18th Narooma Oyster Festival celebrates the industry
The sun was shining for the 18th Narooma Oyster Festival last weekend.
Around 67,000 oysters were shucked and savoured at this year’s Narooma Oyster Festival — and there’s a great yarn behind 3,000 of them.
With demand for opened oysters outpacing supply, Festival Chair Cath Peachey put out a call, and four of Australia’s fastest shuckers stepped up, mid-festival, to help.
Between them, they shucked an incredible 50 dozen oysters each in just one hour – all while running their own stalls and before competing in the Australian Oyster Shucking Championships.
Former ABC presenter Simon Marnie MC’d the largest Oyster Comp with Bernie Connell’s latest giant, Jack Junior, coming in at an impressive 2.53kg. Many will remember Bernie’s 2024 champion, Jill, who sadly passed away this year but not before claiming a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s heaviest oyster at 3.01kg.
Greg Carton of Broadwater Oysters – Pambula Lake, took out the John Susman Medal and was crowned Overall Australian Oyster Shucking Champion, with the best combined score for speed and presentation.
Sally McLean from Jim Wild’s Oysters reclaimed the Women’s Australian Oyster Shucking Championship, with last year’s winner Sue McIntyre (also of Broadwater Oysters) coming in second, and Jade Norris from the Oyster Shed on Wray taking bronze after one of her best performances yet.
Join growers, chefs & shuckers to celebrate the Rock Oyster on the first weekend in May each year.
