After 22 years of organising the iconic Lake Mulwala Cod Classic for Mulwala Football Netball Club, Tony Bennett was to hand over the reins.
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But arrangements for that have taken a slight turn and Tony is back as director.
“I can’t see it fall over and walk away. After 22 years of work I just couldn’t walk away and see it close,” he said.
It all started in February 2000 with The Big Catch attracting 44 anglers. “It was (past club president) Brian McKee’s idea,” Tony, explaining the event’s origins.
“He got talking to this travelling rep from Inglewood. They had a fishing comp. Vanessa (wife) and I were running the social club and Brian suggested we run a fishing comp. We had five weeks to put the first one together.
“The idea of the Cod Classic opening weekend was talked about. I came from Kerang which had a duck opening which saw the town go from 4,000 to 20,000 people and I thought ‘why not promote a cod opening?’.”
In December that year, re-titled the ‘Cod Opening Classic’, the number of anglers soared to 747 plus family members. The date was better, event promotion, the location and the amount of prizes all helped as reasons leading to a substantially increased number of anglers and family members.
A former fitter and turner, at Australian Munitions Mulwala, and a player of over 100 senior games with the Mulwala Lions, Tony, 51, wasn’t big on administrative work but he certainly has impeccable records of all the events and has greatly appreciated the administrative assistance of Vanessa over the time.
“The highest total of competitors has been 3,113 in 2009 with the average 2,800 to 3,000,” he said,.
“This means the event attracts about 4,000 to 5,000 additional people in town which is great for all local businesses.
“A total of 123 boats have been given away, the highest number being 10 in 2019. About $2.5 million in total prize value has been won by anglers or non-fishing family members.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t have the event in 2020 (due to COVID) but we did have a COVID Cod Classic capped at 500 people.”
Many years ago, the big event took over the title from Horsham as the largest inland fishing competition in Australia. The weekend event works like clockwork, involving voluntary work from netballers, footballers, supporters and local organisations, including scouts, guides and rowing club.
Anglers from every part of Australia converge on the Mulwala Recreational Reserve upon their arrival in town. International anglers from Japan, America and France have made the trip.
Mulwala Football Netball Club’s committeeman and three-year past president David Rose was involved in the initial research leading to the event.
“The Cod Classic grew from an idea after a conversation Brian had with a flower rep, to become a sensational event for the community and the club. It showcases fishing and brings a lot of people to Mulwala,” he said.
“Tony’s the face of it. He’s made recreational fishing into a passion and a business. The event has resulted in development of infrastructure at the club - paid for improvements at the club including in more recent times the scoreboard and netball facilities.”
Ted Barber, 150kms away in Tallangatta, has been to all 22 Cod Classics. “I started off with three mates in my group. Now there are 14, from various places including Bairnsdale,” he said.
“The work that Tony Bennett does is unbelievable. The number of kids’ prizes is absolutely incredible. Instead of kids playing on their electrical gadgets they’re involved in fishing and that’s important.”
Ted, 77, loves everything about the Cod Classic and that includes fishing with his grown-up children and grandchildren.
“The Cod Classic is the greatest thing in the world. It’s a fantastic show. It gives over $100,000 worth in prizes every year and even when we had COVID, Tony kept the event going,” he said.
For 21 years, 56-year-old Darren Scott OAM has gladly made the 720 kms round trip from Rupanyup, the first time by himself. “Now there are about 80 of us from this area who go to it,” he said.
“It’s a very good event – if you like fishing, you’re mad if you don’t go to it. To have 5,000 people in town for the event, Tony, Vanessa and the football netball club do a wonderful job. You couldn’t have a better team.”
Champion Australian Test cricketer and keen angler, Merv Hughes, has been to all but one Cod Classic and is looking forward to making the trip from Melbourne again this year.
“Just the size of it shows how well it’s run and organised, the competition taking in the celebration opening of the Cod season,” he said. “What a great spectacle and a magnificent event, without a doubt.”
Tony’s on the job all -year round. “I just enjoy it for the people who are part of it,” he said. “We’ve made many friends and love catching up with everyone.”