Speech delivered at the Blessing of the Fleet, January 2026, Tunarama by Mayor Diana Mislov, City of Port Lincoln
16 January 2026
Today, we come together, to celebrate the official opening of the 61st Tunarama Festival, and on behalf of the City of Port Lincoln, I am delighted to welcome you all here, at the home of our fishing fleet, the Seafood Capital of Australia’s commercial marina.
Distinguished guests, families and fisher-people, I look around at a sea of smiling faces, to come together at this first event of our refreshed Tunarama, The Blessing of the Fleet.
There is nothing quite like the feeling, of coming together as families, to wave off your loved ones, as they set to the sea on a voyage to catch or bring back fish. That meant the smell of fish and fuel, water and waders, tears and fear on departure, and triumph on return. Before quota’s were introduced, the back decks of tuna vessels would be full of fish, and the city rich with well paid crew, mixed with hard work, comraderie and laughter. Tunarama would be a time of plenty – plenty of fish, plenty of money, plenty of people and plenty of fun. To this day, Tunarama will celebrate all that is wonderful about our fishing industry, and community.
In 1984 I waved off the fishing vessel Alan that had on board my fiancé, Denis Longin, his father, Vinko, and a local fisherman Neil Webb. Tuna quota’s had been introduced, and the Alan, was converted from a vessel for tuna fishing to one that was used for deep sea trawling off the coast of Portland.
I said goodbye, and watched the Alan leave the bay. They steamed to Portland, and fished successfully.
On a fateful day in December 1984, they asked school teacher Andrew Halliday to join them, on his very first trip out. The four men were on deck, it was blowing 25-30 knots with a choppy sea, but not a really big swell. They had about four tonnes of catch onboard, and a few waves came over the side, the boat started to list, and they tried unsuccessfully to correct it. Following successive larger waves, the boat overturned and all four men were thrown into the sea.
If you imagine that for a moment, what it must be like, to be hurled into the sea, cold, wet and numb. Panicked. Desperate. Afraid.
The men clung to wood, hatch covers and whatever was around them. None of them had a chance to know what happened, it was a freak accident. Gradually Neil watched as the three men, including Denis, faded from sight, lost in the gouging waters. The vessel overturned, he clambered onboard the Alan’s unturned hull where he clung for nine hours. In his words, “After I was by myself I tried hard, really hard, to stay alive and it paid off. I was praying to God.”
He was passed unnoticed by several boats, as he sat on the hull until about 10pm at night.
Imagine, the fear of dying, of drowning, alone.
Another vessel the Derwent Venturer came near him, and at about that time, the Alan lost so much air, she could not stay afloat and went down. For the next six hours, Neil Webb swam toward the Derwent Venturer. In the last 100 metres, he didn’t think he would make it, it was just too much, but his will to live and faith in God pushed him on.
Imagine, swimming six hours, in pitch black, to lights in the dark, in unknown waters, with nothing but faith on your side.
My parents received a phone call very early in the morning, with a message from Tony Santic, Skipper of the Derwent Venturer, with this tragic news. My Dad and I went to the Police Station, and in disbelief, went to see Marija, Denis’ Mum, to tell her that both her husband and son were lost at sea. Marija couldn’t speak much English, and my father spoke to her in Croatian about what had happened. He didn’t need to say anything. The look on our faces. The fact we were on her doorstep so early in the morning, told her all she needed to know. The image of Marija crumbling to the ground that morning, will stay with me forever.
And that is why, the Fisher’s Memorial is so very important. On one side, it shows families looking out to sea, watching boats leave, and on the other, downcast mourning families, for those who did not return. It is both a place of hope, and grief.
That is why the Blessing of the Fleet is such an important tradition. Because we bless our fisher-people for safe passage, to pray for them in their isolation, for good catches, and safe return.
There are so many dignitaries here today, and I welcome you all, and I want to single out a mention to Mr Hagen Stehr, who had the foresight to start the Australian Maritime Fisheries Academy many years ago, and brought training and Work Health Safety processes to practical application in the fishing industry. The industry has become much safer, and this can be nowhere more evident, that in the fewer names being chiselled into the granite on the memorial.
Thank you to Hagen, to Mick Puglisi who commissioned the sculpture by Marijan Bekic and all the sponsors of the Fisher’s Memorial.
To all of you attending today, I would like you to take the time to explore the service wharf, the vessels, the memorial, and recognise the need for the marine infrastructure to be renewed into the future, to preserve not only our fisheries, but the safety and lives of those participating in the industry.
On behalf of the City of Port Lincoln, I also want to recognise the industry leaders, the succession to the next generation of fishing families, the industry partnerships that continue to happen, and in particular, I wish to thank the vessels berthed at the wharf today.
We sincerely thank the skippers, owners and crew of the iconic FV Tacoma, a historical vessel preserved for future generations, and still offering tuna poling trips. FV Pelorus from the sardine fishery, the mainstay of feed production for our tuna farms; and also FV Kylie and Challenge, members of the prawn fleet.
I finish with thanks to the City of Port Lincoln and its leadership, in returning the Tunarama Festival to the people of Port Lincoln, and to the benefit to the wider Eyre Peninsula. We celebrate the return of iconic events, like the Tuna Toss, (I hope we can get some of you to give it a go!) Parade and Fireworks, the Gala Dinner and amusements. We also thank the sponsors of this event today, and the whole Festival, and also the community volunteers, without whom, it simply would not be possible.
Not only does Tunarama celebrate our rich history of the fishing industry, it celebrates life itself, it’s our big annual party, and it also brings local pride and connection.
Whether this is your 1st Tunarama or 61st, we warmly welcome you to experience Port Lincoln, enjoy our hospitality, savour our seafood and celebrate where our history meets the horizon.
Diana Mislov
Mayor, City of Port Lincoln