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Leslie Bail interviewed by Gregg Borschmann in the Environmental awareness in Australia oral history project [sound recording]
Bib ID 2472262
Format AudioAudio
Author
Bail, Leslie, 1944-
 
Access Conditions Written permission required for research, personal copies and public use during the lifetime of the interviewee. 
Description 2003. 
3 digital audio tapes (ca. 172 min.) 
Series

Environmental awareness in Australia oral history project

Summary

Leslie Bail, manager, former diver & whale watching charter operator, born at Elleker, W.A. recalls his family background; memories of family fishing boats (i.e.clinker boats) heading from Elleker down the channels and drains to King George Sound (1950s); his early schooling & carpentary apprenticeship; his own building company; setting up a secondhand building materials salvage yard in Albany,W.A.(early 1980s); spearfishing with primative early post WWII diving equipment and being ignorant of safe diving procedures; setting up the first dive shop and dive tour operation out of Albany (late 1970s); buying the first dedicated dive boat from Westerberg Marine and setting up South Coast Divers Club; Jaycee Community Foundation whaleboats (Cheynes 3); childhood memories of visiting Cheynes Beach Whaling Station, located on the southern coast of King George Sound in Albany, W.A.; John Bell, a former spotter pilot for the Cheyne Beach Whaling Station (1952-1978) who turned the station into a Whale Museum (Whale World); sinking his whale watching boat in a storm off Cape Riche (1988).

Bail speaks about being issued with 1st mammal interaction licence in the southern Western Australian waters; how he developed the whale watching industry in south Western Australia (late 1980s- ); documenting all whale sightings and behavioural patterns; his contacts with Freemantle Maritime Museum; community concerns about Whaleworld (1995); Jaycees Community Foundation investment in Whaleworld; his position as Manager, Whaleworld (from Aug. 1996- ); his membership of Museums Australia; behind the scenes insights into the transformation of Whaleworld from an industrial site to heritage actraction; heritage site listing (1988), balancing the commercial & heritage concerns; establishing professional links with American whaling museums; Whaleworld's possible future as a research and resource centre; an assessment on the still doubtful future for many species of whale, and human management of the resource for conservation.

Notes

Recorded on June 12, 2003-June 13, 2003 at Albany, W. A.

DCM record; National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore collection;

Index/Finding Aid Note Timed summary (6 p.) 
Subjects Bail, Leslie, - 1944- - Interviews.  |  Whale World (Albany, W.A.)  |  Cheynes Beach Whaling Company - History  |  Whaling - Western Australia - Albany - History.
Other authors/contributors Borschmann, Gregg (Gregg John), 1955-

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    Details Collect From
    ORAL TRC 4998
    Copy: Recording
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
    ORAL TRC 4998 (summary)
    Copy: Summary
    Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)

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    Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.