NO one can accuse Shoalhaven River Festival chairwoman Lynn Locke of not doing her bit to promote this weekend’s event.
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On a bleak Monday afternoon Mrs Locke jumped behind a Free Motion Sports boat to go for spin on the river.
Joined by major sponsors, Hanlon Windows managing director Chance Hanlon and South Coast sales manager of Beechwood Homes Leanne Martin, Mrs Locke took to the water towed by local professional wakeboarder Johny Vynes, who will feature in this weekend’s action-packed festival.
“I’ll do anything to promote the river festival,” Mrs Locke joked as she smiled and waved from the biscuit.
She said this weekend’s second annual Shoalhaven River Festival is shaping up to be a huge two-day extravaganza.
The festival will be launched on Friday evening with a cocktail party at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, which also features a new attraction; the area’s own mini Vivid light show, entitled Luminous.
Luminous was established by former local Ben Baxter and Ruth McDermott.
A parade will start at the Nowra Showground 11am Saturday, winding its way down Junction Street ending up at Harry Sawkins Park.
Activities move to the southern banks of the Shoalhaven River where there will be stalls, activities, a marine expo, as well as entertainment headlined by Kat Jade and Johnny Rollins from The Voice, local Genevieve Chadwick and the La Las for the kids as well as some of the area’s best talent.
There will be a diver drop and winch demonstration from crews from HMAS Albatross as well as a fly over by helicopters.
The night will finish with a fireworks display from barges on the river at 9pm.
An expanded marine expo continues on Sunday at the Nowra Sailing Club.
There will be a dragon boat regatta as well as the Shoalhaven Duck Dash.
A total prize pool of more than $25,000 will be up for grabs.
In a further boost the state government has announced a $7500 grant for the festival following a request by MPs Gareth Ward and Shelley Hancock to Premier Mike Baird.
It is the second year in a row the Shoalhaven River Festival has secured a grant from the NSW government and comes on top of a $3000 grant from Arts NSW.
