Karuah Oyster and Timber Festival a sell-out Myall Coast Port Stephens by News Of The Area - Modern Media - October 25, 2024 Large crowds filled the market stalls behind the woodshop arena. MONTHS of planning came to fruition with the triumphant return of the Karuah Oyster and Timber Festival on Saturday, 19 October. Even a last-minute change of venue from Longworth Park to Lionel Morton Oval, due to overly wet conditions, could not dissuade the crowds of visitors and oyster connoisseurs. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au This was the first Karuah Festival to be orchestrated by the new organising committee, which News Of The Area has been following since their establishment six months ago. A rainstorm the night before may have raised pre-show anxieties, but the morning was bright and sunny, and the southerly brought with it cool breezes. The rain held off over the afternoon despite the dark and menacing clouds. The ever-popular duck races still went ahead on the river, as did the Karuah Motor Yacht Club’s kids’ fishing competition. More than 30 kids participated, making both events resounding successes. At the oval, the grandstand was put to good use for the woodchop competition and the ball throw. Behind it were the Tea Gardens Lions’ BBQ and market stalls, spruiking the eponymous oysters and prawns, which all sold-out. Medowie and Karuah RFS brigades were present, spreading the word to join up and defend against the coming bushfire season. “Stall holders, patrons, and woodchoppers alike were all flexible and understanding of the change, happy that the festival could continue,” Festival President Kelly Johnson told NOTA. “People came from far and wide to attend and the new venue proved to have some hidden advantages, especially when it came to viewing the incredible axemen. “None of it could have been possible without our many sponsors and the tireless work of the committee, with secretary Veronica Howarth shouldering a majority of the load. “The inclusion of the oyster growers group, organised by Stephen and Dean Cole, was a roaring success. “So many oysters were sold, the town ran out!” The prawns and oysters were run by a collective of farmers who are raising money to fund their new Quality Assurance Program. “We couldn’t plan or hold the day without a team of volunteers, and in order for the festival to grow we need [even] more people involved,” Ms Hohnson said. The only downside was Karuah’s notoriously poor mobile reception, soon to be obliterated entirely with the 28 October 3G shutdown, which caused some problems with EFTPOS payment devices on the day. By Thomas O’KEEFE The move to the oval made the woodchopping events more accessible. Tea Gardens Lions Club brought their famous mobile BBQ. Serious contenders in the woodchop came from across the state. Medowie RFS joined Karuah for bushfire preparedness advice. Karuah’s oysters were sold out before the end of the day.
