By Brett Kennedy
MOUNT Gambier High School’s entrepreneurial specialist focus has helped a group of keen anglers get their peers hooked on fishing.
The inaugural Holy Carp interschool fishing competition was held last week at Mount Gambier’s Valley Lakes with three students combining their passion for fishing and sustainability to create the event.
More than 60 MGHS students were joined by 25 youths from Kangaroo Inn Area School and four each from Grant High and Allendale East Area schools, with teams of four striving to catch the biggest, smallest, heaviest and most carp.
Considered a pest species given they were introduced to the crater waterway, the students managed to remove 12 carp across the two-day event.
Shak Von Stanke, James Stockwell and Jake Carrigan organised the event as part of their entrepreneurial studies and while they were comfortable with a rod and tackle, tackling the event paperwork required proved a unique learning opportunity.
From City Council permits to a COVID-19 management plan, the trio handled all aspects of the organisation.
While persistent rain and cooler conditions marred the Thursday session, warmer weather on Friday was welcomed by students.
Shak said the trio was surprised at the interest from peers in the fishing event.
“We just wanted to help get rid of the carp out of the Valley Lakes and have a fishing day, get everyone down and have a ball,” he said.
The trio already hopes to continue the event in 2021, planning for a bigger and better competition with plans to expand entry levels and even offer merchandise to help fund ongoing event costs.
MGHS entrepreneurial education teacher Jess Magarey said the fishing competition was one of the school’s biggest entrepreneurial ventures in 2020.
“Entrepreneurial learning is all about students driving their own learning and being aware of their passions and their purpose,” Ms Magarey said.
“These three boys all have a pretty big passion for fishing and the environment and they brought those together.”
While pest management is typically a complex framework, the young fishing gurus have their own method on snagging a carp.
“You just need a bit of corn and some patience,” Jake declared.
