Australia’s Biggest Oyster Competition commentator Simon Marnie with Bernie Connell and his winning oyster Jack Junior, David Charlesworth of Australia’s Oyster Coast, and Dr Jayne Weller of Montague Vets at Narooma Oyster Festival on Saturday, 3 May. Photo: Marion Williams.
Australia’s iconic oyster event, the Narooma Oyster Festival, gets bigger and better every year, drawing huge numbers of visitors to the area.
The oyster shucking championships are always so tightly contested, and although the entrants are familiar, the results are never predictable.
As for Australia’s Biggest Oyster Competition, it was any oyster’s competition this year after Jill, the world’s heaviest oyster, sadly passed away shortly after winning the competition in 2024.
Jill, nurtured by Bernie Connell of Connell Oysters, had weighed in at 3.01 kilograms. Who would take the title this year?
This year, the Connell family had three entries. Twin sisters Tammy and Allana entered Moana and Maui. What oyster did their father Bernie have up his sleeve to follow in the footsteps of Jack and Jill, both former champions? Jack Junior had big shoes to fill.
Overseeing the proceedings were commentator and food journalist Simon Marnie and Davin Charlesworth of Australia’s Oyster Coast, which sponsored the event. Dr Jayne Weller of Montague Vets was on hand with her stethoscope to ensure the oysters were alive.
Kirk Hargreaves of Oysters on the Clyde had won the competition in 2022 with 2.71 kilogram Uncle Ray. With the passing of Uncle Ray, Kirk entered Aunty Raylene. Weighing 2.09 kilograms last year, Aunty Raylene had an amazing growth spurt over the year, tipping the scale at 2.26 kilograms.
For a while, it looked like Maui would be this year’s winner, coming in at 2.47 kilograms. But it wasn’t to be.
Maui was pipped to the post by Jack Junior, weighing in at 2.53 kilograms, meaning the Connell family took the first two places with Jack Junior and Maui, while Aunty Raylene came in third after her impressive weight gain over the year.
Australia’s female oyster shucking champion, Sally McLean, holding her trophy, with Jade Norris and Sue McIntyre, and Narooma Rocks chair Cath Peachey. Photo: Marion Williams.
Six women competed in the female division of Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championships.
The championship is not just about speed, but also meticulous presentation. Seconds are added to their times if the judges find faults, such as the oyster not sitting neatly in the shell, it not being flipped, or there being shell grit inside the shell.
The judges were Mr Marnie and Corey Costelloe, former Rockpool chef and founder of Marrickville’s 20 Chapel.
While Sue McIntyre of Broadwater Oysters was first to put her knife down in the final after shucking 30 oysters, it was Sally McLean of Jim Wild’s Oysters who walked away with the trophy. There was very little in it with Ms McIntyre’s score of 3 minutes 34 seconds and Ms McLean’s of 3 minutes 32 seconds.
In third place was Jade Norris of Oyster Shed on Wray with a score of 3 minutes 40 seconds.
Ms McLean said it was a tough competition and she had struggled opening some of her oysters, which is when Ms McIntyre got ahead of her. Ms McLean’s perfect presentation got her the trophy.
It was her eighth year at the festival.
“It is something we love to do, catching up with everyone,” Ms McLean said. “Some people liken it to a Christmas party.”
“Thanks to Narooma Rocks for putting on a great festival, thanks to the sponsors, and without all the oyster farmers, there would not be a festival.”
Greg Carton was the first to put his knife down after shucking 30 oysters in Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championship. Photo: Marion Williams.
In the men’s division, Greg Carton of Broadwater Oysters was up against Jim Yiannaros of Batemans Bay Oysters, last year’s winner, Gerard “Doody” Dennis, and young Gavin Chatfield, both of whom were mentored by twins Jim and John Yiannaros.
Mr Carton was the first to put his knife down.
As the judges deliberated, Mr Yiannaros said he hoped Mr Carton would win and go on to compete in the world championships in Galway, Ireland, in September, because his technique suits the Irish oysters.
Mr Carton’s final score was 2 minutes 52 seconds compared with 3 minutes 8 seconds for Mr Yiannaros and 3 minutes 12 seconds for Doody.
“I never thought it would happen,” Mr Carton said. “It hasn’t sunk in.”
He said the festival is “just awesome for our industry”.
Cath Peachey, chair of Narooma Rocks, which puts on the festival, said she was delighted to see Mr Carton win.
“As long as I have been involved in the festival, he has been in the competition and has always been a bridesmaid,” she said.
Ms Peachey is stepping down after being involved in 13 festivals.
“It has tripled from what it was in 2018,” she said. “Now it is a very sophisticated event, but still has that grassroots feel, possibly because it is volunteer-run.”
She said around 9600 people had come to the festival, up from last year, and 67,000 oysters were eaten on the festival site over the weekend, not including the oysters eaten during Rock Oyster Week and in restaurants.
