Argghh me Bermagui hearties
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THE 2015 Bermagui Seaside Fair was held in brilliant sunshine on Saturday bringing thousands to the town to watch a pirate-themed parade and lots of other events on the oval, foreshore and on the beach.
The parade down the main street saw the usual contenders rise to the the challenge of the theme, this year it was pirates so there were plenty of eye patches, bottles of rum and skull and crossbones.
The overall parade winner was Bermagui Little Lambs Preschool, which has won the parade around seven of the 10 times it has participated in the fair.
Best on Foot went to Bermagui Public School while Best on Wheels went to Bermagui Surf Shop, and Best Kids on Wheels went to the Bermagui Cancer Research Advocate Bikers (CRABs).
Bega Valley shire councillor Liz Seckold officially opened the Bermagui Seaside Fair and the Citizen of the Year was awarded to Kerri Binstock for her volunteer work around the community.
This includes the YES after-school program at Narooma High School and Bermagui Public School, the Wallaga Lake Koori Village homework, Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust and Montreal Goldfield and Seaside Fair novelty events to mention just a few.
Kerri thanked all these groups for giving her the opportunity and wanted to share the recognition with her fellow volunteers.
“Young people keep you going, young people keep you alive and keep you entertained,” she said.
Kerri rode in the parade with last year’s Citizen of the Year, Kerry Davies who is founder of Bermagui U3A.
A highlight again was the culmination of the second Umbrellas of Bermagui project and the auction of the 20 or so brilliantly decorated umbrellas created by local artists.
Reaching the top price of $840 was the incredibly detailed and historically accurate “Lament for Lamont” umbrella created by Paul Fletcher featuring the Mystery Bay nautical murder mystery.
Its purchaser Sam Perrin of Bermagui is a keen historian and knows all the details of the murder mystery
“I was determined that I was going to be its owner,” said Sam, who also thought about purchasing last year’s top Umbrella by artists Meg Dodson and Michelle Dedlefs, and this year also brought their embroidered butterfly creation.
The proceeds from all the umbrella sales will go toward the town’s three preschools – Bermagui, Little Lambs and Little Yuin at Wallaga Lake.
In addition to the traditional Seaside Fair favourites such as the sea castle competition on the beach and the pet contest, the second running of the Jane Lagana Memorial Bermagui Wood Cut, featuring duelling chainsaws and other timber cutting skills, also proved very popular packing out the foreshore.
Fair committee chairperson Jo Jacobs said this year’s event ran really smoothly and again showed what great community spirit there is in Bermagui.
“All the funds raised go to youth and community projects so that’s even more of an incentive to get involved,” she said.
“Thank-you to all the participants, organisers and sponsors of the Bermagui Seaside Fair. We couldn't have done it without them,” she said.
See last year's event: