By TANIA PHILLIPS
Pic: Getting ready for one of the biggest events of the year – the 29th annual Greenback Fishing Competition at Cabarita are Lions Club president and assistant Greenback director John Harden, left, and fellow Lion Stan Dawson, right, with Bogangar Public School students, Jacob Bowie, front, and Nathan Johnson, Brodie Coghlan, Hailey Peet and Rylee O’Connor. For the second year in a row the school , one of the beneficiaries of the charity event held a Green-day to promote and support the popular competition.
FINGERS are crossed for one of Australia’s biggest charity fishing competitions to be held in Bogangar this weekend.
Organisers from the Lions Club of Cabarita Beach Pottsville are hoping the 29th annual Greenback Charity Fishing Competition will be their biggest ever, with inquiries coming from Queensland and along the eastern seaboard this year.
Organiser and in-coming Lions president Kevin Francis said the event, the club’s biggest fund-raiser of the year, is one of Australia’s premier estuary beach competitions and one of the few charity fishing competitions still left running in this country.
“Keen fisherman have been telling me that the Taylor are running just south of Pottsville, which is a great sign,” he said.
“We are hoping for fine weather and a big field – the most we have ever had is 800 competitors – we had 500 in the rain last year but if all goes to plan we are hoping to top the 800 mark again.”
As well as being a major event on the national fishing calendar the Greenback is the Lions’ biggest way of giving back to the community.
“In the seven years the Lions Club of Cabarita Beach Pottsville has run the event, more than $100,000 has been donated to the Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Tweed District Volunteer Rescue Association, local schools and other charities,” Mr Francis said.
“We want to try and involve the community more.
“We have the Samba Blista drummers playing. There will be a community market, featuring art, craft, produce and outdoor pursuits, including camp oven cooking demonstrations by the Cast Iron Boys.
“Throughout the day there will be quickfire meat and seafood raffles, fun for the kids and plenty to keep everyone entertained. The afternoon’s entertainment includes a fish auction of all fish weighed in for the competition – everyone is welcome to bid on the catch.”
He said both the Pottsville and Bogangar Schools would also put on performance during the weekend.
The event is held on the foreshore at Pandanus Parade, Cabarita Beach, directly in front of the Surf Club and Cabarita Hotel.
Registrations begin at 9am on Saturday morning and are accepted until 6pm. Sign-on is at 12 noon and all tickets must be validated before fishing can commence. Registrations can be made online at www.greenback.org.au prior to the event.
After sign-on, anglers will make their way to their favourite fishing spot and throw their line out into the ocean or estuaries between Tweed Heads and Evans’ Head before returning for the weigh-in at 10am sharp on Sunday.
The weigh-in will be conducted by the Pottsville Fishing Club under the watchful eye of the Department of Fisheries. The anglers can enjoy a welcome free hot breakfast between 6am and 10am.
“While the weather is little deterrent for the enthusiastic anglers, the Lions are hoping this year’s weather is a little kinder as they endeavour to make this event a real family affair,” he said
“For those keen to fish, the entry fee is $30 for adults and $15 for children under 16. There is also a special family pass for two adults and two children under 16 for just $80.”
For further information or to enter online go to www.greenback.org.au or phone 0400 159 370.
