Prawn Trawler
Rodney has been a member of the Co-op for over 30 years having joined in 1985. He is a second generation fishermen with 3 sons now working in the industry and also members of the Co-op. Rodney bought his first prawn trawler in 1982 but is now retired and his sons Luke, Cody & Jamie all operate his boats. Two of the boats he had during his long career he actually helped his father and brother build; the Freedom is still used in the Co-op today!
Despite starting out his career as a boiler maker he finished it being a prawn trawler off the Ballina & Coffs Coast. He also used to catch spanner crabs in his early years. Over his career he has owned 9 trawlers and sunk 2 of them. Both trawlers sunk off the coast at South West Rocks, one in 2006 and the other 2011. Rodney tells the story of the second trawler sinking with his son Jamie (20yo at the time) working with him. The two of them swam around for about 45mins before being rescued by a passing boat.
