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The bond between Whales and people best seen in the Eden community - launching new site today

17/Nov/2009

The Eden community in NSW are launching their community website this week: www.eden.nsw.au.

The community located on the south coast of NSW has a fascinating history centred around the bond between Killer Whales and humans in the area during the early 20^th century. One whaling family in particular, the Davidsons formed a special bond with some of the Killer Whales in the district who like a sheep-dog to a farmer helped herd in larger whales for the Davidsons to hunt. If the pod of Killers managed to trap a larger whale and the Davidsons weren’t out on the water, half the pod would stay with the trapped prey and the other half would swim to the whaling station and slap their tails on the surface of the water to alert the whalers that there was something going on. The Killer Whales would then tow the whalers or lead them straight to the action.

The relationship between the Davidsons and the Killer Whales became so close that the whalers would attempt to rescue the Killers if they became entangled in ropes and the Killers would protect the humans from sharks if their whaleboats were attacked.  

Details of this relationship have been documented at the Eden Killer Whale Museum which is listed in the Historical sites section on the Eden website. Details of the Davidsons Whaling Station is also available on the community website in addition to all other local, important information.

The Eden community website has been developed by volunteers at the  Eden Access Centre for the whole community. Web administrator Clare Whiter comments that the Eden community site, “Is designed to give a complete picture of our community to those on the “outside”, and to contain all sorts of information for those of us lucky enough to live here. It is representative of the whole of our town. It has space for every organisation and business, hobby group, sporting activity, poet, artist and craftsperson, people of every denomination and educational institution.”

For more information on the Eden community visit www.eden.nsw.au