Eden Marine High School teacher Kate Mamone made the discovery during a whale-watching cruise, whilst holidaying in Vancouver with her husband earlier this month.

“We really wanted to see orcas so we went on a whale-watching tour because it was orca season,” Ms Mamone said on Monday.

“For the first few hours all we saw was one small humpback, and we thought “naahhhh”!”

Used to the great whale migrations off Eden’s shores, Ms Mamone said she was personally unexcited by the lone whale, but was shaken out of her complacency by the amazement of everyone else on board.  

“There were tourists from a number of places, including Europe and South America, and they were all “ooohing” in “aaahing” as many had never seen a whale before,” Ms Mamone said.

“It made us realise how lucky we are living in this part of the world and how much I took for granted the migrating whales each year.

“We have seen a number of them put on an amazing display just walking the dog on the headland!”

One of the guides on the vessel spotted Ms Mamone in the crowd, and asked her some questions.

“The guide, a marine biologist, was so excited when she found out we were from Eden,” Ms Mamone said.

“She had heard so many stories of Old Tom and wanted to know if it was true or a myth.

“She knew of Eden and said she would love to be able to visit as the reputation of the area is internationally known within the marine community.”

Ms Mamone then confessed the main reason she was on a whale-watching tour was in fact to spot orcas; now a rarity off Eden.

“The guide was then on a mission to find some,” Ms Mamone said.

With Ms Mamone acting as Eden’s good-luck talisman, the quest resulted in an orca bonanza. 

“We were very lucky to find a pod of about eight orcas travelling south on the east coast of Vancouver Island,” Ms Mamone said. 

“To top it off, the pod crossed paths with another pod travelling north, and for about half an hour over 16 whales played and put on an amazing show for us, including some younger ones mimicking their parents.”

Ms Mamone said the guide was in raptures – explaining a sighting of that nature was rare – while Ms Mamone came away from the experience with a whole new appreciation for Old Tom.

“They are beautiful animals, and the male dorsal fin is huge!” Ms Mamone said.

She said it is very easy to take our area for granted.

“Every time we come home from an overseas trip we realise how lucky we are to live in one on the world’s most beautiful and untouched places,” Ms Mamone said.

“So many people can only dream of seeing a whale in their lifetime, and we have the privilege of counting them on a daily bases during migration.”

Ms Mamone said many children in the UK are taught about Old Tom in school courses about human and animal relationships, and his story is well known within the global scientific community.

The Eden teacher’s adventures certainly reminds that Old Tom’s spirit lives on.