Adult random draw boat prize winner Robert Hallum with Paul White from Deniliquin Yamaha and Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge coordinator Andrew Jefferies.
A man who has given so much to the Deniliquin and district community has claimed the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge’s most coveted prize.
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Robert Hallum’s name was drawn in the adult major random entry draw on Sunday afternoon.
It earned him a boat prize package valued at more than $15,000, supplied by Deniliquin Yamaha.
As co-owner of Central IGA Deniliquin until it was sold to Ritchie’s two years ago, Mr Hallum and his business partners sponsored many community events like the Edward Kolety Fishing Classic.
Mr Hallum admitted that had he still been a major sponsor of the event through IGA, he might have re-donated the prize.
But this time around, he joked he might get in trouble this time.
“Pretty much everything I won while I was sponsoring events through the supermarket I would give back so they could re-draw or re-raffle and generate more funding,” Mr Hallum said.
“But I think I would be frowned upon by the family if I gave this one (the boat) back.
“My boat is always being used by other family members, so this will give us another one for the family to use.”
Mr Hallum’s prize is a Angla Pro 394 boat with 25hp Yamaha electric start motor and Dunbier trailer.
He and wife Pam earned their entries in the draw by being Adopt-a-Cod sponsors this year.
Mrs Hallum said the win was almost not to be however, with Mr Hallum questioning whether they would attend the Sunday presentations earlier that day.
It was Mrs Hallum who reminded him that some of the prizes - including his new boat - came under the rule that ‘you must be here to win’.
Prize sponsor Paul White said it was good to see the boat package going to a local, and one who has always had the community at heart.
“Rob has given so much to the community, so it is great to see him win,” Mr White said.
“The challenge was a very well run event, and I want to thank coordinator Andrew Jefferies and his team for such a great weekend.”
Mr Hallum’s boat was by far his biggest catch of the weekend.
Adult longest cod winner Tom Fellows.
During the competition proper he only landed a 53cm Murray cod, a small trout cod and a turtle.
Organisers said more than 200 Murray cod were caught during the weekend, seven of them being the tagged cod released this month purchased using 2023 Adopt-a-Cod sponsorship funds.
Fewer than 20 yellowbelly were snagged, which event coordinator Andrew Jefferies said may guide this year’s restocking program.
Mr Jefferies said while all the figures from the weekend were still being collated yesterday, he said they appeared to be up across the board.
“It was bigger than last year, with sponsorship up by about 30 or 40 and a lot more people saying they want to register as Adopt-a-Cod sponsors next year,” Mr Jefferies said.
“Overall it was an awesome weekend, and given people have seen where the money from last year’s event has gone they were more willing to interact and buy raffle tickets and participate in fundraising this year.
“We had a lot of local entrants, but also quite a few from all over Victoria, Wentworth, Griffith and even four people who drove all the way from Darwin.
“I would estimate at least 200 of the attendees were from outside the local area, and the benefit of that is that they bring their families and spend their money on accommodation, food, fuel and shopping while they are here.”
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