Rewind Series 5 Episode 13 – Tuncurry Forster Oyster Festival

It’s a life dictated by the tides, with early starts and a lot of hard work

But for the proud oyster farmers of the Mid North Coast, the reward is clear: the best oysters to be found anywhere

And that hard work was celebrated at the legendary Tuncurry-Forster Oyster Festival of 1970

Kicking off with a spectacular procession, captured on film by NBN News Stringer Lynn Stanfield

Bands and floats streamed down the main street of Forster, crossing the bridge to Tuncurry

Followed by the highlight, the crowning of the Oyster Queen, by the banks of the Coolongolook River

But it was more than just the pageantry, a favourite event was the high-speed oyster shucking competition, where locals battled for the title of fastest shucker

Then it was time to hit the waters of Wallis Lake for a glorious afternoon in the October long weekend sunshine

The Tuncurry-Forster Oyster Festival.. a true taste of local flavour.. showcasing the incredible passion and hard work behind every single delicious oyster