MARINE BUSINESS NEWS
NEWS UPDATE
05 July 2024
Publishers note
I can’t remember when it was, but I know it was a long time ago.
An idea had arisen that the industry needed to invest in young writing talent to support it into the future. The concept of starting a formal group and calling it the Australian Marine Writers Association was considered by many as something that should be looked at.
I can’t remember the details fully, but I recall that we had a meeting during one of the boat shows and the who’s who of marine industry writers were in the room. Broadly, the idea was that as an industry we should be looking at ways to nurture and entice young journalists into our industry. Respectfully, our writing stock was aging, and we did not have any young blood entering our industry.
An idea evolved that four groups were willing to fund a type of scholarship that, if successful, would allow our industry to add a new young journalist straight out of university to our ranks on a yearly basis.
There were four willing parties that were open to funding the program. I recall that together with the boating industry, there were Tracy Yaffa from Yaffa Media who had a substantial number of boating titles at the time, Mike ‘Sinkers’ Sinclair who was the head of the then all-powerful Trade-A-Boat, and Mark Rothfield who oversaw the powerhouse Modern Boating Mag.
Sadly, the concept had died before we could get it off the ground. I vaguely remember the reasons, but they are insignificant now.
I also remember clearly that while there was spirited debate about the why and how, there was one thing that was unanimous. And that was that if the proposed Australian Marine Writers Association was going to have universal support, it would have to have Bob Ross at the helm.
It was Bob Ross who had the respect, trust, and absolute confidence of the rest of the marine writing industry. It said a lot about the man. Bob sadly left us last week, and I wonder if we will get another like him.
Rest in Peace Bob.
Fair Winds and following seas.
Marine Business News is an Australian-owned marine industry news service publishing local and international news. If you have news stories you would like to share, please let us know by contacting our newsroom via our email at NewsRoom@MarineBusinessNews.com.au.
Stay safe on the water,
Domenic Genua - Publisher
Vale Bob Ross
Bob Ross, the renowned sailing photo journalist, newspaper writer, magazine founder, editor, book author, sailor and friend, died on Friday in his 92nd year after an extended illness. Bob stood head and shoulders above all in our profession, hailed the most respected sailing writer in Australia and ranked among the best in the world.
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