Fishing

David (Dave) J Shearing

1955 -

Sport Fishing

Dave Shearing was born in Canowindra on 16 July 1955. He commenced primary school in Canowindra and a few years later moved to Cowra after which he started his first year of high school at Orange High School. After completion of his schooling Dave gained an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner. He completed his trade certificate and went on to do his building foreman and Clerk of Works certificate.

In 1975 Dave joined the Orange Ex-Services' Fishing Club, which is affiliated with the Australian National Sport Fishing Association (ANSA). This is where Dave's passion for fishing started as his father was also a keen fisherman. Dave fished for years on the eastern seaboard, learning the ropes from other club members.

On 3 April 1983 a Black Marlin weighing 132kg was hooked on a 15kg line at 1.30pm and, following a four and a half hour battle, the Marlin was landed at 5pm. The hook-up occurred at the Sir Joseph Young Banks some 15 km offshore near Nowra. The fish became a national record in the Australian National Sport Fishing Association program and this record has not been beaten to date (July 2004).

Dave won many prestigious awards in 1983 including ANSA Australian record capture in the 15kg line class; ANSA 12 monthly highest point scoring competition, division sport fishing 1982-1983 and most meritorious capture 1982-1983 12-monthly competition.

Since 1983 Dave has continued fishing, further capturing an Australian and one world record - 25 March 1989 a 31.5kg Wahoo on a 15kg line; Nowra; 2 January 1994 a 27kg hammerhead shark, on an 8 kg line, Laurieton; 3 July 1994, a 57.5kg black stingray, on an 8kg line, Laurieton. This became a world record with the International Game Fishing Association.

David was awarded a World Angling Record for a catch of the heaviest fish species in an approved line class category. This was awarded in the all tackle record category on 3 July 1994. This also gave David an award in the 5-to-1 club in the International Game Fishing Association for outstanding achievement in catching a fish weighing five times the wet test strength of the line used.

David still resides in Orange and in 1995 was elected State President of ANSA New South Wales. He has turned the experience of fishing to helping preserve and nurture fishing in New South Wales.

David has served the community of Orange since 1979 as a retained fire fighter with NSW Fire Brigades. Dave was a Councillor for Orange City Council from 1996 - 2004 and continues to be an ambassador for Australia's Colour City of Orange.

Kevin Laughton

1937 -

Casting Champion

Image Description
A - Australian Casting Championship medals

Kevin Laughton has always had a great love of the bush and his deeds are almost legend, with tales of his deadly accuracy with bow and arrow and rifle, and for his expertise as a fisherman and safari guide. However it was in the sport of casting that Kevin reached the top of the ladder, and he gave early notice of his potential when, at the age of 13 ,he won the Dry Fly Accuracy section of the Australian Championships.

Casting consists of both accuracy and distance events and Kevin proved his expertise in both by winning the City of Sydney Champion of Champions in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1973. In a twenty year period from 1952 to 1972 Kevin won a total of 14 State titles as Champion of Champions for New South Wales. In the State Championships in 1970 he scored 91 and in 1972 he scored 95, both out of a maximum possible of 100.

Kevin Laughton featured strongly in Australian Championships, coming in second in 1954, 1956 and 1957, and finally in 1958 he won the coveted Australian Champion of Champions title which he successfully defended again in 1959. In 1969, 1970 and 1971 he slipped back to second place but came back strongly to be National Champion again in 1972

The highlight of his career came in 1973 when was chosen to represent Australia at the World Casting Championships in Scarborough, England. This experience paid dividends in 1974 when Kevin was again selected to represent Australia in the world championships in Taree, New South Wales. In his own conditions Kevin proved a great competitor and came away with one silver and two bronze medals to place him amongst the top casters in the world.

On his retirement from such an adventure-filled life, Kevin settled into a career in real estate in Orange.