Rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of fishermen from all over the Northern Rivers and South East Queensland for this year’s 28th annual Lions Charity Greenback fishing competition.
Despite the poor con-ditions, more than 500 competitors signed up for the event run by the Lions Club of Cabarita Beach and Pottsville Beach. The judging and the charity fish auction were both well attended, if a touch soggy.
Those that didn’t have any luck catching a fish (and those that did but donated them to the auction as part of the competition rules) braved the, at times, heavy rain to stay around and buy some at the auction on Sunday afternoon in front of the Cabarita Hotel.
Bilambil Heights fisher-man Steve Eurnold caught the heaviest tailor of the competition – a 2.773kg beauty – which, at the auction, was then snapped up by a group of Brisbane-based South Korean fishermen, competing in their first ever (but not their last) Greenback. The winning fish was destined for a backyard barbecue, according to its happy owners.
Steve, who has been taking part in the event for the past seven years but never won the heaviest tailor before, won $1500 cash and $500 worth of electrical goods, sponsored by Cabarita Beach Hotel and Rory Curtis Good Guys.
The second heavist tailor was caught by Bryan Layton who won $1000 in cash sponsored by J and K Fowler Builders and $500 in Electrical goods from Rory Curtis Good Guys.
There were 45 lucky competitors’ draws, including the main prize of the Stressco Boat and Yamaha motor valued at over $6000. The boat was won by local Bogangar resident Leley Middleton from Cabarita.
“It has been a really good response, given the conditions,” Lions Club member Vicky Hansen said after the event.
“There were not hitches and Bogangar School has been fantastic.”
She said a very big thank you from Cabarita Beach Pottsville Beach Lions Club to the volunteers from the Cabarita Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, Tweed District Volunteer Rescue, Bogangar and Pottsville Public Schools and members of the public, who assisted in running the competition.
“We would also like to thank our valued sponsors, without whose support we could not hold the annual charity fishing competition,” she said.
“We do not have any paid volunteers or organisers and all money raised is given to our nominated charities.
“Thank you to all the competitors. We are looking forward to fine weather for the 2013 event, which will once again be held on the June long weekend.”
The money will go the Surf Club, Tweed District Rescue Squad and the two schools, who all helped out on the day.
