A REEF off the coast of Mordialloc has been renamed in honour of a passionate young fisher who died too young.
Rhys Gillard was a keen recreational fisher from Aspendale. He died in 2021 aged just 17, and his ashes were laid to rest at the Mordialloc reef.
Last week, boating minister Sonya Kilkenny and Mordialloc MP Tim Richardson announced that the Mordialloc recreational reef would now be known as Rhys Reef.
Boating minister Sonya Kilkenny said it is “incredibly special to be able to name this reef after Rhys.”
“Today, we acknowledge the loss of this young life and we honour Rhys as a passionate recreational fisher who enjoyed nothing more than spending time in the great outdoors with family and friends,” she said on the day of the unveiling. “Stories like this highlight how much our great pastime means to people, which is why we invest in fishing, boating and piers across the state.”
Rhys Reef is a habitat for snapper, calamari and other species. It is located two kilometres offshore in 11 metres of water.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 17th May 2023