At the Women’s Industry Network Seafood Community (WINSC) 20th anniversary celebrations at the Hilton Adelaide on Friday, October 19, Lakes Entrance’s Mary Mitchelson (89) was one of 20 ladies to be named on the inaugural honour roll.
The honour recognises the contribution Mary has made over many years into the growth, prosperity and knowledge of the local seafood community and industry.
After meeting the love of her life, Mary left the teaching profession and started a lifelong involvement with fishing in the Gippsland Lakes.
Mary was a pioneer and role model for what women could do when she stepped outside the home and onto a boat in the 1960s.
She became known for her fishing prowess and knowledge of the district fishery. Although now retired from fishing, Mary continues to sling mesh nets for her son and grandson.
Mary instilled a love of fishing into her children and grandchildren with two granddaughters becoming commercial fishers and a great granddaughter showing a keen interest in taking up the family legacy.
“It is an honour to receive this recognition and I thank those who nominated me,” Mary said.
“My word of wisdom for girls who want to work in the fishing industry is be optimistic and have a good sense of humor, plus a good strong back.”
During 1996 a group of women associated with the commercial sector of the fishing industry in South Australia began working together to form the South Australian Women’s Industry Network.
In February of 1998, it hosted a fisheries research and development corporation workshop. One of the results of the workshop was the development of a four-point action plan for future operations of the network so that it might serve the needs of the seafood industry nationally.
In June 2000, the national Women’s Industry Network Seafood Community was formed and incorporated.
The community is the only national organisation in Australia that represents women in the seafood industry. It is a unique network that covers the tough, high-tech world of commercial fishing, the cutting edge aquaculture, research and processing sectors along with policy and resource management.
