Valerie May TaylorAM (born 9 November 1935) is an Australian conservationist, photographer, and filmmaker, and an inaugural member of thediving hall of fame. With her husbandRon Taylor, she made documentaries about sharks, and filmed sequences for films includingJaws (1975).[1]
Born inPaddington, Sydney on 9 November 1935,[2] Valerie May Taylor spent her early years inSydney. Her mother was a housewife and her father an engineer forExide 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.[3] At 12 years of age Taylor contractedpolio 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.[3]
Taylor returned to Sydney with her family to settle in the beachside suburb ofPort 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 andspearfisher and met her future husband,Ron Taylor, at the St George's Spearfishing Club.[4][5][6]
Taylor worked as an underwater photographer, with some of her work appearing inNational Geographic magazine. In 1973, some macro images of coral and invertebrates on the Great Barrier Reef were featured on its front cover.[12]
During the early 1980s Taylor began experiments with sharks wearing a steel mesh suit. The 1981 front cover ofNational Geographic magazine featured Taylor, off the coast of California, during one of these experiments withblue sharks wearing achainmail suit.[13]
Taylor remained active in lobbying in favour of marine conservation into the 21st century.[14] She campaigned againstocean plastic pollution overfishing.[15]
In 1981 Taylor was awarded theNOGI award for Arts, Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences, presented by the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS).[18]
She was awarded the 1997 American Nature Photographer of the year award for a picture of awhale shark swimming with her nephew in Ningaloo Marine Park. By 2000 she was inducted into theWomen Divers Hall of Fame.[20]
In 2001, she was awarded theServenty 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 theCentenary Medal for service to Australian society in marine conservation and the Australian Senior Achiever of the Year.[21]
In 2008 Taylor received the Australian Geographic Lifetime of Conservation award.[22]
In 2010 Taylor was made aMember 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.[21]
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 filmmakerSally Aitken, calledPlaying with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story. The film screened at theSundance Film Festival.[23][24]
1997: American Nature Photographer of the year award (sponsored by the American Press Club) for a picture of awhale shark swimming with her nephew in Ningaloo Marine Park[10]
2008 – Australian Geographic Lifetime of Conservation Award[32]
2011 – Australian Cinematographers Society Hall of Fame[33]
Life membership of the St George Spearfishing & Freediving Club Inc. (date of conferral not stated)[34]
2012 – Renaming of the newly-declaredNeptune Islands Group Marine Park surrounding theNeptune Islands in South Australia to theNeptune Islands Group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park[35][36]
She has illustrated and written a children's colouring book,The Undersea Artistry (2017)[39] and published her memoirs in 2019, titledAn Adventurous Life.[15]
Blue Wilderness (6 episodes)1992 cageless shark-diving expedition, 1992; with Richard Dennison forNational Geographic and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation[42]
