This from the Whaling Songs Of Harry Robertson songbook.

"I found the whale chaser, Byron 1, just after midnight.

Silhouetted against the background of sleeping Ballina, she lay quietly on the Richmond River. I was expected on board and after a brief talk with the gunner, a few hours sleep, we cast off at dawn and headed out to sea and Byron Bay.

You can walk no further east in Australia than Cape Byron without emulating a feat performed only once before by Mr. J.C., we mortals, however, relied on the timber built, engine powered ex-naval 'Fairmile' to keep us afloat while we chased the humpback whales.

The crew on board this 'Brumbie' type whaling craft, to me, epitomised the 'Have a go, Aussies'. With no history of icy whaling tradition behind them, they fronted up to the task of capturing 40 and 50 foot whales, this was indeed a far cry from prawn net and hand line which had been their main tools as trawler men.

They knew the coast, they knew the bay and they could read the weather signs more accurately than the weather bureau, consequently, their early advice enabled us to weather many a bad blow in the comfort of a Ballina hotel. Apart from the few thousand monstrous whales we caught in various hotel bars on such occasions, we delivered the required quota to the factory.

Cocrete proof and a tribute to the adaptability of the AUSSIE."

(D) In 'fifty six I sailed on board a
(G) ship caleed Byron (A7)one,
    she (D)carried (A7)trawler (D)men on (G)deck
    and a (Bm) harpoon whaling (A7) gun.

   With a tractor as a whale winch ship
   The ship an old fairmile,
   twin diesels turned the props aroon
   we whaled the Aussie style.

Chorus

(D)Heigh (G)Ho ye trawler (A7) men come on,
   for(Bm)get the schnapper and the (A7) prawn,
   and it's (D) out of (A7) Ballin(D)a we'll (G) sail
   a'-- (Bm) fishing (A7) for the (G) humpback (D) whale.

So keep a sharp lookout me lads
for the whale is on the run,
and we'll chase them into Byron Bay
and kill them with our gun.

The harpoon and the line fly true
bedding deep into the whale,
and she split the timbers of the ship
with a flurry of her tail.

Chorus

The rigging struts were snapped in two,
we reeled beneath the blow.
But the gunner fired a killer shot
and the humpback sank below.

Chorus

Now make her tail fast to the bow,
we've got no time for bed.
For four and twenty hours each day
we kept that factory fed.

The flensing men upon the land,
some had been jackaroos,
but they skinned the blubber off them whales
like they'd skinned the kangaroos.

Chorus

One hundred whales, then fifty more
to the factory we did send.
Till a message said "Knock off me lads",
the seasons at an end.

Back to Ballina we sailed,
tied up and stowed the gear.
Then all hands headed for the pub;
and we filled ourselves with beer.

Chorus