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22/01/2007: "THE SWAIN REEFS ..... Beginnings"
Ron Zangari (top picture) was employed by Wally Muller of Riversong for several years in the early 1960's. The two men attempted to bring home 4000 pounds of fish fillets from each trip. This mostly occured as they were the only fishermen working this area.
Despite the good catches Ron Zangari often complained of not getting paid in full. In time bitter feelings developed. A consequence of too much time spent in isolation at sea together, often with bad weather preventing work.
On shore Wally had two young sons (born 1956; 1960) running wild. That marriage eventually failed.
Ron Taylor and Ben Cropp were working guests aboard Riversong who made the first underwater films and photographs in the Swain Reefs. They paid for their passage by spearing fish, mostly coral trout.
A large tiger shark was caught by Wally Muller in The Swains, Ron Zangari posed for graphic underwater pictures (at the time) which helped skyrocket the Taylor & Cropp names around the world.
(Bottom picture) Wally Muller at the stern of Riversong.
The Swain Reefs remained unchartered until the mid-1960's. Wally Muller was the only navigator known to go there for many years. His dream was to explore The Coral Sea further east and that would require a larger boat. In time he dreams came true only to be later destroyed by a combination of factors, especially the dreaded drink called rum.
Fishermen know to avoid the northern Swain Reefs east of Mackay, Queensland, known as Rip Tide Country.
The currents flow far too strong for most vessels. It is the last true frontier of the Great Barrier Reef(s). Note the extra "s" which could easily be included, a suggestion promoted by (the late) Dr Robert Endean the University of Queensland reader in zoology.
