Up to 2000 people will visit Port Fairy for the Victorian Lifesaving Championships on March 4 and 5.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Port Fairy Surf Lifesaving Club special projects officer Paul Buchanan said 1000 competitors, their support crews and officials had booked accommodation and would arrive on Friday.
“The Gardens (caravan park) is booked out completely and it’s had a big impact on accommodation elsewhere,” he said.
“All the parks are full and a lot of the bed and breakfasts are doing a great trade as a result. The town’s going to be buzzing.
“People are very excited about coming to Port Fairy for it and I think we have a great venue.
“We’re pretty excited about the prospect of it.”
Mr Buchanan said it was the first time Port Fairy had hosted a carnival of this calibre and size, with more than 70 clubs represented.
“It’s fantastic for our members, particularly our junior members, to see how the state titles run and see some of the best athletes in surf lifesaving in Victoria in action,” he said.
“It’s been a fair bit of work on behalf of the club.
“We have a good group of volunteers giving up their time. We have a dedicated bunch who love the sport.”
Mr Buchanan said hosting the carnival, which is run by LifeSaving Victoria, was a “win win” for the club and local traders.
“The businesses love it and they’re so supportive of the club because of what we bring to the town,” he said.
Mr Buchanan said traders appreciated the role the volunteer organisation played in keeping the beach safe, which helped attract visitors to the town during peak periods.
Moyne Shire mayor Jim Doukas said the influx of competitors would benefit businesses prior to the folk festival the following weekend.
“What a great boost for the town,” Cr Doukas said. “It seems like there’s been a minimum of 1000 visitors in town since Christmas.”
Cr Doukas said hosting the carnival could also encourage new members to join the club.
Cr Doukas said the people of Port Fairy had “always been very supportive” of its surf lifesavers and expected large crowds to watch the event.
Competition begins at 8am Saturday and finishes at 4pm on Sunday with events along East Beach.
