Sharks A History Of Fear In Australia

For as long as people have lived in Australia, the shark has loomed large in our fears. From the Noongar people of Western Australia who stayed out of the water for fear of being taken, to media hysteria about attacks and even sightings today, sharks occupy the dark recesses of our national psyche unlike any other predator. They challenge the very sense of ourselves as Australians, a people who hug the coastline and love the freedom of the surf. And the dispute between whether to kill or protect sharks cuts to the political core of our nation, yet another divide between the right and the left.There is no denying that shark attacks have been increasing in recent years, and so have our fears. Where do we go from here? How worried should we be? Journalist Callum Denness deep-dives into the history of our relationship with sharks, and circles our fear by talking to activists, marine biologists, politicians, surfers, survivors and those who've lost loved ones. Compelling and challenging, this is the clearest picture yet of whether or not we can co-exist with sharks. Don't get back into the water until you read SHARKS: A HISTORY OF FEAR.

For as long as people have lived in Australia, the shark has loomed large in our fears. From the Noongar people of Western Australia who stayed out of the water for fear of being taken, to media hysteria about attacks and even sightings today, sharks occupy the dark recesses of our national psyche unlike any other predator. They challenge the very sense of ourselves as Australians, a people who hug the coastline and love the freedom of the surf. And the dispute between whether to kill or protect sharks cuts to the political core of our nation, yet another divide between the right and the left. There is no denying that shark attacks have been increasing in recent years, and so have our fears. Where do we go from here? How worried should we be? Journalist Callum Denness deep-dives into the history of our relationship with sharks, and circles our fear by talking to activists, marine biologists, politicians, surfers, survivors and those who?ve lost loved ones. Compelling and challenging, this is the clearest picture yet of whether or not we can co-exist with sharks. Don?t get back into the water until you read Sharks: A History of Fear in Australia.

For as long as people have lived in Australia, the shark has loomed large in our fears. From the Noongar people of Western Australia who stayed out of the water for fear of being taken, to media hysteria about attacks and even sightings today, sharks occupy the dark recesses of our national psyche unlike any other predator. They challenge the very sense of ourselves as Australians, a people who hug the coastline and love the freedom of the surf. And the dispute between whether to kill or protect sharks cuts to the political core of our nation, yet another divide between the right and the left. There is no denying that shark attacks have been increasing in recent years, and so have our fears. Where do we go from here? How worried should we be? Journalist Callum Denness deep-dives into the history of our relationship with sharks, and circles our fear by talking to activists, marine biologists, politicians, surfers, survivors and those who've lost loved ones. Compelling and challenging, this is the clearest picture yet of whether or not we can co-exist with sharks. Don't get back into the water until you read Sharks: A History of Fear in Australia.

Explore the science, psychological impacts and public perceptions ofshark attacks.

Straightforward facts and photos for the general reader.

Discover the pioneering days of spearfishing and scuba diving, read about the sports early spearmen and women and the founding fathers of scuba diving in Australia. This book takes you month by month from 1917 to 1997, through the good and bad times, the discoveries, the tragedies, the undersea explorations, as well as instructor organizations, diving achievers, and a number of important events which together comprise the history of underwater diving in Australia. Within the pages of this book is a large section dealing with the Chronicle of Sport Diving, events reported as though they had recently happened, recapturing all the important occurrences that took place during 80 years since Alex Wickham first speared fish in Sydney Harbour. Special features include newspaper reports of early spearfishing, the establishment of the first spearfishing association in 1948 and the appearance of the first home-made scuba regulator. There are thrilling and sometimes tragic stories of shark attacks. A woman skin diver was lost at sea for nearly three days and nights, and survived. There is the story of Australias first and so far only world champion spearfisherman and that of two scuba divers who swam with a white pointer shark for half an hour in open water, yet were not attacked by the beast, the devastating deaths of four scuba divers in a sinkhole at Mt. Gambier, the rapid advance of underwater technology in Australia and much more. This is the only book of its kind dealing with the history of spearfishing and scuba diving in this country. For some, it will bring back old memories, for others a readable and authoritative history of spearfishing and scuba diving in Australia. For every diver, man or woman, it cannot fail to stir emotions as it recaptures exciting and historical events. At the end of the Second World War, a Frenchman, Michel Calluaud brought plans of the Gagnan-Cousteau regulator to Australia and he built one of the first in the world here. Australians could then use this equipment for work and pleasure and it has furthered their knowledge of life in the sea. As we push beyond the boundary of seashores and venture further under water we begin to discover many things that were once beyond our grasp and it is the aqualung that has enabled us to journey beyond the confinements of land. THE HISTORY OF SPEARFISHING AND SCUBA DIVING IN AUSTRALIA not only deals with the scuba diving, but also, as the title suggests, with a wealth of information concerning spearfishing and related underwater activities.

IMPROVISE. ADAPT. OVERCOME. These three words the mantra of the Australian Army resonated with Paul de Gelder the first time he heard them. Paul chased adventure wherever he could find it, from his wild ride as a hoodlum teen and his drug-and-alcohol fuelled stint working in a strip club to hauling his way up to the elite echelons of the defence forces. But trouble hunted him down in the form of a brutal shark in February 2009. Paul lost two limbs, and his career as a daredevil navy clearance diver was flung into jeopardy. Drawing on everything his eventful life had taught him, Paul left nothing to chance in his recovery. He fought through excruciating pain, smashing challenge after challenge, and amazing the medical staff with his will to succeed. His inspiring story takes 'never say die' to a whole new level. From rebel, drug dealer and strip club worker to adventurer, soldier, fitness enthusiast, Navy diver, shark attack survivor, top motivational speaker and mentor to schoolkids across Australia, Paul de Gelder is an exceptional young man. He is now determined to carve out the best future for himself he could possibly imagine. Paul is a true survivor and an incredible inspiration.

Shark attacks and sewage slicks, lifesavers and surfers, amusement parks and beach camps – the beach is Sydney’s most iconic landscape feature. From Palm Beach in the north to Cronulla in the south, Sydney’s coastline teems with life. People from around the city escape to the beaches to swim, surf, play and lie in the sun. Sydney Beaches tells the story of how Sydneysiders developed their love of the beach, from 19th century picnickers to the surfing and sun-baking pioneers a century later. But Sydney’s beaches have another history, one that is lesser known and more intriguing. Our world-famous beach culture only exists because the first beachgoers demanded important rights. This book is also the story of these battles for the beach. Accompanied by vibrant images of Sydney’s surf, sand and sun worship, this expansive and delightful book is the story of how a city developed a relationship with its ocean coast, and how a nation created a culture.