Valerie Taylor (diver) explained

Valerie Taylor
Honorific Suffix:AM
Birth Name:Valerie May Heighes
Birth Date:1935 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Occupation:Professional diver, underwater photographer and cinematographer, author/illustrator

Valerie May Taylor AM (born 9 November 1935) is an Australian conservationist, photographer, and filmmaker, and an inaugural member of the diving hall of fame. With her husband Ron Taylor, she made documentaries about sharks, and filmed sequences for films including Jaws (1975).

Early life and education

Born in Paddington, Sydney on 9 November 1935,[1] Valerie May Taylor spent her early years in Sydney. Her mother was a housewife and her father an engineer for Exide Batteries. The family moved to New Zealand in 1939 to set up a battery factory there, but were unable to return to Australia when WWII broke out. At 12 years of age Taylor contracted polio during the 1948 polio epidemic. Isolated from her family, friends and schooling she slowly recovered with the support of the "Sister Kenny Treatment and Rehabilitation Method". Taylor fell behind in her studies and left school at 15 years of age to work for the NZ Film Unit drawing for an animation studio.

Taylor returned to Sydney with her family to settle in the beachside suburb of Port Hacking, where she started diving in 1956 and took up spearfishing in 1960 to provide food for the family. She became an Australian champion scuba and spearfisher and met her future husband, Ron Taylor, at the St George's Spearfishing Club.[2] [3] [4]

Career

In 1967 a Belgian scientific expedition asked the Taylors' to join their endeavour to record life on the Great Barrier Reef. Over several months, Valerie dove the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef from Lady Elliot Island up to the Torres Strait.[5] Taylor and her husband made documentary films about sharks,[6] and were the first people to film great white sharks without the protection of a cage in 1992. Their work also included Blue Water, White Death, in which they swam cageless among a school of oceanic whitetip sharks feeding on a whale carcass.[7] The documentary was successful, and attracted the attention of Steven Spielberg, who called on them to shoot the real great white shark sequences for Jaws.

In addition to their work in film, the Taylors have performed conservation work in Australia and elsewhere. They have campaigned to prevent oil exploration in Ningaloo Marine Park, the overturning of mining rights on Coral Sea Islands, the protection of the Great Barrier Reef prior to its being awarded World Heritage status, and they lobbied for marine sanctuary zones in South Australia.[8] [9]

Taylor worked as an underwater photographer, with some of her work appearing in National Geographic magazine. In 1973, some macro images of coral and invertebrates on the Great Barrier Reef were featured on its front cover.[10]

During the early 1980s Taylor began experiments with sharks wearing a steel mesh suit. The 1981 front cover of National Geographic magazine featured Taylor, off the coast of California, during one of these experiments with blue sharks wearing a chainmail suit.[11]

Taylor remained active in lobbying in favour of marine conservation into the 21st century.[12] She campaigned against ocean plastic pollution overfishing.

In 2014, Taylor campaigned against an Opposition Bill to remove sanctuary zones from marine parks in South Australia.[13] [14]

Recognition and awards

In 1981 Taylor was awarded the NOGI award for Arts, Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences, presented by the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS).[15]

In 1986, Taylor was appointed by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, the Rider of the Order of the Golden Ark for marine conservation. She was recognised for her successful efforts protecting of the habitat of the potato cod near Lizard Island, Queensland – the first gazetted protection of the Great Barrier Reef.[16]

She was awarded the 1997 American Nature Photographer of the year award for a picture of a whale shark swimming with her nephew in Ningaloo Marine Park. By 2000 she was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame.[17]

In 2001, she was awarded the Serventy Conservation Medal for her work with Ron Taylor in promoting a greater understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and the need to protect its wildlife.

At 66 years old she was still diving with sharks, and was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in marine conservation and the Australian Senior Achiever of the Year.[18]

In 2008 Taylor received the Australian Geographic Lifetime of Conservation award.[19]

In 2010 Taylor was made a Member of the Order of Australia For service to conservation and the environment as an advocate for the protection and preservation of marine wildlife and habitats, particularly the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef, and as an underwater cinematographer and photographer.[18]

In 2021 a feature-length documentary film featuring archival footage as well as Taylor's life as an 85-year-old was made by Australian filmmaker Sally Aitken, called Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival.[20] [21]

Personal awards

Awards won with Ron

Personal life

Taylor married Ron Taylor in December 1963,[34] and they worked and lived together until his death from leukemia in 2012.[35]

Publications

She has illustrated and written a children's colouring book, The Undersea Artistry (2017)[36] and published her memoirs in 2019, titled An Adventurous Life.[37]

Film and television credits

Documentaries

Documentaries in which Taylor was involved in the production include:

Feature fiction films

Television credits

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Talking Heads – Ron and Valerie Taylor. https://archive.today/20121231071053/http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s1403416.htm. dead. 31 December 2012. 3 December 2012. archive.ph. 15 November 2019.
  2. News: The most glamorous shark hunter in the world. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/11700946/The-most-glamorous-shark-hunter-in-the-world.html . 12 January 2022 . subscription . live. Hart. Anna. The Daily Telegraph . 2 June 2015. 15 November 2019. 0307-1235.
  3. Web site: AUF Spearfishing Championship Trophies. docs.google.com. 15 November 2019.
  4. Web site: Ron Taylor - NOGI . 2 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081120073438/http://www.auas-nogi.org/bio_taylor_ron.html . 20 November 2008 . live .
  5. Taylor . Valerie . Borschmann . Gregg . 1996 . Valerie Taylor interviewed by Gregg Borschmann in the Environmental awareness in Australia oral history project. Environmental Awareness in Australia Oral History Project.
  6. Web site: Ron and Valerie Taylor and their quest to protect. Australian National Maritime Museum. 15 November 2019. 15 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191115161009/https://www.sea.museum/en/2012/09/12/ron-and-valerie-taylor-and-their-quest-to-protect. dead.
  7. Web site: Valerie Taylor . The Australian Women's Weekly . 28 March 2023 . en . 1 Feb 2017 . PressReader.
  8. Web site: Shark expert honoured for conservation. 1 June 2010. The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 November 2019.
  9. Web site: Shark expert Taylor in one-woman marine park protest. 2 August 2014. www.adelaidenow.com.au. 15 November 2019.
  10. Web site: Kara Rosenlund – Valerie Taylor – Behind the Scenes. Kara Rosenlund. 26 October 2018. 15 November 2019.
  11. Web site: First shark observation suit. Diving Almanac & Book of Records. 15 November 2019.
  12. Web site: Conservationist protests SA marine park changes. 2 August 2014. ABC News. 15 November 2019.
  13. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/shark-expert-valerie-taylor-visits-sa-to-campaign-against-changes-to-marine-parks-laws/story-fni6uo1m-1227040326200 Shark expert Valerie Taylor visits SA to campaign against changes to marine parks laws
  14. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-28/marine-campaigner-valerie-taylor-urges-mps-to-block-marine-park/5703972?section=sa Conservationist Valerie Taylor urges MPs to block SA marine park changes
  15. Web site: Photograph depicting Valerie Taylor holding a fish. collections.anmm.gov.au. 15 November 2019.
  16. Web site: Papua New Guinean shark propeller used by Ron and Valerie Taylor. collections.anmm.gov.au. 15 November 2019.
  17. Web site: Taylor, Valerie. Diving Almanac & Book of Records . 15 November 2019.
  18. Web site: Valerie Taylor OAM . Australian Geographic. 15 November 2019.
  19. Web site: Valerie Taylor – Shark lady and dead set Aussie legend. Australian Geographic. 15 November 2019.
  20. Web site: Stacie Passon on . "The Natural World and Our Interconnectedness": Director Sally Aitken . Filmmaker Magazine . 29 January 2021 . 4 February 2024.
  21. Web site: Australian documentary shines light on Valerie Taylor, deep sea diver who swam with sharks . ABC . 7 February 2021 . 2 June 2021.
  22. Web site: SSI PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION. www.divessi.com. 15 November 2019.
  23. Web site: Serventy Conservation Award . Australian Wildlife Society.
  24. Web site: 2021 Special Jury Recognition. 2021-10-03. Jackson Wild: Nature. Media. Impact.. en.
  25. 'AG Society Adventure Awards', 'http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/society/adventure-awards-ag-society.htm, retrieved 30 September 2012
  26. 'Taylor, Valerie, 1998, 'Testing the Shark POD', http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/organizations/ssg/sharknews/sn11/shark11news8.htm, Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  27. ' Ron & Valerie Taylor', http://www.scubahalloffame.com/hallmembers/2000/ronvalerietaylor.html, retrieved 30 September 2012
  28. 'WPSA Serventy Conservation Medal',http://www.wpsa.org.au/awd_serventy.html, retrieved 25 September 2012.
  29. '2008 AG Society awards wrap', http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/2008-ag-society-awards-wrap.htm, retrieved 25 September 2012.
  30. 'Ron Taylor AM ACS & Valerie Taylor AM', http://www.cinematographer.org.au/cms/page.asp?ID=20179, retrieved 30 September 2012.
  31. Web site: About us. St George Spearfishing and Freediving Club. 28 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131102102830/http://www.stgeorgespearfishingclub.com/About_Us.html. 2 November 2013. dead.
  32. Web site: South Australian Marine Parks take effect today. South Australian Government. 29 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081145/http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/images/news_releases/12_11Nov/marineparks.pdf. 24 September 2015. dead.
  33. Web site: Neptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park. SA Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources. 29 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121219084442/http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/marineparks/find-a-park/eyre-peninsula/neptune-islands. 19 December 2012. live.
  34. Kennett, Joan; 'Underwater Romance', The Australian Women's Weekly, Wednesday 5 February 1964, pages 2 and 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51976342, retrieved 24 September 2012.
  35. News: Jaws shark cameraman Ron Taylor dies. Associated Press. 1 September 2012. The Guardian . 15 November 2019. 0261-3077.
  36. Book: Taylor, Valerie. The Undersea Artistry of Valerie Taylor: A Colouring Book Featuring Original Illustrations. CreateSpace. 2017. 978-1977571144.
  37. Web site: Valerie Taylor: An Adventurous Life: The remarkable story of the trailblazing ocean conservationist, photographer and shark expert by Ben Mckelvey . Hachette Australia . 15 November 2019.
  38. Web site: 'The average person would have died in the first week': shark expert Valerie Taylor. Dapin . Mark. 9 March 2018 . The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 November 2019.
  39. Web site: RON TAYLOR'S "Slaughter at Saumarez" (1964) 360P. HARDING. JOHN H.. 1 October 2009. John Harding. 15 November 2019.
  40. Web site: Shark Savers :: A tribute to Ron Taylor. www.sharksavers.org. 15 November 2019.
  41. Web site: Valerie Taylor. IMDb. 15 November 2019.
  42. Web site: Will The Great Barrier Reef Cure Claude Clough?. Australia. National Film and Sound Archive of. 1 November 2019. www.nfsa.gov.au. 15 November 2019.
  43. Web site: The Coral Sea: No.10 'THE BELGIAN EXPEDITION to the GBR' (1967). Harding. John H.. 7 July 2012. The Coral Sea. 15 November 2019.
  44. Web site: Ron Taylor AM ACS & Valerie Taylor AM – Australian Cinematographers Society. www.cinematographer.org.au. 15 November 2019.
  45. Web site: The Reef – Review – Photos – Ozmovies. www.ozmovies.com.au. 15 November 2019.
  46. Viduka. Andrew. 2011. Managing underwater cultural heritage: A case study of SS Yongala. Historic Environment. 23. 2. 12.
  47. Web site: Shark Shocker Orana Films . www.oranafilms.com.au. 27 September 2010. 15 November 2019.
  48. Web site: Ron Taylor Film Productions – The Screen Guide. Screen Australia. 15 November 2019.
  49. Web site: Shark POD (1997) – The Screen Guide . Screen Australia . 15 November 2019.
  50. Web site: Uomini e squali . .
  51. Web site: The Silent One Review. SBS Movies. 3 July 2009. 15 November 2019.
  52. Web site: Most Popular Movies and TV Shows With Sven Libaek. IMDb. 15 November 2019.

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