorite spearfishing location
was Ningaloo Reef and I believe he and Barry were among the first to ever fish
the area.
I don't know who taught him but he knew Jack Sue and was a part of the
Western Australian Undersea Club in the early days.
Skindiving was fairly new at that time and there weren't many experienced
divers then.

I would say yes, he was inspired by adventure and the fishing. He used 11'9"
hand spears originally and managed fish up to 60lbs with this type of spear.
Frank did spend a lot of time up at Wedge Island with his friend Al Bacon
working in the crayfish industry. I believe Barry was about 16 then. I have
heard of the story up at Wedge Island when Jackie Paxman was in the boat and
the men were in the water and a 16' White Shark appeared and took two Kingies
off the float they had in the water.

Another interesting story was off Ningaloo at Black Rocks in 1994, a big
female Tiger shark appeared next to the boat. It was bruised and battered
somewhat and it gave Ross Bullock a cold stare when he was in my boat.

 The brute grabbed and shook some floats next to the vessel and then approached me
head on. Frank aged over 60 at the time had just shot a 60lb Spanish Mackerel
and was dragged off and under the surface.

 I had heard him yelling to scare off a Bronze Whaler pursuing his fish. He was pulled under and I had to dive and lift him up to the surface again, such was his determination to bag the Spaniard. The giant Tiger Shark showed up again, Frank was on the surface and
had finally subdued his fish. Fortunately the Tiger Shark did not dispute ownership of the fish at this point, it was one of the largest sharks I've ever seen.

 Ross just shook his head in disbelief at the scenario that had just unfolded.