Title: Charlie
Size: 90cm round
Medium: Acrylic on canvas.
Artist: Lauren Greatorex

Tribute to the original fishermen of Gathaagudu (Shark Bay) who befriended a male dolphin and called him Charlie.

My Great grandfather Laurie Bellotti was a fishermen alongside his best mate Jimmy Poland. In the 1950s Pop would skipper his own vessel called the Lorena around Monkey Mia with his son in law (deck hand) Charlie Mitchell and Jimmy Poland. They would fish for mullet and whiting while dragging the net behind the boat. One day they noticed a curious dolphin that began to swim very close and circle the boat. Pop’s son in law Charlie decided to name the dolphin after himself “Charlie”. After the net was pulled Charlie (the dolphin) would circle the boat and then follow them back to the jetty looking for a fresh feed of mullet. Pop and Jimmy would throw and hand feed the dolphin fresh fish caught from the net. This practice would continue with Pop spotting Charlie (the dolphin) every now and again and he would continue to feed him either by the side of the boat or back at the jetty. This was the beginning of a practice that is still continued today at Monkey Mia.