The thing about fishing is that it does more than catch fish.
That’s The Thing About Fishing (TTTAF), a not-for-profit organisation, is holding a kids clinic at Altona’s Cherry Lake on January 17.
Co-founder Glenn Cooper teamed up with fellow angler Brian Rowley to establish the program after breaking his ankle working about nine years ago.
“I’m a mad fisherman and to cope with everything I used to go fishing all the time,” Mr Cooper said.
He soon realised how beneficial fishing could be to people battling depression and other mental health issues or disability, and to men’s health groups and youth in trouble or at risk.
Mr Cooper said fishing could be used as a therapeutic way of changing lives.
He said the children’s clinics got children interacting with their families in the outdoors, instead of playing computer games and living in front of their screens on “unsocial media”.
“The other week I was over at Altona, I looked at Cherry Lake,” Mr Cooper said.
“I’ve heard there’s carp and redfin in here, both noxious fish which can’t be returned to the water.
“So, I thought, well, what a good way of actually getting the kids out there to see if we can catch some fish and do something for the environment, but also give the kids a good fun day.”
The clinics are staffed by volunteers and all equipment is supplied through donation.
“Everything we do is for free,” Mr Cooper said. “I do it all on a disability pension.”
The kids clinic is on from 10am, with a barbecue and drinks by gold coin donation.
