More than 1300 people turned out to Fingal Beach on Sunday to create the outline of a humpback whale, blowing last year’s record for participation out of the water.
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A total of 1318 people, a majority of them Port Stephens residents, helped to create the 120m long ‘human whale’ – 312 more than last year’s registered participation figure of 1006.
“It was incredible,” event organiser Mel Turner from Moonshadow-TQC Cruises said. “The day was perfect, the weather was perfect, we had such great support from the community.
“Everyone was in such good spirits and the feedback has just been amazing. We’re really happy with the result.”
The ‘human humpback’ has been running in Port Stephens since 2011.
The fun formation is a tribute to the Humpback Highway, which passes through Port Stephens, and annual whale migration. About 30,000 whales are expected to travel this highway during winter as part of the southern migration.
The human whale event has grown in popularity each year. Due its growing size size, in 2017 the formation was moved to Fingal Bay.
Participants met at the Fingal Beach Surf Life Saving Club and registered at 10am before getting into formation about 11.30am. At noon One Stop Productions flew a drone overhead to capture the completed human whale outline.
Event organiser Frank Future from Imagine Cruises was helped by former Port Stephens mayor Bob Westbury and North Point Surveys to peg out the outline of the whale early on Sunday morning to make the formation easier.
Ms Turner said a majority of Sunday’s participants were from Port Stephens (based on post codes) with some holiday makers also joining in.
In addition to the formation, environmental and educational groups such as Sea Shelter, NSW DPI, OCCI and Save Our Coast had booths set up at the beach to speak with participants.
Sea Shelter, a Port Stephens conservation group, ran activities for children and adults to highlight the issue of plastics inundating the world’s waterways and oceans.
The free face painting for children was a hit, Fingal Beach SLSC was busy on the barbecue and Longboat Cafe and Saltwater Restaurant were filled to capacity throughout the day.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
