Mercury Psillakis’ widow Maria questions shark alert system
He called for an expansion of the drone surveillance programme, which is available on beaches in NSW and is used more frequently at regional surf breaks than in Sydney.
His proposal was put directly to Chris Minns, according to local state MP Michael Regan, who said the Prime Minister was “confident” the idea was being explored.
Thousands of people attended the Mercury commemoration event in September. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
“HE [Minns] He doesn’t want a knee-jerk reaction, so I think it’s a positive thing that he’s looking at different alternatives and just wanting to see what the evidence is and then move forward,” Regan said.
“We all know Merc, and if you’ve heard of him, he was a very community-minded, community-spirited person; I think that will be a great legacy for Mercury.”
Maria said Mercury’s family, including his twin brother Mike, had been “overwhelmed” by the support from the community since his death, particularly the Long Reef Boardriders club.
More than 1,000 surfers took to the water at Long Reef and Dee Why in September to remember Mercury three weeks after his death.
Surfers, who usually paddle and bring flowers into the ocean, were asked to carry palm leaves to honor Mercury’s affinity with palm trees.
Maria said her husband saved a handful of endangered palm species and was “just a nature lover.”
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