A massive crowd turned out for the annual Arno Bay New Year’s Day event.
Organising committee president Brooke Ramsey said she believed there were substantially more people than the 1000 who attended the previous year’s festivities.
“I think it might have been one of the biggest ones we have had to date in 12 years,” she said.
Xtreme Kite and Paddle’s Scott Easton told her it was the busiest he had been at the Arno Bay event.
Fun games, children’s activities and competitions attracted hordes of people to turn out.
Local community groups catered with food and beverages on the foreshore lawns and shed at Turnbull Park.
Brooke said many families returned annually to take part in the public holiday fun.
Among those was Port Lincoln man Jo Brendel, who won the Arnormous Burger eating competition for a second consecutive year.
Local Rocco Nield reclaimed his title in the under 14 flavoured milk carton holding contest – and went one further in 2024, also tackling all comers in the under 18 event and winning that as well.
He used his non-preferred hand when competing in the older age group and there were more than 100 children entered between the two age groups.
West Coast Swimming Club members once again boosted numbers in both the junior triathlon and took part in many of the novelty events as well.
