Who will share in the more than $200,000 in prizes set to be given away at this year’s milestone Weipa Fishing Classic when it kicks off on Friday? Photo: Cape York Weekly.
For those about to fish, share in more than $200,000 in prizes or rock this weekend, we salute you.
Western Cape York is only three sleeps away from the lid being lifted on what is shaping up as one of the biggest weekends in the region’s history when the platinum anniversary edition of the Weipa Fishing Classic (WFC) begins on Friday.
The event will mark its 20th birthday from 6-8 June and WFC president Lisa Lui said the committee was ready to rock and roll – literally, in some cases – for the milestone celebration of all things fishing and community spirit.
“The committee is pumped and can’t wait for the event,” she told Cape York Weekly.
“It’s finally here and the excitement is building; while there is still a lot of work to do before we open the gates, we are all looking forward to it.
“I know we say it every year, but this will be our biggest event to date.”
The Top 30 prize draw is always a must-see part of the Classic and with more than $200,000 of goodies scheduled to be given away, Ms Lui thanked sponsors for going above and beyond to ensure the platinum event would one for the ages.
“The Classic is a family event, and the turnout every year is amazing, and we are not expecting this year to be any different,” she said.
“Our sponsors this year have outdone themselves; we thought last year was a record for the number of sponsors, but this year we have beaten that.”
While she would not give away any of the committee’s secret fishing spots, the WFC president had some sage advice for anyone wetting a line over the three days.
Have you got your lucky keyring ready for the Top 30 prize draw? Photo: Supplied.
“Just go out and have fun,” she said.
“Don’t make it all about the competition; enjoy the day out, either on the boat or on the shoreline, and if you get a big one, all the better.
“Good luck to all competing.”
When the rods are put away on Saturday, things will get loud when High Voltage – the AC/DC Experience headlines the live entertainment and belts out all the old favourites from what may be the quintessential Australian rock band.
Guitarist and band manager Jay Wedge said the band was pumped to be doing one of the remotest performances it had taken to the stage for.
“The whole band is looking forward to the gig,” he said.
“Being a band for over decade now, we have played all over the world, but for sure this is up there with the most remote; we did a gig in Singapore once – that may beat it, but we are lucky enough to do something we all love and get to see many amazing places like Weipa.”
He added the band was preparing for a monster night of bangers befitting the milestone event.
“We have been told it’s one of the biggest nights of the year in Weipa, and are looking forward to seeing as many people as possible,” Wedge said.
“Because of the strong setlist and structure of our show, we no doubt believe that every single person in that crowd, no matter their age, will be singing along.”
Gates will open at Andoom Oval from 5:30pm on Friday, with weigh-ins commencing on Saturday and Sunday from 4pm.
High Voltage – the AC/DC Experience is set to rock western Cape York on the second night of the 20th anniversary Weipa Fishing Classic this weekend. Photo: Simone Gorman-Clark.
