Legendary local photographer Allen McCauley has been drawn as the winner of this year’s “Spot, Log and Win” Whale competition.
Mr McCauley named the distinctively marked mammal “Nessar” in a moving tribute a young local photographer and whale enthusiast who inspired his passion for capturing on camera passing whale migrations, the late Vanessa Reid.
Mr McCauley officially logged his spotting of a whale through Whalemail, automatically entering him into Glenelg Shire’s Log Spot and Win competition.
As well as the rights to name the whale – which he actually captured on camera earlier this year – he also receives a voucher for accommodation at Annesley Apartments and a three-course meal at Clock by the Bay.
The annual Whale Watching competition is jointly coordinated by Glenelg Shire Council, Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism and DELWP.
The competition was devised to encourage whale watchers to log their sightings, assisting DELWP with their South East Australian Southern Right Whale Photo Identification Catalogue (SEA SRW PIC), and to encourage regional visitors to the spectacular Glenelg coastline.
Glenelg Shire Mayor Anita Rank said it was fitting that Mr McCauley win the competition this year after contributing so many photographs to the identification project over the years.
“Allen is well known for regularly capturing and sharing the unique beauty of our region through his lens, and he has delivered some spectacular whale shots over the years which have been invaluable to DELWP’s team of researchers,” she said.
Mayor Rank said whale watching continued to be a significant drawcard to Glenelg’s coastal communities over the winter months, and sightings this year have been strong.
“Winter is the perfect time to get out and explore our spectacular coastline and spot a whale.
“Come for the day or extend your stay and explore the beauty and many attractions of Portland and surrounds in winter,” she said.
Mayor Rank thanked DELWP and Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism for partnering with council on this initiative, as well as local businesses Annesley House and Clock by the Bay for donating the prize.
