May 7, 2026
Photo: Joan Washington, Anthony McGrath (VRFish) and Bairnsdale Fly Fishers Club members
VRFish Executive Officer Anthony McGrath was honoured to present Joan Washington with Pat Washington’s VRFish Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bairnsdale Fly Fishers Club.
Upon receiving the award, Joan said Pat was a perfectionist and he gave 100% to everything he did – which is shown in a large collection of trophies Pat received over the years. She said he would have been very grateful to be recognised by the award recognising Pat’s contribution to Victoria’s recreational fishing – a legacy that continues today.
Pat was a former member of the Council of Victorian Fly Fishing Clubs (CVFFC), past president of Bairnsdale Fly Fishers Club, VRFish Chairman for an unprecedented 10 years, and a representative of Australia in the World Fly Fishing Championships held in Italy.
An avid fly fisher, Pat truly loved trout fishing and was a magnificent fly tier. Pat was a strong VRFish Chairman who is considered as being a true leader of VRFish. He was hardworking and well respected across all sectors.
He was passionate about offshore habitat after working as an oil rig diver. His first-hand knowledge from this experience prompted his idea to keep offshore discontinued oil rigs as habitat as he knew that marine fish and other life accumulated around these.
The biggest achievement under Pat’s time as Chairman was the introduction of the ‘All Waters Licence’ (Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence) and the subsequent Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund. This has enabled recreational fishers in Victoria to re-invest their license fees into projects that improve recreational fishing.
He was also involved in leading the way for a buyout of commercial scallop dredging licences in Port Phillip, closing commercial netting in Mallacoota, Lake Tyers, Shallow Inlet and Anderson’s Inlet to benefit recreational fishing. He was also heavily involved in negotiating the best possible outcome for recreational fishers with regard to the issue of Marine National Parks.
Special thanks to Trevor Stow and the Bairnsdale Fly Fishers who arranged the evening.
The VRFish Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour which can be bestowed by the peak body for longstanding and valued service to recreational fishing in Victoria.
Pat Washington was recognised for his incredible service to Victoria’s recreational fishing posthumously.
Thank you for reading this article by VRFish, the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body. Keep up-to-date on the latest Victorian recreational fishing news on our website here.
