Page 22 - Go55s summer web

Lifestyle

CATCHING UP WITH THE HISTORY OF FISHING

WHETHER YOU’RE AN AVID ANGLER OR A ONCE-A-YEAR VISITOR TO THE SEAFOOD MARKETS,
THIS BOOK WILL HAVE YOU HOOKED!

JOHN McNAMEE REPORTS

e stands there It’s written by Dr Anna and early European encounters
majestically, by the bush Clark, a self-confessed fishing with Australia’s waters, to
Hriver bank, a study of nut, and Australian Research the latest fishing trends. It
concentration. Council Future Fellow and also covers the introduction
Behind him two women Co-Director of the Australian of trout and fly fishing to the
stir up the surface of the water Centre for Public History at challenges of balancing needs
to force the feeding fish to go the University of Technology, of commercial and recreational
downstream into shallower Sydney. fishers.
pools. In the colourful and She goes right back in
In his hand he holds a long painstakingly researched book time to provide a detailed and
fishing spear which was used Dr Clark provides a unique riveting history of indigenous
with great success and expertise insight into the history of fishing.
by Aboriginal hunters. fishing, from the first known “Artefacts such as spears,
The spear, known among the accounts of indigenous fishing hooks and nets were some of
early colonists as a fish-gig or
fizz-gig, was used to probe into
the rocky waters to flush out such
species as bream or to impale
abalone and other shellfish.
The prongs of the spears
were hardened and polished and
then attached to the long shaft
using pieces of thread daubed
with resin.
This 1857 painting, called
simply Aborigines, is by
Thomas Balcombe, and is one
of the numerous fascinating
illustrations in a new book from
the National Library of Australia
This Thomas Balcombe painting of 1857 shows an Aboriginal fisherman called The Catch…The Story of
plying a long-shafted spear along a bush river. Two women splash in the
shallows behind him to attract fish. Fishing in Australia. Fishing is really a family affair.
Live Your Best Life:

Get Paid To Cuddle Animals & Give Back to Your Community

ith a growing number of Australians lacking the Deb Morrison, CEO and founder of PetCloud, says their
funds to retire and being forced to work into website which was developed with the help of RSPCA Vets
Wtheir 70’s PetCloud offers an opportunity to is bringing integrity back to the pet sharing economy.
earn serious cash on your terms, while giving back to your “Through our collaboration with our RSPCA Partners it is
community. reflected throughout the website we are raising awareness
PetCloud is a nationwide online sharing economy about the standard of pets in care,” Ms Morrison said.
business that connects pet owners with real people offering Holidaying pet owners can give back this Christmas
various pet care services in their own homes. simply by booking pet care services on PetCloud’s website,
www.petcloud.com.au, and help animals in need to have a Pet Sitter Jolie Wheeler with Darcy.
Paying it Forward brighter future. minding business, but didn’t feel comfortable handing out
The Australian owned and founded is committed to the details to strangers so I filed the idea away,” Wheeler said.
mission of reducing animal abandonment by connecting Baby Boomers Highest Earners “Shortly after, I came across an article about PetCloud in
pet owners with pet carers in their local area, and donates As well as giving back to their community, retirees are the Sunday paper and it changed my life.”
a percentage from every booking to the RSPCA. getting the best of both worlds with flexibility, income and Both Taylor and Wheeler are monetising their time,
Research shows pet owners find it difficult to book local, job satisfaction! home and car by offers a variety of services such as pet
trusted and personalised pet care, particularly around peak PetCloud’s recent research shows baby boomers are minding, house sitting, home visits, day care, daily walking,
holidays season, but with PetCloud pet parents can connect working smarter and not harder by using pet playtime to washing and brushing, trips to the vet and pet taxi.
instantly with thousands of pet carers. earn serious cash. As well as a vetting process, Taylor said pet owners are
Pet owners and carers are embracing giving back to The research showed while only 3% of their pet carers reassured with the knowledge their pets are treated as part
their community through PetCloud with over $25,000 offering services are over the age of 55, they complete of the family.
being paid back to the RSPCA in the last year alone. over 20% of all jobs, on average completing 600% more “Pets have their own fully furnished bedroom with
bookings and earning over 5 times more income. ceiling fan and can even watch TV on the couch… if their
At a glance, PetCloud pet carer Debbie Taylor may just parents allow,” she said.
look like your average retiree but ex professional and now The benefits are also plentiful for PetCloud pet carers
business owner hasn’t slowed down since retiring. as they are provided with support, insurance cover,
If anything she is speeding up and Debbie says she website development, marketing and promotion, plus job
wouldn’t have it any other way. satisfaction.
“I’ve always been a very active person … [and] there Wheeler agrees the fur babies she cares for gives her
is a lot of work involved in caring for other people’s family hours of fun and joy plus reliable income.
members but this is the best job in the world and I wouldn’t “This is a business and you can wok it as much or as
change it for anything,” Taylor said. little as you want… and you get paid,” Wheeler says.
Brisbane retiree Jolie Wheeler has also been able Summer is busiest time of year for pet sitter so why
to realise her dream of running a pet minding business not become a PetCloud pet carers. It’s free to join and all
with PetCloud without the stress or expense of doing you need is a computer, laptop or smartphone then head
it alone. to www.petcloud.com.au to start your pet care business
Deb Morrison, Founder of PetCloud with my dog Milly. “I thought long and hard about starting my own pet today.

22 Summer 2017 | The Go55s Newspaper