Winner! Winner! STC dinner.
- STC Committee
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The Swordfish and Tunny Club of Australia celebrated another outstanding year at its 2025 Annual Dinner, held on Friday, 21 November at the prestigious Australian Club.
Members and guests gathered for an evening that combined tradition, great storytelling, important Club milestones, and the recognition of exceptional angling achievements from Australia and around the world.
Read on below to get the low down on all the key highlights from another sensational night of STC game fishing entertainment.
Another world-class guest speaker entertains and educates our members
Members were treated to an outstanding presentation from Tim Simpson, our invitational guest speaker. Tim captivated the room with a visually rich journey through some of the world’s best fishing destinations, sharing insights drawn from his extensive global game fishing experience.
The presentation was a clear highlight of the night and sparked plenty of post-dinner discussion. To have this level of a presenter in our midst was brilliant.
A trophy night to remember
The trophy presentations capped off what was a stellar year for nominations, making this one of the most exciting awards nights in recent memory.
Mark Haley was the standout performer, claiming three major trophies for his 142.7kg Southern Bluefin Tuna captured in Bass Strait—including the President’s Trophy, which is rarely awarded and reserved for truly exceptional achievements.
Mark Nantie also enjoyed a remarkable year, securing multiple trophies and completing the coveted Marlin Grand Slam—successfully capturing Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin, a feat achieved by very few anglers worldwide.
A milestone moment for the Club
Another major highlight of the evening was the vote on Club's Incorporation, with members overwhelmingly voting in favour. This decision marks a significant step forward in ensuring the Club’s long-term strength and governance. Special thanks go to Mark Nantie and Kel Taylor for their work in developing and presenting the incorporation program. We also wish to thank all members who took the time to send in their via post and understand the importance of this movement.
Committee elections and acknowledgements
The AGM forms an important part of the dinner. On the night Club members voted on committee positions for the year ahead, welcoming Mark Haley and Phil Elaren to the committee for the first time and thanked long time member Andrew Pennisi for more than a decade of dedicated service in key roles including Treasurer and Secretary.
Raffle highlights and a first for the Club
The Club raffle delivered plenty of excitement and featured a couple of firsts. While Tom Hall was unable to attend, he generously supplied a box full of top-quality lures from his business, Alpine Country Outdoors, adding real value to the prize pool. We can't thank Tom enough.
For the first time, members were also able to purchase raffle tickets online – a move that proved successful when Andrew Gillman’s online entry claimed the major prize: a signed limited-edition print by C.R. (Randy) Buck, generously donated by Tim Simpson. Well done Andy and thanks to all who purchased a ticket online at the dinner to support the Club.
Looking ahead
The 2025 Annual Dinner once again delivered an outstanding night of celebration, recognition, and progress for the Club. With strong participation, exceptional achievements on the water, and exciting steps forward off it, the year ahead promises even more.
If you couldn’t make it this year – put it in the diary for next year. It’s an event not to be missed.
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