A FISHING competition in honour of Jamerson Ross, who died on 8 October last year in a hit-and-run incident in Hastings, will be held from the 6 to 8 October in conjunction with the Western Port Angling Club.
Jamerson (known as Jammo) was a 23-year-old working in the marine electrical business Australian Integrated Marine when he died.
His mother Chantelle Ross said her son was a hard-working young man who also worked on weekends to save money. When not working hard was outdoors following his passion for fishing.
Jamerson had extensive fishing knowledge and experience in running and competing in fishing competitions and worked as a deckhand for Bay Fish N Trips for many years to broaden his knowledge.
“He was enthusiastically inclusive and encouraging with friends and family and took great satisfaction imparting his extensive fishing knowledge to all who were interested, especially his mates and young cousins,” Ross said.
She said her son preferred the outdoors to gaming or other electronic devices.
“He was a massive advocate for getting busy, living life to its fullest and enjoying the outdoors, hence the catch phrase ‘get busy living’,” she said.
“He never stood still, made the most of every moment, and had a huge amount of time and compassion for others.”
Jamerson’s parents were motivated to start the fishing competition in the hope that it will become an annual event to inspire other young people, honour his legacy and motivate people to get out and about and live a healthy lifestyle.
A non-profit organisation, Projex J, has been established to raise money to care and support people grieving the loss of loved ones.
Organisers are expecting around 200 participants in the fishing competition.
“Since the loss of my son, it is evident that there is a need for greater support in navigating the torturous journey after the loss of a loved one,” Ross said.
“This prompted me to launch Projex J, and I am currently hosting monthly grief support groups in Mornington with a plan to provide more individualised care to anyone touched by grief in any capacity.
“Going on living without him was completely inconceivable and if it wasn’t for my amazing village of support that came from unexpected people, day after day offering unending support, I am not quite sure where myself and my family would be today.
“The aim of Projex J is to provide services to people suffering grief including child care, funeral arrangements, cooking, shopping, financial assistance, cleaning, moral support, and other practical assistance.”
Ross said Jamerson’s death had created a “ripple effect” across Victoria.
“I feel that it is important to give his peers a positive focus leading up to the first anniversary of his death in order to avoid groups of young people congregating at the incident site in Hastings,” she said.
Details and registration: trybooking.com/CKUXD
First published in the Western Port News – 30 August 2023
