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29/11/2006: "KING NEPTUNES PARK ..... Oceanarium 1980's"

King Neptunes Park no longer exists having returned to vacant council-owned land when the lease expired.

Champion free-diving spearman Vic “Snowie” Ley and his partner Carol Constable met while working at this oceanarium. Both presented the shows at this Port Macquarie, New South Wales holiday town.

Imported alligators, dolphin, monkeys, penguin and sea lions all featured in family-themed shows.

Vic Ley remembers the young Australian fur seal (sea lion) arriving for care at the park.

“It was just skin and bones” he said.

“We soon got him fat. He was like a pet puppy, and just as smart, although partially blind from his tough times before he arrived.

He knew my voice and would rush to me when I called. I was the only one who fed him and that makes a difference. I could take him anywhere.

If given the opportunity I reckon we could have gone snorkel diving together and he would have remained with me”.

The giant Queensland groper incident occurred a few months before I started work at the oceanarium.

Apparently the fish was in poor condition when it arrived after being netted by fishermen at Hat Head.

They should have rejected it then but did what they thought was the right thing at the time.

I don’t know if the fishermen were paid anything for their troubles or not”.