bowen

Happy fishermen display their remarkable catch of large Spanish Mackerel.

Fishing is one of Bowen's biggest attractions, with numerous creek systems, coral studded islands, offshore reefs, and most importantly, abundant fish life. Bowen has many creek systems, which hold healthy numbers of Mangrove-jack, Bream, Whiting, and Barramundi (closed season Nov 1st-Feb 1st). Bowen offers a multitude of offshore fishing options, and you will only need to go a short way to access many of the inshore islands and reefs, which hold good numbers of Coral Trout, Sweetlip, and Mackerel. These islands include Lighthouse, Stone, Middle, and the magnificent Gloucester and Holbourne islands, all of which, have abundant reefs for both line and spearfishing, especially for the very tasty painted crayfish. Bowen is renowned for its Spotted and Spanish Mackerel fishing, and from June through to September, the bountiful Bowen Mackerel patches are only a short, 5km boat run from the Grays Bay Boat Ramp. These fish arrive in huge numbers and when they come to the bite, the fishing is simply world-class. Source: www.tourismbowen.com.au/fishing

Victor Thomas Trumper (2 November 1877[a] – 28 June 1915) was an Australian cricketer known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby winner". Trumper was also a key figure in the foundation of rugby league in Australia. Some notable highlights of Trumper's career include scoring 292 against Tasmania, including a century before lunch (1908); scoring 100 in 58 minutes against Victoria (1906); 201 against South Australia (1913). His innings of 293 for an Australian XI against Canterbury (1914), scored in a little over three hours, was made in partnership with Arthur Sims (184 not out), and their stand of 433 still remains the record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket, and Trumper's innings remains the highest score by a number nine batsman. His last 68 first-class innings, from 1910 to 1914, gave him an average of 60. His ability as a batsman, however, cannot be valued by averages or the number of runs scored. His mastership was shown on bad wickets, for when other batsmen were struggling merely to keep their wickets intact, he was still able to time the ball and execute strokes all around the wicket. In February 1913 a match was played for his benefit between New South Wales and the rest of Australia which, with subscriptions, yielded nearly £3000. Trumper was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Trumper

The Queensland Rifle Association (QRA) was formed on 15 May 1861,[2] making it the oldest sporting club in Queensland. Its nearest rival, the Queensland Turf Club was formed in 1863, and the Queensland Cricket Association and Queensland Yacht Club two years later. From the beginning, the Rifle Association had two separate and sometimes conflicting purposes. The first is to promote the sport of competitive shooting and the second is to improve shooting skills for military purposes. The Rifle Association was independent of the Volunteers but was formed largely to hone the marksmanship of the Volunteer forces. The relationship between the Queensland Rifle Association and the military continued for almost a century, being formally dissolved in 1960 when Australian Army funding for competition prizes and ammunition was withdrawn. World War I saw a peak in rifle club membership in Queensland and some 5,316 members and ex-members of rifle clubs enlisted between 1914 and 1918. Rifle club membership expanded rapidly during the war from 9,578 in 1914 to more than 18,000 by 1917. One of the most celebrated marksmen to enlist was Trooper W. E. “Billy” Sing from the Proserpine Rifle Club. At Gallipoli Billy Sing was the deadliest sniper in the Australian forces with a tally of over 200.[1] Women were involved with rifle clubs, often mainly in social activities but small-bore "miniature rifle shooting" was seen as a sportswoman could readily participate. In 1891 women participated for the first time in a competition at Tarampa using heavy rifles over 200 and 300-yard ranges; two of the younger women were described as "handling their rifles as steadily as the men, and they bid fair to make as good shots as their brothers".[3] In 1901 the QRA held the first full-bore Ladies Matches in Australia. Lizzie Savage was the winner of Ladies Matches in 1901, 1902, and 1903.[4] Lizzie Savage was also the first female member of the Queensland Rifle Association. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rifle_clubs_in_Queensland