Sea Days Festival – Port Welshpool

Friday 2 January 2015 to Sunday 4 January 2015
1:00pm - 7:00pm

Location: Port Welshpool | Category: Activity

Summer is a fantastic time in South Gippsland for people living and visiting the townships and villages adjoining the unique environment of Corner Inlet and Wilson Promontory. The Sea Days Festival held at Port Welshpool is in its ninth year and each year we try to bring visitors different experiences that help to showcase this wonderful area and its talented residents.

The festival is a family friendly event, with its very strong emphasis on the history, culture and the environment, has something for people of all ages. This year we have a comprehensive guest speaker programme with expert presenters bringing the history of the area to life, highlighting the truly unique environment of Corner Inlet and the Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park and its wildlife. There is plenty for children of all ages to do.

Come and Try fishing sessions, Kite making and flying workshops, mini golf, interact marine displays and learn traditional leather working skills from the Snake Island Cattlemen. To keep those feet tapping we have gathered some of this region’s best local musicians to entertain you all day Saturday and Sunday.

Copies of the Guest Speaker, Musical Entertainment and a general event activity programs are available for more detailed information and download from our website. There is NO Admission fee, that right it’s FREE, however we do ask for a gold coin donation to help cover some of our costs.

To see the full program of activities, go to: http://seadaysfestival.com.au

Activities

The timing and number of sessions of all the following events and activities are available for viewing and download on the Activities Program page.

Come and Try Fishing

Experienced fishermen will teach small groups of children between the ages of 5 and 15 years the basics of fishing. Parents are required to help supervise the younger children. All fishing rods, tackle and bait are provided. As group sizes are limited to a maximum of 20 it is necessary to pre-book your place by phoning 03 5688 1554 or by sending an email with your details and preferred times from the contact page. We’ll get back to you to confirm your booking. Some places may be available on the each day, but pre-booking is the best way to avoid disappointment.

This activity is sponsored by Fisheries Victoria and Fishcare, it’s free to participants and includes a show bag.

Kites4Kids

Kite making workshops and kite flying demonstrations will be provided by Jo Baker and her family business, Kites4Kids. Jo has competed in kite competitions all over Australian and these kites have to be seen to be believed. Workshops are run regularly and a small cost is charged to cover the cost of the kite kits.

Mini Golf

Try your luck or is it skill? This frustrating and challenging course has been designed and manufactured by the Venus Bay Mens Shed. It is open to all ages, children 5yrs and under accompanied by a parent are free, 6-14 yrs $2, everyone else $3. A family ticket for $5 can be purchased. The Port Welshpool Working Group are very aware that holiday activities can very expensive and please rest assured all proceeds will go toward future community festivals and to support a range of local community groups.

Interactive Environmental Displays

Parks Victoria, Department of Environment and Primary Industry and Coast Care as part of their Summer by the Sea program are providing an extensive interactive display of coastal wildlife. The display will include seahorse tanks, marine life touch tanks and on Sunday a display of coastal marine life by Australian Wildlife Lectures.

Park Rangers and other expert staff will be available to guide people through the displays and answer any questions. Many of these people will also presenting on the guest speaker program and you will have the opportunity to hear in detail about the important work they carry out on your behalf.A coastal walk has been arranged for Saturday at 3.00pm for people to join rangers on an expedition of discovery along the beach and intertidal zone.This display is one of hundreds of free interpretive and educational activities provided by Coastcare and Parks Victoria right along the Victorian coast in January.For more information, check out Summer by the Sea Childrens Activities

Students from the local primary schools of Welshpool and Toora have prepared fabulous posters based on the theme of “HEALTHY INLET”. A display of these posters can be seen in the main hall and prizes will be awarded on Sunday afternoon.

Children (and big kids if you wish) can have their faces painted throughout each day of the festival and a special area has been set aside for photos to be taken before the eyes are rubbed or ears scratched. There is always plenty for the children to do while waiting for their makeover.

Arts and Crafts

A number of local Artists will have displays and items for sale within the main building.

Local Artist Susan Gilford will be demonstrating her pyrographic techniques to create unique pieces of art from wood. Susan has also donated a specially commissioned piece of her work themed on Corner Inlet as the Door Prize for the festival. So please make sure you complete an entry form.

Emergency Services Display

The festival is fortunate to have representation from the three major volunteer emergency services, being the Port Welshpool Coast Guard, Welshpool CFA and Foster SES. The CFA have also provide an education trailer with information on preparing your property against fire. Please take the time to talk to representatives from these very important services and perhaps get some information on how you might be able to help.

Walking with LIONS

Toora Lions Club wants to test your fitness. On Saturday 3rd the Lions Club is organising a walk from Welshpool to Port Welshpool along the old tramway track. This track has now been incorporated into the Great Southern Rail Trail which is about to officially open the latest stage from Toora to Port Welshpool early in 2015.

A free bus service is being provided to ferry walkers between Port Welshpool and Welshpool so you don’t get your vehicle stranded at the other end.

Snake Island Cattlemen

We’re very pleased to be able to welcome the Snake Island Cattlemens Association to the festival for the first time this year. The Association has been involved in the management of Snake Island (which lies off shore just over the Lewis Channel) for more than 90 years and is a very important part of the history of the development of this region. Displays of memorabilia along with a photographic display of the Island will be on hand. Cattlemen will be available to answer any questions and to provide workshops and demonstrations of traditional leather working skills.

The Festival this year will culminate in a ride by the Cattlemen into Port Welshpool and along the foreshore to re-enact the tradition of herding cattle from the mainland onto Snake Island for vital agistment. Presentations will also be provided by Cheryl Glowery, Author of Snake Island & The Cattlemen of the Sea along with local identity and Cattleman, Wally Cayzer.

Other Activities

You may like to include the following activities being held away from the main venue to your visit:

  • Working dog trials and demonstration at Beloka Kelpies (free bus transfer will be available on the Saturday only)
  • View the Maritime Museum displays and join them for a Devonshire tea. It’s just a short walk up Turnbull St
  • Bare foot bowls at the Port Welshpool Bowling club located by the historic Long Jetty

Food

The Welshpool Primary School parents will be providing light food and drinks available at the venue. As a special treat this year, a selection of Prom Coast Ice Cream and Sorbets handmade natural products all made locally at Toora will also be available.

The Coast Guard will be operating a BBQ and fairy floss will be available to temp visitors.

Alternatively, take away food and restaurant meals are available at Port Welshpool and Welshpool. Just remember that the Sea Days Festival is an alcohol free event and visitors should of course drink and drive responsibly.

The above are just some of the activities and displays that will be available at the Sea Days Festival. So come and join us to make it a great weekend of family friendly fun and entertainment.

Music Program

 Download Program

Saturday 3 Jan 2015

TIME GROUP/ARTISTS STYLE
10 – 11 am Soul Purpose Jazz Band Traditional/Swing Jazz
11 – 11.45 am Watts Up Guitar/violin various styles
11.45am – 1 pm The McCrackens Southerngrass
1 – 2 pm Fiona Curram Folk
2 – 3 pm Tidal Moon Classic/celtic/folk
3 – 4 pm Imperious Metal
Sunday 4 Jan 2015
TIME GROUP/ARTISTS STYLE
10 – 11 am The Unusual Suspects Folk/popular
11 – 12 noon Tidal Moon Classic/celtic/folk
12 – 1 pm Fiona Curram Folk
2.15 – 3 pm Cats of Japan Acoustic
3 – 4 pm Imperious Metal

Guest Speaker Program

 Download Program

Saturday 3 Jan 2015

TIME ORGANISATION TOPIC SPEAKER
10 – 10.30 am Local Historian & Author History Corner Inlet Cheryl Glowrey
10.45 – 11.15 am West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Water Quality – Corner inlet Tracey Jones
11.30 -12.00 pm Parks Victoria Marine Life of Corner Inlet Jonathon Stevenson
1.00- 1.30 pm Department Environment & Primary Industry Migratory Birds Susan Taylor
1.45- 2.15 pm Parks Victoria Fox Baiting David Farrar
2.30 – 3.00 pm Fish Care Recreational Fishing David Cleeland
3.15 – 3.45 pm DEPI/Coastcare Marine Debris – A global problem Bruce Atkin

Sunday 4 Jan 2015

 

Time Organisation Topic Speaker
10 – 10.30 am Landcare Landcare Programs & Sustainable Farming Jenny O’sullivan
10.45 – 11.15 am South Gippsland Beekeepers Bee Keeping Steve Lovie
11.30 -12.00 pm Welshpool and Toora Primary Schools Presentations Poster Competition Jonathon Stevenson & Susan Gilford
1.00pm – 3.00pm Snake Island Cattlemen Association Cattlemen ride Jenny Bland
1.45- 2.15 pm Local Historian & Author History Snake Island and cattle agistment Cheryl Glowrey
2.30 – 3.00pm Snake Island Cattlemen Association SICA activitiesCoincide with ride into Port Welshpool Walley Cayser 

For more information, visit: www.http://seadaysfestival.com.au

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