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GFA PNG National Titles
Madang 2001 official Logo
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The Game Fishing Association of PNG (GFAPNG) has asked Madang Game Fishing Club (Madang GFC) to host the National Titles in 2001. This is the premier game fishing competition held in
PNG. The 2001 Tournament will be held from Saturday 7th April culminating in the Presentation Night on Sunday 15th April.
The GFAPNG National Titles are an annual event and hosting the event is rotated between GFAPNG affiliated clubs. Each club will usually host the event every four years. Madang
GFC last hosted the titles in 1997.
The event will attract about 300 sport fishermen. All the entrants must be members of clubs affiliated with the GFAPNG (a member of the International Game Fishing Association).
While the event is the GFAPNG National Titles it will also attract a number of international sportsmen. The organising committee has decided to actively seek 50 international
sportsmen. The areas specifically targeted with be Australia, especially the East Coast, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and the West Coast of the USA.
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Game Fishing in Madang
The Madang GFC based in Madang Club was incorporated in 1971 but operated for several years before. Madang GFC operates a marina facility at the Madang Club with floating finger
wharves, two gantries for weighing in, a tilted open bar and barbecue are under a permanent sail. The club further endeavours to have shower facilities and a coin operated laundry
for visiting boats during the competition (Tournaments & National Titles).
In 2000, the Madang GFC had 60-70 active anglers and many casual members (totalling 130). The club members operate about 20 boats, varying from a 41' Blackwatch through to an array
of 28, 25 & 23' Bertram cruisers, a 25' shark cat and several aluminium half-cabin boats to a number of 'banana boats'. Club members also own many trailerable smaller craft.
Members of the club represent the complete spectrum of the business community in Madang. Active members include bank managers, contractors, businessmen, entrepreneurs, managers,
technicians, hoteliers, teachers and public servants.
The Madang GFC's monthly competitions attract many people in a friendly, family oriented atmosphere for the weigh in and has a high profile in the community. The club has supported
the teachers' college, police and hospital in Madang.
The profile of Madang in the world game fishing community has attracted the attention of many international and Australian magazines, fishing organizations & identities: Greg Norman
(World Champion Golfer), Yoshiaki Kanisaki (the Director of the Japan GFA), Glen Booth (editor of Modern Fishing), Jim Allen (Complete Angler Australia) and Marsha Bierman (World Champion
Lady Angler) are among the many anglers who have come to Madang especially for the fishing it offers. Even Pierce Brosnan (alias James Bond, 007) has fished Madang waters.
Madang is also the tourism resort of PNG. It is a world-renowned diving destination. Like the game fisherman they come for the exceptional weather, pristine waters and
unspoiled environment.
National Titles 2001 Madang
The National Titles 2001 will be fully subscribed from within PNG. Over 200 PNG resident competitors will take part. Including the competitor's friends and families, and casual
observers the National Titles is expected to attract 500 people over it's 10 days of fishing and festivities.
The event will also attract significant overseas interest with 50 places being reserved for international competitors.
Typically, the event will last ten days. Each team of 2 to 4 anglers will compete for two nominated days. The first weekend and week will normally be the time local teams will
compete. Visitors will compete over the Easter long weekend. In addition, days will be set aside for specific copetitions and a 'Bill Fish Shoot-out' is scheduled for Thursday
10th April 2001.
Organisation
The GFAPNG National Titles 2001 is organised by a sub committee of the Madang GFC. Members of the competition committee are:
Ian Middleton is the Director of the Tournament and served as President of the MGFC in 1998-2000. He is currently President of the GFAPNG and sat on the organising
committee of the 1997 National Titles. He has a considerable history in game fishing in Madang Waters and has spent the majority of his life, with the exception of his years at
either boarding school, university or the U.S., in Madang. Ian is the Managing Director of PNG Aquaculture, a commercial barramundi farm on the north coast of Madang. He hold
an Honours Degree from the James Cook University.
Gary Dunlop is the Regional Manager for Andersons Foodland and Rabtrad Madang. Gary is a long term resident of PNG and assisted in developing the MGFC since his
relocation to Madang from Lae in 1998. He has served as Secretary for two seasons with the Club and is currently President of the MGFC. His love of the game fishing and Madang
in general has been evident in his commitment of the Club and in his endeavours to create a family oriented game fishing club.
Trevor Hattersley is the Financial Director of James Barnes PNG Ltd., a division of SouthCorp, and the largest food processing company in PNG. He is a long term
resident of PNG, and has served as Treasurer of the MGFC in previous years.
Lindsay Swanson is a technician for James Barnes PNG Ltd. Lindsay has fished PNG waters for many years, having spent considerable time on Bougainville prior to the
crisis. Lindsay has served as Committee member of the MGFC for the last 4 years and is also a Social Committee member, serving as Social Director.
Jody Middleton is the Secretary of the Competition. Jody holds a BSc from Macquarie University in Sydney and worked as a pharmacy manager for six years. She is
now resident of the North Coast of Madang and is a dedicated game fishing enthusiast.
Christine Dunlop runs her own consultancy firm and is currently consulting for KK Kingston Ltd. in Rabaul, Kokopo, Mt. Hagen, Port Moresby and Lae and Heli-Niugini Ltd here
in Madang. Chris is the President of the MGFC Social Committee and has served on the MGFC, either as Treasurer or Committee Member since Gary, herself and their family relocated from
Lae to Madang in 1998.
Jonathan Gayton is a lecturer at the maritime College in Madang and is a qualified Master Mariner. Jonathan holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA)
from Curtin University in Perth. As well as a maritime background Jonathan has been involved in event management. For three years he was Operations Manager and sat on the
Organising Committee for FIA endorsed Targa Tasmania, the largest closed road tarmac rally in the world.
Charlie Edmunds has lived is PNG for over 20 years, moving from Lae to Madang in 1994. He has a strong interest in the development of the tourism industry and until
recently managed a popular diving resort to the north of Madang. He has extensive experience in retail marketing and promotion and human resource management logistics. A
relatively new member of the Madang Game Fishing Club, Charlie is a keen fisherman and has had previous committee experience with the Lae Game Fishing Club.
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Game Pics April 15, 2001 FINAL ... 
