Past items of interest will be posted here

PORTARLINGTON MUSSEL FESTIVAL
ONE TOWN – MANY CULTURES

Saturday, January 13, 2007

The organisers of the festival have been overwhelmed by the feedback so far. They are still collating the evaluation forms, and the response has been very positive. If you attended and have not completed your form please do so, as your comments will enable the committee to plan for next year. As a result of the first debrief session a few changes will be made next year. However, the aim is to keep the festival community focussed.
According to a government source there were over 15,000 people in attendance. There were no major hiccups which is a credit to those who attended, and the organisers.

Please email the organisers with your comments.
portarts@yahoo.com.au

2008 UPDATED FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Festival Times: 10 am – 5:00 pm. Location: Parks Hall, Parklands, Pier Area Melways Reference Map 444 B6 What’s on throughout the day: Art Show, model boats and DPI display in Parks Hall. Wine, beer, olive oil and cheese tasting in park. Barefoot bowls and refreshments at Bowls Club. Sailing on the Enterprize from pier. Charter boat to mussel beds from pier. (Incl mussel tasting) Mussel cooking demonstrations and sales in Bay View Room, Parks Hall. Kilgour mussel dishes on sale on Village Green. (West side of hall) Fresh mussel sales from and near pier. Country Fire Authority Open Day. Morris Minor and Classic Cars on display. Static History display, Country Womens' Association craft stalls. Devonshire Teas and coffee free, natural healer, Dennis Puffett, in Senior Citizens Hall. Small, quality market and carnival activities in park. Novelty train to kite flying demonstrations. 11:00 am: Dry boat race behind Port Pier Café. Monster kite flying demonstrations until 3 pm. 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Concert in Parks Hall including a fashion parade, local artists, ‘Scuttlebutt’, Danny Spooner and belly dancers. A) Enjoy Kilgour Estate Winery’s shuttle bus from Parks Hall to and from the winery for dinner from 5:30 to 11:30pm Bookings essential: 5251 2223 B) Mussels for lunch and dinner at Indulge on Harding. Bookings 5259 1999 C) Try Mavi Yunus and other cafes for delicious mussel meals. Try mussel morsels at the Grand Hotel. Thai mussels at Thai Palace Restaurant, and Spanish style mussels at Port Pier
If you require additional information phone the Mussel Mobile 0432 547 007

PORTARLINGTON’S 2008 MUSSEL FESTIVAL Saturday, 12 January. Newcombe Street Portarlington. The day is set to cater for thousands of visitors on January 12, 2008, to get a taste of mussels, one of the towns main industries, cooked in many different ways and available at a range of outlets including fresh off the boats along the pier. Some of the town’s restaurants will provide a range of fine foods, particularly mussels, in a carnival atmosphere. Indulge on Harding, Restaurant will cook mussel dishes and provide tastings of local cheeses complete with goats.(In cages of course) The Port Pier Cafe will offer mussel morsels spanish style and the Thai Palace Restaurant will provide tempting thai mussel dishes. The Grand Hotel will also have mussels on the menu. Kilgour Estate Winery will be cooking up a storm in the park opposite the restaurants providing a variety of delicious mussel dishes which can be accompanied with wines from many of the local wineries. Local olive oils and cheeses will also be available for tasting and purchasing. Mussel cooking demonstrations will take place in the Bayview Room throughout the day. A charter boat will take visitors out to view the mussel beds while providing tasting's on board. The historic sailing ship, ‘Enterprize’ will also be in port to provide short sailing tours. As well as all the food, wine and oils, there will be a number of quality market stalls in the park, African drums and dancers, puppets and other busker's will entertain the crowds and activities for children. At 11 am, behind the Port Pier restaurant near the pier, there will be the ‘Portarlington Dry Boat Race’ similar to the ‘Henley on Todd’ in Alice Springs. Groups of five are invited to construct a rigid “boat’ structure within which they run around a defined course against other competitors. This event is being sponsored by Neville Richards Real Estate and there are great prizes to be won. This is a fun event with people of all ages taking part. Another great activity for kids and adults is the kite flying. This will be along the Esplanade towards the east (at the bottom end of Batman St) and there will be some wonderful and colourful kite flying demonstrations. Kites will be available to purchase or people may like to bring their own. There will be a kite making workshop held in the parklands by the skate park. Around this area there are other activities such as the rock climbing wall, Teen van that has activities to try such as Xbox360 and electric guitars, and the Morris Minor Car Club. Portarlington Bowling Club is joining in the fun with ‘barefoot bowls’, so if you have always wanted to have a go, here is the opportunity. They will be providing beverages, homemade cakes and a sausage sizzle. Displays of local crafts, history,and activities, devonshire teas and coffee will be available in the Senior Citizens Hall in the park. There will be a huge art show, model boat display and concert in Parks Hall with some well-known performers, Danny Spooner , and the Bellyrine Belly Dancers. There will also be the launch of the "Portarlington Song" and a fashion parade featuring local models . Running in conjunction with the Festival is a short story competition. There will be range of activities for all ages. The local Country Fire Authority (CFA)will hold an open day, and as this is fire season they will provide tips of what action to take in case of fire. Perhaps you have always wanted to ride in a fire engine, well this would be an idea opportunity. The Festival is organised by the Port Arts Committee and sponsored by the City of Greater Geelong and a number of local groups. The aim is to come along take part and have fun. Then when you have over indulged, relax by the beautiful waters of Port Phillip Bay and watch the sunset.  

A piece of Maritime History returns to Portarlington
Those who remember the voyages of the SS Edina during the 1920s and 30s will be delighted that some of the ships mahogany panels will soon be on display at the Old Mill.

A small business operator found the panels stacked in the corner of a large shed where he operated his business. Once the news broke, he was inundated with requests from all over Victoria . As the State Government classifies the panels as part of a shipwreck the panels cannot be given away at random or sold. Heritage Victoria has issued each panel with a unique identification number. It is hoped that the larger panel will become part of a permanent display at the Fisherman's Museum currently under consideration as part of the Pier Project.

The Bellarine Agricultural Show
Portarlington Recreation Reserve.

The new committee should be congratulated on the organisation of this years show. Despite the heat, and the influx of visitors for other events, the show went on. There were a lot more farm machinery displays, vintage car displays and the old Woolnough Bus that had been restored. The variety of animals were well represented, as were the chooks and ducks. Inside there were displays of local produce, including the most amazing cakes. The arts and crafts were displayed in the new shed, and there are some very talented people around. The contribution by the local school children was excellent, and some will have stories to tell.

A great event that should be supported by more local people. So before next year's show contact Beryl Downey on 5259 2680.

Hydroponic Tomatoes
Demand for supply tomatoes has been beneficial to Portarlington. A large glasshouse has been constructed in Portarlington on Hood Road to provide tomatoes to Woolworth's. Bellarine Hydroponics is an environmentally sustainable operation using the latest recycling techniques.

The site was chosen because of access to gas power and water. It offers full and part time employment to locals in the area.