OYSTERS from the eight major estuaries between the Shoalhaven and the Victorian border will be marketed under the brand “Australia’s Oyster Coast”, following the brand’s launch at Narooma Oyster Festival on Saturday.
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NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson praised South Coast oyster growers’ foresight in working together on this marketing initiative.
“Oysters marketed under this brand will identify them as gourmet products grown in the most environmentally sustainable oyster region in the world,” Minister Hodgkinson said, launching the new brand.
It follows seven years work by growers implementing rigorous environmental management systems in each estuary, with assistance from the Southern River Catchment Management Authority and OceanWatch Australia and Federal and State funding.
Oyster Festival spokesperson Cath Peachey said the potential was exciting with Australia’s Oyster Coast becoming a tourist destination with international and domestic visitors following the “oyster trail”.
“This initiative complements everything the Oyster Festival is trying to achieve, and that is showcasing the South Coast’s top quality produce and culinary and artistic talents particularly to visitors from outside the region,” she said.
Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly also attended the festival to launch the Wagonga Estuary Environmental Management System - developed with $780,000 in funding from the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country initiative.
Narooma Oyster Festival manager Garry Ebbeling said oyster growers from every South Coast estuary were at the festival on Saturday, signifying that the festival “is moving to a new level”.
Mr Ebbeling said feedback on the weekend’s festival had been “hugely positive”.
“It attracted many visitors from Canberra and outside the region who’ve been raving it,” he said.
“Many people said it was the best ever, which is a great compliment to the whole management team and all the volunteers who helped make it happen.
“I welcome all constructive comments, our idea being to make next year’s even better.”
A good gauge of how the festival went is the number of oysters sold in the main oyster bar with organisers this year selling out and dishing out 9500 oysters, while there were numerous other stalls also offering their own shellfish from the Ulladulla Oyster Bar to the Wapengo Lake growers.
Oyster shucking gets competitive
ONE of the highlights of this year’s Narooma Oyster Festival was definitely the oyster shucking contest, pitting oyster growers from up and down the coast against each other.
The shucking was reintroduced to the festival after a couple of years off and this year it was the festival’s big competition as the previous cooking contest was replaced with chef demonstrations.
The shucking contest was overseen by legendary oyster shucker Jim Wild, a former world record holder from the Nowra area, assisted by Batemans Bay grower Ben Ralston.
The Greenwell Point oyster farmer in 1984 was the fastest opener in the world, opening 30 oysters in 2 minutes 31 seconds.
The first heat saw Paul West, the host of the River Cottage Australia television show currently being shot at Central Tilba, pitted against Bodalla’s Cheryl Colburn and Narooma oyster grower and breeder David Maidment.
Paul put up a valiant effort but it was Cheryl who won the heat with the neatest presentation.
She went into the final against the other female competitor in the contest, Sue McIntyre from Broadwater Oysters on Pambula, as well as Jim Yiannaros of Batemans Bay Oysters.
Jim went on to beat the two women in a time of 2 minutes 48 seconds.
Perhaps it is something in the blood as his twin brother John was the winner the last time a shucking contest was held at the festival and he has been opening oysters since the age of 4.
The contest sponsored by the NSW Farmers Association saw Jim take home the perpetual trophy and $750, while second place and $500 went to Sue and $250 went to Cheryl.
Festival a chance for networking
THE Narooma Oyster Festival as is tradition kicked off with a cocktail party at The Whale where host Matt Deveson welcomed the organisers, council officials and sponsors.
Then prior to the launch of the Austalia’s Oyster Coast (AOC) branding on Saturday afternoon, mayor Lindsay Brown hosted the dignitaries at his home overlooking the festival grounds on Riverside Drive.
The Oyster Ball this year was replaced with a post-festival dinner at the Narooma Golf Club, where the benefits of the AOC branding were again highlighted by Primary Industries and Small Business Minister Katrina Hodgkinson.
A sumptuous meal was provided by Pauls on the Course while the mayor organised several St Cecilia Musical Scholarship students to provide music for the diners.
The Narooma News asked people at the Narooma Oyster Festival what they enjoyed about this year’s event…
“We love the people and all the stalls are beautiful and the food is fabulous.”
Doris Kamevaar and Kerry Tubb, Dalmeny
“The weather is great and it’s a nice day out.”
Philippe Ravenel
Cobargo
“It’s beautiful and the food is lovely. It’s a lot bigger than we thought it would be.”
Ann Dellas and Michael Thompson
Merimbula
“We love the oysters. They’re my favourite.”
Blake Zideluns and Connor Breust
Narooma
