September 2018 Report: Get Hooked on Fishing Kids Clinic

 

September School Holiday Program Report 2018

Get Hooked on Fishing Kids Clinics

The Mandurah Community Museum (MCM) in partnership with the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club (MOFSC) took the “Fish for the Future” message to the youth of Mandurah for the seventh consecutive year.  They had the support of Linda Wiberg, Community Education Officer from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. 90 children participated in the fishing clinics and 53 adults attended.

It was wonderful to have a large group of parents attend that were willing to actively participate with their children.

The fishing clinics were returned to its traditional home on the estuary adjacent to the museum.  It was wonderful to use the new fishing jetty.

Based on the feedback given from the previous clinics, the following changes were made to the schedule.

  1. Only one session a day from 10am-2.30pm
  1. Increased the time at each of the activities.
  2. Reduced the number of children to 30 per session
  3. Included a sausage sizzle
  4. Allowed extra time to fish.

The MOFSC charged each child $10.00 to participate.  This money went towards covering the costs of the fishing clinics and sausage sizzle

Linda Wiberg presented a 30 minute theory session which gave the children the opportunity to learn, fish identification, what the laws and requirements are, what the best fishing practices for sustainability are and about personal safety.

The practical part of the session went for 2 hours.  The children were divided into 4 groups.  They rotated to each of the activities.  The MOFSC lead each of the following activities, fishing for 60 minutes, casting for 30 minutes, tying a line to a burley cage and other knots for 15 minutes and learning to fillet a fish for 15 minutes.   A lifeguard was employed to ensure the children were safe when fishing near the water.

After each clinic the children were asked to complete a feedback form.  Participation certificates and bags with fishing brochures, an Eco Venturer’s Journal and fishing magazine were presented to all children.  Prizes were awarded to children for showing improvement, being safety conscious and being the first to complete some activities.

Dudley Dolphin the mascot from the Mandurah Environment and Heritage Group was at each presentation to give the children their bag and to promote the Eco Venturer’s Journal. He was very popular and had many photos taken with children.

After a sausage sizzle lunch, children had the opportunity to continue fishing from the fishing jetty. Approximately half the group each day decided to stay.

Even though 84% of the children that attended indicated they had been fishing before and some of the children had done the clinic before, the feedback was extremely positive.

100% of the children thought the fishing clinic was fun and 98% of them learnt something new.

100% of the children indicated that the volunteers provided them with the confidence to go fishing and enjoy the experience safely with their friends and family.

The children wrote that their favourite activities were fishing with a rod, catching fish and learning to cast.

The weather was perfect.  45% of the children caught fish.

The feedback from one family was the following:

It was lovely and we had lots of fun, thank you, it was amazing- no need to improve.

Thank you to everyone involved for your time, support and effort and especially the MOFSC volunteers.  The clinics couldn’t be held without your dedication and enthusiasm to pass on your knowledge and skills.

 Katrina Gauci (Education Officer)