I was really born to fish, (no pun intended) with Grandparents and parents well experienced and keen to share knowledge. So in 1958, for my 5th birthday, my most treasured possession was a 6 foot split cane rod and a 4 inch bakelite Alvey reel. The years passed gaining experience and moving through a succession of rods and reels, including Rangoon monster whole bamboo cane rods, cheap and built at home . Eventually, as a teenager,  a 12 foot sloppy 3 piece Slazenger solid fibreglass became the weapon of choice. The rest is my ABU history documented elsewhere.

	Technically my mental ABU collection started in the 1967 when I first developed an awareness of the ABU brand name via the purchase of ABU lures. As a teenager, with scant resources paying out a whole fortnight's pocket money to buy just one Black and silver ABU Killer (like the Henry Ford choice)  or a luminous 3 inch ABU Hilo, taught one to cast carefully, use fairly heavy line and be prepared to swim and retrieve in order to be able to afford to fish these imported baits. Reels for me were still Alvey sidecast or Mitchell Spinning reels.
At this stage, I had never heard of, let alone seen a multiplier or for that matter an ABU reel in the few sports stores in my small town of Rockhampton. When I graduated high school and headed off to the big smoke of Brisbane and Kelvin Grove Teacher's College, I had the opportunity to become more exposed to the big city brands. ABU 5000/6000's were my dream!
	Being a poor student whose summer time holiday jobs funded book purchases for the next semester and year, I never considered purchasing one of these dreams machines. I was not corrupted by similar but cheaper copies! I went without until , instead of having a big party fro my 21st birthday, I requested my parents to give me an ABU 6000C. I'm not sure whether my Mother could see or appreciate its value but there was no doubt in the my mind about its lusterous black shine and silky smooth mechanism.
I have never looked back when it came to choice of fishing tackle. 1976 saw me in London with mate Lindsay doing the usual Aussie fella thing of buying a Volkswagen van outside Australia House and touring Europe. I never could convince Lins to move away from his Mitchell for 30 years, however now he has added a Soron to his armoury.  but I haven't given up yet. My other fishing schoolmate Arthur was much easier as he now has 3 Ambassadeurs.  My collection really got a move on in London, with the purchase of a red ABU 7000 (was there any other colour?) , an ABU Diplomat 662 and an Atlantic 484. So with the existing 6000C from my 21st birthday,  two matched outfits were at last in my armoury! The ABU 6000C Ambassadeur  and the Jack Erskine/Fenwick Carbon Blank modified Diplomat 662 (still in use 35 years on) rod is below with my Dad and kids.

First barra in 1965 Fitzroy River    and     later in 1974 at Ogmore, first teaching post

The next 30 or so years passed in what seemed a flash! I met my future wife off the coast of Africa on the Cruise Liner Australia in 1977 and was married to Anne in 1978.

My two sons Fintan and Declan arrived in 81 and 84.  

Raising  the two boys saw its challenges like all families face, but rewards were more than worth it.

Both have reached their potential, (be it personal development, education or sporting achievement), to far higher level than any parent has the right to hope for their children.

Importantly an  interest in fishing was passed on them .

Travel to many continents  ensued, Europe, Asia and USA not to mention smaller out of the way places like PNG and my "See it before you die" holiday on Lorde Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

The dreams continue, Fishing with Len Borgstrom one day,  Fishing in Sweden with Uffe, Meeting Jan and staff at Svangsta, Trout in Tasmania, Snapper/Big Eyes Barwon Banks off Mooloolabah.......

The last fishing boat and long time dream for Art and myself  and no doubt other fishing mates, is access to the Arvor 20 . It is slowing materializing...please click to enjoy

If you have any ABU equipment other than that  listed , that are unneeded  or doubles in your collection and are available for a reasonable fee, I would be very pleased to hear from you.