Memorial call to honour one of Port Adelaide’s best-known residents
Billie the dolphin was one of the Port’s best known residents – now there’s a call for a permanent memorial in her honour along the Port River.
West & Beaches
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Gundagai in NSW is known for the Dog on the Tuckerbox, while Copenhagen in Denmark has the Little Mermaid, but now there is a push for a bronze statue of Port River icon Billie the tail walking dolphin to be built.
Billie was the world’s first wild “tailwalker” – and the one who taught other Port River dolphins how to do the incredible feat.
The dolphin learnt to tailwalk in the now defunct Marineland, a marine park that opened at West Beach in 1969 and closed in 1988.
Brian Gillan, who skippers the South Australian Maritime Museum’s Archie Badenoch, believes a bronze of Billie would be a fitting memorial in her honour, as well as a drawcard for the Port Adelaide area.
“Billie is part of Port Adelaide folklore. While she is no longer with us, she has left a lasting legacy which I think should be honoured,” he said.
”A little bronze statue on the Port Wharf would not only honour Billie but I believe would attract many visitors. just like the Dog on the Tuckerbox at Gundagai, Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh and the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen.”
Mr Gillan says another potential location for the statue could be outside the Port Adelaide Visitor Information Centre.
He says there is plenty of love in the Port Adelaide area for the dolphins.
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“We had 20,000 people sign a petition to get the speed limit reduced (on the Port River) because of the amount of boat strike that was occurring, which shows people care about them,” he said.
Mr Gillan recently released a children’s book aimed at highlighting the dangers dolphins face called ‘Who Can Save The Dolphins?’ and says he’ll be happy to donate some of the book’s proceeds towards a fund for the memorial.
He is keen to gauge further community interest – email: brian@equol.com.au.