Thanks to the exciting program, a record crowd of around 11,000 enjoyed a fun and entertaining day at the Bayside Festival on Sunday 8^th January 2006.

"With over 60 stall holders offering food, children's rides, arts & crafts, and an expanded festival site, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves," said Mrs Maureen Howe, Bayside Festival Coordinator.

With great live entertainment throughout the day by local performers Wild Card and the Cruisers, our own home grown National identity Jacob Butler announced that he is moving to London to further his career. National performing group, The Jellybugs, kept everyone entertained with high energy performances and Sam Suitcase put smiles on lots of faces as he wandered through the crowd.

Due to a light southerly breeze the sand sculpture was reduced in size but not in quality, with the girls creating a beautiful fish in keeping with the maritime theme. Children enjoyed the sand sculpting advice provided under shade with 200 free sets of beach tools being handed out.

Mrs Howe said "We crowned a new Starks' Bakery pie eating champion, Matthew Sealy, from Nangwarry. Well done to Matthew with his effort of eating 11 pies at the 11^th Annual Festival, one better than the record set last year".

Some funny moments at the Port MacDonnell Professional Fishermans Association Octopus Throw when after careful preparation the octopus went sailing into the crowd, tentacles and body separating to cause maximum crowd splash.

Traditional favourites like the Yabby Races, Bungy Pull, Miss and Master Tiny Tots kept the crowds entertained. A second draw was required to find the winner of the Lucky Gate Ticket who received a digital camera pack from RetraVision Mount Gambier.

The Bayside Festival Committee is grateful for the support received from the community and sponsors including the District Council of Grant, Festivals Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission, Limestone Coast Tourism, WINTV SA, Radio 96.1 StarFM/5SE and the many community members who contributed to making the 2006 Festival the biggest and best yet. A big thank you to everyone who attended, we hope you enjoyed the day.

The 2007 Bayside Festival will be held on Sunday 7^th January 2007. For more information on the Bayside Festival call Maureen Howe on 8738 2106.

2006 BAYSIDE FESTIVAL COMPETITION WINNERS

• Sportscene Fun Run 6.5km - Male: 1^st Michael Cocks 24.41 mins, 2^nd Jacob Cocks (11 years); Female: 1^st Katrina Tucker 28.44 mins, 2^nd Laura Reynolds; Junior: 1^st Jacob Cocks 26.29 mins, 2^nd Simon Berkfield
• Foreshore Fun Run 2.5km - Male: 1^st Chris McKinnon; Female: 1^st Edwina Wiltshire-Leggett; Junior: 1^st Ben Wilke, 2^nd Joel Feast
• Stark's Bakery Pie Eat-A-Thon - 1^st Matthew Sealy, Nangwarry 11 pies, 2^nd Russell Johnson, Mount Gambier 10 pies
• Keatley Live Stock "Guess the Weight of the Sheep" - Jim Childs, Port MacDonnell 48.75k av weight
• Parade Fish Shop Yabby Races - No 1: Anthony Doll; No 2: Kirrily Spaga
• Pfeiler Plumbing & Gas Bungy Pull - Junior Girls: 1^st Samara Spatt, Portland 15.7m, 2^nd Brooke Schmidt, Cranbourne; Junior Boys 1: 1^st Stewart McLaughlin, Port MacDonnell 25.9m, 2^nd Ben Henman, Mount Gambier; Junior Boys 2: Joseph Ratcliffe, Mount Gambier 21.9m, 2^nd Dion Cook, Mount Gambier; Senior Girls: 1^st Shirley Auld, Glencoe 16m; Senior Mens: 1^st Chris Searle, Mount Gambier 30.8m
• Parade Fish Shop Tiny Tots (2-4yrs) - Miss Madeline Hosking, Master Riley Flamank
• Parade Fish Shop Junior (5-8yrs) - Miss Naomi Jensz, Master Scott Davies
• Parade Fish Shop Miss Bayside (9-12yrs) - Miss Kristi Malseed
• Port MacDonnell Professional Fisherman's Association Octopus Throw - Junior Girls: 1^st Samantha Fleming 10m, 2^nd Maddy Albrecht, 3^rd Kim Walker; Junior Boys: 1^st James Stark 9m, 2^nd Liam McKinnon, 3^rd Ben Wilke; Senior Womens: 1^st Mel Fitzpatrick 10.5m, 2^nd Karen Smith, 3^rd Tamara Emerson; Senior Men's: 1^st Shayne Thomas 15.64m, 2^nd Leslie Feast, 3^rd Sam Albrecht
• Lucky Gate Ticket (digital camera pack from RetraVision Mount Gambier) - No 1497 (2nd draw)
• Bayside Festival Raffle: 1^st G Dietsel (RetraVision Fire & Ice BBQ), 2^nd H Egan (Seaview Motel & Tackle Fishing Gear), 3^rd L Sharrock (Gambier City Pharmacies Gift Hamper Men's), 4^th A De Nyis (Gambier City Pharmacies Gift Hamper Ladies), 5^th J Gurney (Remote Control Car), 6^th S White (Seaview Motel & Tackle Gift Voucher)