[Previous entry: "GANNET CAY .........Belgian Expedition in The Swains"] [Next entry: "PORT DOUGLAS ....... beach; 1967"]

27/06/2006: "BELGIAN EXPEDITION .......Wally Muller; Ron Taylor"

(top)Our charter boat captain, Wally Muller borrowed the skipper's cap for this picture with Corrine. Starfish scientist Robert Pearson ("viva la Belgique")on left.

Barely visible (on right) is professional Brisbane diver Ivan whose steel (butcher safety) work gloves was the inspiration for the anti-shark chain male suit devised by Ron and Valerie Taylor decades later.

A bottle of Becks Beer creeps into the camera - thousands of bottles of this German brew were consumed by officers, crew and guests, duty free price about $1.50 each in today's terms.

(below)Ron Taylor (with beard) takes a break on the deck of Careelah between dives. This was just days before defending his Champion de Monde world spearfishing champion title in Cuba 1967.

He later quit Australian competition spear fishing, feeling great pity for the fish involved.

Ron Taylor and his wife Valerie are both seperate holders of the Order of Australia (AO) award from the Australian government.