A post by Mayor George Seymour:

I was very sad to hear about the passing of Brian Perry; a true pioneer in eco-tourism.
The whale watching industry was born on 25 August 1987 when the charter fishing vessel The Tasman Venture, owned by Brian and Jill Perry, encountered some whales close up in the bay and realised the tourism potential. Two days later an advertisement was taken out in the local paper for a whale watching trip, all 32 seats were booked by 8am and the first whale watching trip on 1 September 1987 was a success; and thereby a new industry was born. Being up close and personal to these majestic creatures is an unforgettable experience.
The whale watching season runs from mid-July to November, attracting thousands of tourists to see humpback whales in their natural environment. Brian created and led the successful development of this new industry, and through it a unique identity was created for Hervey Bay.