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What is the
PFT?
I
think it was the September of 2001. I was sitting on Peter Pakula's deck,
overlooking the water and we were discussing the marlin bar and how
friendly all of the members seem to be that post. Somewhere in that
conversation, I suggested that we try and get as many people together as
we can, have a BIG FISHING WEEKEND.
Pete sort of smiled, with a
grin that said........."well see about that"......... Well, as soon as I
got back to Sydney, I set about letting people know about my plans as to
how we were going to ALL meet at PORT STEPHENS for a friendly fishing
weekend.
After all, most of us talk
so much over the net, and a lot of us had fished together on separate
occasions, just getting together, all in one spot, all doing what we love
for just one weekend seemed to have the markings of a great weekend well,
I thought it did anyway)
So, Wayne Shelley started to
push the barrow also, helping spread the word of our fishing weekend we
were calling "the FRIENDLY TOURNAMENT" why a tournament....well, who
knows, it sounded good, even though there was not one prize to win, we
just wanted to fish and have a good time. Well, as time rolled on, it
grew. More people became involved. I had originally asked John Zac of
Tailored Marine Accessories (then owner of PAKULA TACKLE AUSTRALIA) if they
would like to become involved and they surely did becoming major sponsor
and donating heaps of goodies. Some other Marlin Bar members, Like Leon Akriditis from Victoria also found some people willing to support a fun
weekend that seemed to be snowballing into something never seen before in
game fishing circles. Now, with people throwing product at us in support,
Leon suggested we run an auction type of arrangement, so as to raise some
money. About this time, Pete Pakula had a grip on the numbers that seemed
to be growing. Pete was generous enough to help organise things thru the
MARLIN BAR, making it easy for members to see what we were up to. By now,
Matty Sanders was involved and rounded up many more donations and auction
items. Things just seemed to be going from strength to strength. We now
had a group of mates, that just wanted to fish and have fun, suddenly grow
to over 50 people. Mario Zac helped me out with organising things from
GROUND ZERO (being a Port Stephens local) and he handled the venues as
well as getting donations from local business as well.
We now had the makings of a
tournament, but really, it was just mates having a fish....Mates it seemed
who realised that there is people out there that need help more than we
do. So it was discussed as to what we were going to do with all of the
money we raised. It was during this whole FRIENDLY FISHING organising that
we learned of Peter Pakula's lovely wife Jo, had been diagnosed with
Breast Cancer. It seemed appropriate that we honour Jo and all other
sufferers of cancer by donating money to charities that dealt with this
type of thing. Also, the numbers were still growing and now we really
needed to do some REAL organising. to make things more interesting, we put
a $15 entry fee for every angler (of course going to charity). Somewhere
along the way, we also decided to name the get together the 'PAKULA
FRIENDLY TOURNAMENT'.......partly so as people could link our group with
the MARLIN BAR and also because of our new mascot , JO PAKULA.
And so it evolved, and it
grew, and grew, to over 140 entrants, a full briefing night, a formal
dinner, an auction, lots of fishing, lots of fun, and a farewell night.
All of this for a Tournament that has NO RULES, NO PRIZES, NO TROPHIES, NO
START OR FINISH TIME, NO NOTHING. During this time, Jo was undergoing
treatment and doing well, we all felt for her, and it helped drive what
has become now the biggest fundraiser for charity as a fishing comp on the
East coast, and all of this without one single trophy.
There was times that I felt
so strongly for Jo and what she was going thru that I would quietly shed a
tear for her. Each time I spoke to her on the phone, she would talk as if
nothing was wrong, being her usual bubbly self, then later retreating to
lay down and rest, which is where she spent a lot of time whilst going
thru treatment. I have since met quite a few people that have gone thru
chemotherapy, or had cancer of some sort, and they all have one common
trait. They are all sooooo bloody strong its inspirational. Being involved
with such a great bunch of people, all with hearts much bigger than Texas,
is something that I now look forward to. The very reason we have the PFT
(as it is now know) is in honour of all sufferers of cancer.....oh, and to
have a great weekend at the same time... I would like to thank some people
for helping this thing grow into what it is today, and that is, the
Friendliest fishing tournament on the east coast of Australia.
Including, John Zac, Mario
Zac, Peter & Jo Pakula, Matt Sanders, Leon Akriditis, Wayne Shelley, Craig
Henry and Steve Iori. Without these people helping drive this thing, it
would not be what it is. Although we have raised over $40,000.00 for
Charity in just 2 years, it would not be possible without YOU. Your
involvement in the PFT is what makes it such a fun thing.
We started this as a fun
thing........raising money for Breast Cancer research, and helping 'Camp
Quality' also is just icing on the cake. Its a credit to YOU, the anglers,
the entrants, the people that bid on items in our auction, that help make
the PAKULA FRIENDLY TOURNAMENT what it is.
For me, the PFT is my once a
year I get to see all of my mates in one place at one time. Having no
prizes, no trophies, leaves no room for egos. We are all just fishos,
having fun.............. and hopefully, it will always be that way.
Brett 'Changa' Chain.
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