The Rottnest Shark Attack: A Glimpse into the Dark Side of a National Obsession The recent shark attack at Rottnest Island has left many in Australia mourning the loss of Steven Mattaboni, a father of two who met his untimely demise.
Tributes have poured in for the victim, but this incident also resonates with another long standing national fixation: shark attacks.
Shark attacks are an infinitesimally small fraction of overall beach related incidents, yet their sensationalism has become an integral part of Australian popular culture.