Fishing and Fun Day 2022

Finally after three years of cancellations due to the dreaded COVID 19 Virus, the Churchill Lions Club Community Family Fishing and Fun Day was held on Saturday December 10 at beautiful Lake Hyland, Mathison Park. The weather was perfect to be outdoors and go fishing, and 154 children and their parents did just that. They came along, fishing gear in hand, for a day of fishing together as a family, having fun and a day out enjoying the outdoors.

The registration and weigh-in station were kept busy all day with 54 fish caught on the day, with rainbow trout, redfin, bass, and carp caught, as well as a couple of eels and a turtle. The smiles on childrens’ faces when bringing in their catch was just magic.

Registration started at 9.30 am with many keen anglers arriving early to be ready to start fishing at 10.00 am, the scheduled start time for fishing. All children who registered on the day received a free sausage in bread and a drink as well. There were also plenty of other free giveaways such as fishing lures and fishing information.

No fishing licence was required thanks to Fisheries Victoria who waived the cost of an event Fishing Licence for the day.

The Community Family Fishing and Fun Day was well supported by both Fisheries Victoria and Latrobe City, with grants to assist with running the fishing day. Fisheries Victoria also provided free tackle boxes and other goodies to give away on the day as well as having a presence along with Eastern Fisheries Officer Lauren McDermott, mingling and talking to the kids as well as adults about fishing in fresh waters, licensing and fishing rules. At the completion of fishing Lauren helped with giving out prizes to the lucky winners and there were many. Lauren commented on what a great day it had been, the number of children who came out to fish and how well the community supported the day,

Fishcare Victoria was also in attendance providing games and activities for kids to play and enjoy as well as providing fishing material to give away. They talked to the children about fishing in general, the different types of fish in our waters, and the fishing environment and how we should look after it.

There were plenty of other activities on the day, with a jumping castle for the little children, face painting, and Peter Gray, MC, keeping everyone informed as well as providing some great live music singing with his band the 360s.

The Lions Club was kept busy all day cooking up egg and bacon sandwiches, sausages in bread, and serving up cold drinks. Local baristas, Liam and Mandy from Expresso Lab Coffee Cart, came along to serve great coffees and other sweet treats

There were lots of great prizes won by children in the different age groups for hooking the first fish, the biggest etc, as well there were lots of lucky door prizes.

There was something for everyone to enjoy on the day and at $5 per family, great value.