The Lakes Entrance Fishermen's Co-operative Society Limited
In 1961-62 Lakes Entrance Fishermen experienced a period of very low prices. These low prices, combined with an uncertain and unreliable ice supply, and no cool room storage facilities, resulted in fishing boats being tied to the wharf instead of fishing. Fish, being a perishable product, had to be dispatched when landed. This often resulted in an over-supply of fish with fishermen often receiving a bill instead of a return because the selling price did not cover the agent’s and freight costs.

The Co-operative, at that time, was called the Victorian Fishermen’s Co-Operative Limited which was incorporated in 1956 and was solely a service co-operative providing a radio service and limited gear store facilities. Fish were consigned to the auction markets in wooden boxes provided by fish agents. The icing, handling and loading of fish for the market was carried out by the cartage contractor.

Formation of a NEW Co-operative
Several trawler owners got together and were determined that the above problems could mainly be overcome by providing a cool storage facility, an assured ice supply and the establishment of a co-ordinated and orderly marketing system. Hence, the Lakes Entrance Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Limited, known as LEFCOL, was incorporated on the 21st August 1964.

A new plant was built on Bullock Island and included unloading jetties, conveyor belts to the weighing and icing area, cool room, ice making machine, ice storage room, ice delivery equipment and administration offices. The cost of the new facility was approximately $160,000 and the premises were officially opened by the Honorable Sir Henry Bolte on the 23rd October 1968.

Operations
The commencement of operations at Bullock Island ushered in a new era in the handling and marketing of fish. Because there was an assured ice supply, rules were introduced to ensure that all fish were adequately ices at sea. Hygienic plastic fish bins were provided by the Co-operative instead of the wooden fish boxes previously supplied by agents. After consultation with buyers and fish agents, daily catch quotas were set to minimise over-supplying. The new jetties and conveyors provided more convenient and faster unloading facilities and, for the first time, all fish were weighed when unloaded. Once the fish were weighed they were immediately re-iced and stored in a refrigerated cool room.

All of these changes resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of fish consigned to market. It also left fishermen free to concentrate on fishing and to leave the problems of marketing, freight and ice production to the Co-operative.

Fish Processing and additional plant
A fish processing section was added to the Bullock Island plant in 1974. This provided and additional outlet as fish caught in excess of market requirements were processed into frozen fillets. These were then sold when fish supplies were scarce.

In 1979 a second ice maker was installed, the unloading area extended, a public viewing area provided and a truck loading bay enclosed. Further extensions, comprising a Gear Store, Seafood Supermarket, Canteen, Workshop and new Administration Offices were completed in 1982.

In 1986, the processing area was extended and an additional blast tunnel installed, as well as a large holding room for the storage of frozen product.

The Co-operative’s processing area is registered with the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) for export. Frozen school whiting has been exported to Japan since 1969 (prior to 1986 it was processed in the now non-existent Heinz processing factory next to the Co-operative). In recent years, the average exports per year have been 200 tonnes, with the majority now being sent to Thailand. This figure is well below our full potential mainly as a result of the continued strength of the Australian dollar.

The measures the Co-operative and its members have taken over the years has led to a high reputation and commitment to freshness and quality and as a consequence, have been able to meet the very stringent Australian and overseas export quality standards.