One of Western Australia’s coastal communities celebrated a milestone during an annual fishing festival at the weekend.
The Blessing of the Fleet tradition has evolved over time, and was first introduced in Western Australia at Fremantle in 1948.
Decades later, the local chamber of commerce and industry hosted Dongara’s first Blessing of the Fleet in 1973 on the Denison foreshore.
But blessing is a centuries-old tradition, with roots in southern Europe.
Saturday marked 50 years since the event started in the Midwest coastal town, with about a dozen decorated vessels parading the Port Denison marina in front of hundreds of people.
Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative chief executive Matter Rutter said the fishing communities of the Midwest had been hit hard by commercial pressures.
“Economically it’s been tough, like it has been for many industries, due to COVID. But all in all, we are still a very fortunate fishery and a lot of that has to do with the community and the fact that the fisherman all band together,” he said.