Gippsland Lakes Boat Show a Success
Organisers, the BIAV and exhibitors have hailed the inaugural Gippsland Lakes Boat Show as a success after it concluded on the Paynesville waterfront on Sunday afternoon.
Favourable weather, an outstanding waterfront location and a strong exhibitor line-up combined to deliver two terrific days on the water. Complemented by the Paynesville Classic Boat Rally and featuring the inaugural Bream Cup, the boat show and broader festival were widely regarded as a standout result.
Across the three-day event, an estimated crowd of 4,000 to 5,000 people attended the boat show and the Classic Boat Rally activations, including the main “parades” on both Saturday and Sunday. More than 250 individual classic boats of all types and styles made their way down the McMillan Strait and through the heart of Paynesville, with thousands lining the banks to watch.
Exhibitors described the audience as a genuine “boat show crowd” with strong interest and intent. Brand building was a key focus, many leads were generated, and there was plenty of evidence of customers sitting at small tables in marquees with pen in hand.
BIAV CEO Steve Walker commented, “Well done to the 50 high-quality exhibitors that displayed a great array of fishing, cruising, ski, and sailing boats, as well as many boating accessories and services.”
He added, “Our thanks go to the Victorian State Government, East Gippsland Shire,Destination Gippsland, Gippsland Ports, and Mariners Cove.” He went on to single out the organisers of the Rally, recognising the efforts of Bruce Stringer, Ron Parker and Vesna Rendulic.
The Bream Cup, one of the event’s feature activations, was also hailed as a great success. Steve Walker commented, “BIAV has been so happy to host the event, to feature the 18 elite anglers, and to bring top-class fishing to a boat show”. He went on to thank tournament consultant Rhys Withers, idea creator Ben Scullin, the tournament director and the BIAV team. Adding further activation power to the boat show was Cookie’s Supertank and Paul Burt’s seafood cooking, both of which proved hugely popular over the two days.
Stratford Marine celebrated on Friday evening at the Exhibitor Gathering and Event Launch, where the team was awarded the Best Exhibit prize by BIAV’s boat show organiser, Katrina. Matt Telling was taken aback but delighted to be recognised, and word on the street was that Stratford Marine backed up the award with some strong results over the weekend.
Inverloch Marine GM James Cody was equally upbeat, stating, “It’s been great. Very busy all weekend. We’ve had lots of good, solid enquiries which we expect to convert. It’s been a success, and we will certainly be back if the event is repeated.”
Gippsland RV & Marine’s Fran Pinch commented, “We’ve had a fabulous weekend. It’s been amazing with a great turnout and lots of interest. Overall brilliant, and if it’s back again we’ll be there.”
Kyabram Marine made a significant effort to attend, and Jen Larkin commented, “Fantastic. Well worth the journey. It’s a beautiful location with very enthusiastic crowds, and it’s been great overall”.
Many Melbourne-based exhibitors also enjoyed the event. One was MMC’s Andrew Stephen, who stated, “It was a good opportunity to come down to Gippsland Lakes and bring our Northbank boats, which are popular in this area.”
Another highlight of the Friday evening Official Welcome and Exhibitor Function was a message from Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Outdoor Recreation, which reinforced the government’s commitment to the boating industry, BIAV and boat shows. BIAV President Scott O’Hare was glowing in praise, stating, “That was a fantastic message from the Minister. And it really captures how supportive they are of our industry and boat shows. Thanks to him and his great team here at the event.” You can see the Minister’s message here.
BIAV will now assess exhibitor and visitor feedback and consider future options for the event, but organisers expect to return in 2028 alongside the Paynesville Classic Boat Rally.
Women on Water Showcases Industry Connection at GLBS
As part of the 2026 Gippsland Lakes Boat Show, the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) hosted a successful Women on Water event on Saturday morning, bringing together women from across the marine industry for connection, insight, and behind-the-scenes access.
Participants were transported from Paynesville to the Gippsland Ports facility courtesy of the Paynesville Coast Guard, who also provided a memorable on-water tour of the local waterways along the way. The experience set the tone for a morning focused on collaboration and shared industry passion.
On arrival, guests enjoyed morning tea hosted by BIAV’s Katrina Muir and Gippsland Ports Board Chair Robin Buckham. Gippsland Ports Chief Executive Officer Chris Waites then led a private tour of the facility, offering valuable insight into port operations and regional marine infrastructure.
Attendees represented a broad cross-section of the sector, including dealerships, commercial operations, and wider marine services—reflecting the industry’s growing diversity. The event also drew strong allyship, with Fisheries Victoria CEO Travis Dowling and Boating Careers’ Dan Brown attending to show their support.
The event highlighted the strength of the Gippsland marine community and reinforced the value of continuing to create opportunities that support industry connection and inclusion.
Inaugural Bream Cup Delivers Strong Industry Activation at GLBS
The inaugural Bream Cup, staged as a feature activation of the 2026 Gippsland Lakes Boat Show, delivered high-quality tournament fishing, strong audience engagement and a positive story for the industry. Eighteen elite anglers competed over two days, with fully rigged tournament boats on display throughout the event. Visitors were given rare access to professional setups, electronics and rigging, while the public competitor briefing, delivered by Tournament Director Ben Scullin, provided insight into tournament pathways, competitive fishing, and boating.
The trophy was inscribed as the Gerry Morsman Memorial Cup, dedicated to the memory of Gerry Morsman, a respected industry contributor whose recent passing was felt deeply across the marine community. The dedication served as a poignant reminder of the people who help shape the industry, and the importance of supporting one another both on and off the water.
In a defining moment for the event, 16-year-old Metung angler Riley Whelan claimed the Inaugural Bream Cup title with a two-day total of 11.976 kg, securing the $8,000 first prize. Riley’s win over a field of highly experienced anglers was widely celebrated over the weekend, highlighting the strength of grassroots pathways and youth participation in competitive fishing. Riley also secured the Day One Big Bream prize of $500, plus $350 worth of goodies, for the 1.801 kg bream.
Paul Malov finished second (10.984 kg), taking home $4,000 in prize money, narrowly ahead of Dan Mackrell (10.871 kg), who took home $2,000 and the Day Two Big Bream prize for his 1.590 kg bream—underlining the depth and competitiveness of the field. Cam Whittam placed fourth (9.656 kg) and won a $1,000 prize, while Damien Dwyer recorded the heaviest single-day bag of the tournament with 6.495 kg on Day One.
The Big Bream prizes, supported by Tasline and BerleyPro, added further excitement and strong sponsor visibility. BIAV also thanks Formasign for providing the branded brag mats used during Day One competition, ensuring consistent fish measurement standards while delivering valuable brand exposure on the water and at weigh-in.
Overall, the Bream Cup demonstrated the value of integrating elite fishing tournaments into a boat show environment, attracting a highly engaged audience with genuine interest in boats, equipment and participation pathways.
