What many people may not know is that Clarke was a pretty keen sportsman - and an outstanding one at that - before becoming Nelson Bay's first ever high school PE teacher in 1975.

Prior to settling in the Bay, Clarke had played rugby league at the famous Lang Park in Brisbane, strode out on the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground turf and faced the might of the New Zealand All Blacks on a Perth rugby field.

"They are all highlights of my playing days but my the proudest moment was walking on to the SCG as a 16-year-old playing for a Country squad in a Green Shield cricket match," he recalled.

"I had caught the train from Tweed Heads to Sydney and we stayed in makeshift dorms under the iconic clock in the Members Stand. It was like a dream come true."

For the record Clarke top scored with 80 to help steer Country to victory over City after the team was 5/25 chasing 217.

"Facing the All Blacks in 1974 while attending Perth university was another awesome experience, not so much for the game ["we lost 36-6 or thereabouts"] but for facing the Maori Haka. It was something I will never forget," he said.

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Originally from Tweed Heads, Clarke enjoyed a happy childhood which primarily involved playing league, cricket, surfing and fishing.

He graduated with a diploma of Physical Education from Wollongong Teachers College, gained a bachelor of education degree at the University of Western Australia and received his masters from Newcastle university in 1985.

Clarke's first posting was at Gilgandra High, after which he travelled to Perth for further study.

Following his appointment to Nelson Bay High School in 1975, Clarke said he was amazed that the town did not have a full-length cricket pitch.

"I believe the only junior sports clubs at the time were Fingal Beach nippers and Nelson Bay junior rugby," he said.

"There was no weekly organised sport teams for girls at all and senior sport was very limited.

"Apart from tennis and golf, the only senior teams that I was aware of were a cricket side that played all its home games in Newcastle and an incredibly popular Bay league club playing in a second division competition."

Based at Fly Point Oval, the local league attracted huge crowds to watch on a ground that had little to no grass cover.

"The ground had soccer posts by I never saw a soccer match played there. As the newly appointed sports master I saw the need for organised weekly sport, particularly for kids," Clarke said.

"Junior cricket was my first target. With the assistance of Charles Belcher we formed the Nelson Bay Junior Cricket Club with six primary school aged teams.

"Four boys teams and two girls teams played in the same competition.

"The lack of cricket pitches and equipment posed a problem, however we found a couple of half pitches on Tomaree headland and at Anna Bay school.

"One memorable innings was played by Annette Matalone batting on the Tomaree wicket, with short boundaries, scoring 64 runs hitting 16 fours."

Clarke was approached by then councillor Dick Burwell who had a vision of a major sporting complex around the site of the old town dump about 5km out of town on the Nelson Bay Road.

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"Initially I did not share Dick's enthusiasm as I thought that parents would object to paying a weekly bus fare to sport every Wednesday afternoon. How wrong I was."

The sport complex has continued to expand over the years to include soccer, AFL, touch footy and athletics.

The original salt-water pool in the 1970s was located on the waterfront on Teramby Road and Clarke recalls the entire school of around 370 students attending the annual swimming carnivals in the 30-yard pool.

"The students that I taught at the old high school were fantastic kids. Sure some of them were rough and ready, but they were always very respectful and I have managed to keep in touch with many of them to this day."

Clarke was a foundation member of the Nelson Bay Police Boys' Club and supported Peter Sherriff to establish the Shoal Bay Fishing Club.

With the Tomaree Sports Complex expanding, Clarke and Reg Toby formed the Nelson Bay Touch Football Club with eight men's only teams. It now includes women and juniors.

Three years after his arrival John and Ella Clarke founded the Nelson Bay (senior) rugby club. A meeting was called and a team, coached by Clarke, was formed which played as third grade with first division Port Hunter based in Stockton, and eventually establishing a first division club under the Nelson Bay Gropers banner.

Tragedy struck the Clarke family with the passing of their son Ben from a rare disorder in 2003. Clarke admits it was a difficult time for the family and the impact is still being felt today.

"I lost my passion to attend the rugby following the passing of Ben, however, I am hoping to attend some local games next year."

As an athlete Clarke was recognised with both the Full Blue for Sport at WA Uni and the Hampshire Medal for that state's most outstanding rugby player in 1974, yet in more recent years his recreational pursuits have dominated his time.

He has been involved in numerous environmental issues advising state ministers on marine parks, recreational fishing and national parks and he was a founding member of the Tomaree Museum Association.

"This area deserves a museum which honours the Worimi people and the efforts of the pioneers."

Clarke still finds time to broadcast two weekly segments on Statewide and Newcastle ABC Radio, and has been the Examiner's fishing columnist 'Stinker' since 1987, publishing an estimated 1800 articles to date.

And he has also written 11 books on fishing, local history and books for kids.

The grandfather of three won't sit still. If you can't find him in Fingal Bay, he is most possibly our on the water in his tinnie, 'Stinkpot'.

Sport is in the blood of Fingal Bay's John 'Stinker' Clarke. He may be best known as the Port's fishing guru, but his sporting repertoire extends way beyond the water.