Women's fishing in Australia

Women were competing in fishing derbies by 1936, with their participation rates being higher than men at some events. They continued to participate in the sport during the 1940s. More recently, Game Fishing Association of Australia has several competition classes that women can compete in against other women.

Contents

History

In a 1936 fishing derby, there were more male participants than female participants.[1] Women's fishing was being covered by Australian newspapers during the 1930s.[2][3] The Adelaide Advertiser cited Cleopatra as a reason Australian women should fish, and discussed how one Australian woman has caught more fish than her husband.[3] In 1940, a study of 314 women in New Zealand and Australia was done. Most of the women in the study were middle class, conservative, Protestant and white. The study found that 183 participated in sport. The ninth most popular sport that these women participated in was fishing, with 3 having played the sport. The sport was tied with croquet, billiards, chess, fishing, field hockey, horse racing, squash, table tennis and shooting.[4] In 1952, there was a women's only fishing derby in Sydney.[5]

Competitive fishing

The Game Fishing Association of Australia has a women only categories for competitions in saltwater, freshwater, saltwater fly, freshwater fly, and land based saltwater.[6]

References

  1. ^ "FISHING COMPETITION.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia): p. 6. 27 April 1936. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17320446. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  2. ^ "FOR WOMEN.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia): p. 5. 5 January 1938. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17422659. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Women Out Of Doors.". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia): p. 14. 27 January 1933. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74002035. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  4. ^ Stell 1991, p. 75
  5. ^ "WOMEN'S FISHING COMPETITION.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia): p. 3. 17 May 1952. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18265170. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  6. ^ "Game Fishing Association Australia". Gfaa.asn.au. http://www.gfaa.asn.au/html/5rec_01.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-26. 

Bibliography

  • Stell, Marion K. (1991). Half the Race, A history of Australian women in sport. North Ryde, Australia: Harper Collins. ISBN 0207169713.