This year’s Guyra TroutFest was “a tremendous success”, co-ordinator Lynne Chapman said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The festival, now in its third year, was held on the October long weekend – September 29 to October 1 – to mark the opening of the trout season.
An estimated 2000 people came to the event, many from interstate.
READ ALSO:
“On Saturday, we tried to take a tally, but it just blew out the window!” Mrs Chapman said. “I reckon there would have been a couple of thousand over the day, which we feel is really good for our little town.”
The festival began on Friday night, with an art expo and prize-giving at Guyra Caffiends.
“This event has huge potential to grow into something that hopefully will one day rival the Celtic Festival,” Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said, officially opening TroutFest. “It’s already bigger than the Autumn Festival in Armidale!”
The long weekend’s festivities included fishing competitions for young and old, a market day, art shows and workshops, and open gardens, heritage tours, collectors’ displays, and a fishing simulator.
“The feedback is still coming in over Facebook and email,” Mrs Chapman said, “but we’re getting so many bouquets I’m blown away, because that hasn’t happened before!
“A festival depends on our volunteers and contributions from the community, and so the success of it reflects those contributions. Everybody in Guyra – and the whole region, really – should be congratulated for their contribution in whatever way, even just participating and coming along.”
The market – originally planned to be held in Bradley Street – was moved into the Guyra Bowling Club, for fear of rain.
“Everybody was really pleased with the change of venue and the support behind the scenes for the stallholders,” Mrs Chapman said.
Angling competition
Keen fishermen could enter an angling competition for trout and native fish caught anywhere around the region: in the dams, in the trout-streams, whatever took their fancy.
Prizes were presented at the Bowling Club on Sunday evening.
Senior Fly Dam caught trout: Don Dixon and Iain Morrison of the Hastings Club Port Macquarie (59cm)
Ladies: Dawn Hopkins (56cm)
Junior Dam caught trout: Jack Campbell (52cm)
Junior river caught trout: Blake Jackson (58cm)
Senior river caught trout: Robert (Tappa) Walls (45cm)
Senior dam fish: Jack Witherden (61cm).
The Fishing Simulator junior prize went to Ben Jones, and the senior went to Dean Williams, who donated his rod and reel set back to be auctioned for club expenses.
“Fishing presentations are sometimes a little bit flat,” Mrs Chapman said, “but there was a good vibe. It didn't go long, but it was all very enjoyable and convivial.”