Territory Fishing Trips Inspired Brian's Charter Service

Illawarra Mercury

Monday December 3, 2007

By the Mercury's Business Editor GREG ELLIS

I WILL never look at another Gone Fishing sign the same way again after talking to Brian Hanlon of Nowra.

For the last 18 years, Brian has regularly visited the Top End to enjoy his favourite pastime.

But on one trip several years ago he realised there was a huge gap in the tourist fishing market and came up with an innovative idea to build a 75ft mother ship with four 4.65m Quintrex sports fishing boats to cruise around the Northern Territory coast.

Brian's innovation was rewarded recently when his fishing charter business took out the 2007 Brolga Northern Territory Award for Adventure Tourism. Cannon Charters is the third successful company for Brian, who started Hanlon Windows at Bomaderry 31 years ago.

It now has a presence in Wollongong, Oak Flats, Hanlon, Miranda and Canberra. Then, 20 years ago, Brian started National Cedar Componentry in Nowra and it, too, has grown to supply Western Red Cedar windows in kit form to every state and territory.

The business imports the timber from Canada and exports kit windows to countries such as New Zealand, where they are assembled by licensed operators.

Brian makes up to six visits a year to his Cannon Charters operation in the Northern Territory and often meets Wollongong businessmen and solicitors on the MV Cannon.

"I said to a friend, "will you support me if I built a boat?' - and they did," he said. "The word of mouth quickly spread and now we are fully booked."

Cannon Charters was launched in February 2003. The MV Cannon and its six crew picks up passengers from the Cullen Bay berth and generally operates along the Northern Territory's west coast and around Melville and Bathurst Islands, but also visits the Kimberley every August. All the bookings are handled by marketing and development consultant Tanya Glachan at Bomaderry.

The attraction of the five-star fishing charter is the flexible options the mother ship provides with its ability to move up and down the coast to where the fish are biting.

Further information at www.cannoncharters.com.au or phone 1300 661 216.

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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