News

Colourful guitars light up festival

By Jaci Hicken

Jul 25, 2025

Laurelin Berick with adult category winner Libby Ham. Photo by Jordan Townrow

The Echuca-Moama Winter Blues Festival is about everyone in the community.

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And one way that everyone gets involved is by decorating cutout guitars.

The colourful guitars are then judged, and ribbons are awarded, before being distributed to businesses in the participating Winter Blues areas.

Debbie Bennett (grandmother of winners Xavier Larson and Beatrix Ford-Bennett) and Laurelin Berick. Photo by Jordan Townrow

This year, ribbons were awarded at the Echuca library on Wednesday, July 23.

The Winter Blues committee thanked Jenny Turner, who for many years has been the stalwart of the community’s involvement in the festival.

Her encouragement of the community’s involvement in the guitar decorations competition has not gone unnoticed, with the passing on of the guitar cutout.

Sarah Dicker (Teacher at St Mary's Cohuna) and Laurelin Berick. Photo by Jordan Townrow

2025 award winners

Adult (24+ years): Libby Ham, 1; Lee Nelson, 2; Maryanne Jenkins, 3.

Glanville Village aged care: Mary Palling, 1; Allan Butcher, 2; Beatrice.

13-15 years: Beatrix Ford Bennet

5-12 years: Paddy Wallis, 1; Nate Hill, 2; Lucy Andrews, 3. Highly commended, Betty Atkins, Abel Stevens, Xavier Larson, Bonnie Cartridge, Isabelle Layton, Joel Atkinson, Ned Arnold, Nellio O'Brien.

Laurelin Berick and Ollie Wallis. Photo by Jordan Townrow

St Mary’s Cohuna: Brock Mitten and Jax Taylor, 1; Inny Warren and Suzanne Manning, 2; Nate Hipwell and Abe Matthews, 3; Dan Murray, Levi Spring and Jimmy Pollock.

Mathoura Public School: Orlando Simpson-Rose, 1; Sophie Eddy, 2; Nino Stillitano.

Footy prize: Ollie Wallis, 1; Wilson Christian, 2; Seth Hogan and Jonty Lucas.