The Port Lincoln Tunarama Festival Inc. committee is saddened to announce that after 60 successful Tunarama Festivals, the event won’t be held in 2024 and that the committee itself will commence winding up.
“We are immensely proud as a committee of the work of past and present members, volunteers, quest ambassadors and supporters to create and uphold a tradition known as the Tunarama Festival for our community for over 60 years, however after several years of COVID and other factors, it is time for the event as we know it to end,” said Tunarama President Sharon Humenick.
“The festival has been supported by many local businesses over the years, including major partners Bendigo Community Bank, the City of Port Lincoln and the South Australian Tourism Commission, however times are changing and there is opportunity for a fresh look at the event and how it could be run in the future,” said Ms Humenick.
“I would also like to publicly thank the current Tunarama committee for their commitment and dedication over the past few months under difficult circumstances,” said Ms Humenick. (July 2023)
2023 Tunarama Festival supported by a grant from the Government of South Australia
2023 Bendigo Bank
Tunarama Festival
Here is the complete list of results of all categories of Tuna Toss since the Men's event
was first held in January 1980.
Men's & Women's World Record Tosses in red in the list below.
1980
John Penny
16.43m
1981
Tony Chambers
11.2m
​
1982
Alistair Alexander
21.9m
​
1983
Claudio Centifanti
22.2m
​
1984
John Hockenberg
19.55m
1985
Geoff Neighbor
13.0m
​
1986
Eugene Bria Debbie Boyce
20.5m 10.15m
1987
Michael Wade Heidi Wittesch
18.78m 11.25m
1988
Eugene Bria Heidi Wittesch
24.65m 14.25m
​
1989
Michael Wade Heidi Wittesch
18.5m 14.08m
​
1990
Eugene Bria Heidi Wittesch
23.45m 13.08m
​
1991
Norm Marks Jodie Hamilton
14.49m 4.64m
1992
Norm Marks Donna Charlton
21.2m 9.9m
1993
Michael Proude Lyn Reynolds
22.14m 11.04m
​
1994
Michael Proude Lyn Reynolds
24.28m 10.67m
1995
Norm Marks Lyn Flanagan
23.29m 9.85m
​
1996
Travis Peters Helen Easton
22.6m 10.05m
​
1997
Eugene Bria Sharon Davies
21.61m 11.39m
​
1998
Sean Carlin Helen Marks
37.23m 13.2m
1999
Norm Marks Sharon Thomas
24.55m 12.22m
​
2000
Darren Billet Brooke Krueger
30.7m 17.0m
​
2001
Darren Billet Brooke Krueger
26.63 20.67m
​
2002
Darren Billet Brooke Krueger
28.82m 21.25m
2003
Darren Billet Sharon Thomas
26.8m 9.2m
2004
Mark Goold Debra Wells
20.13 11.3m
Athletes Division
Darren Billett Tracey Blacker
29.78m ??
​
2005
Seann Puckridge Ellie Stopetie
19.6m 9.6m
Athletes Division
Steve Hitch Stacey Sullivan
21.48m 18.04m
​
2006
Martin Tregoning Vanessa Clarke
17.6m 8.13m
Athletes Division
Steve Hitch Tracy Blacker
18.06m 10.6m
2007
Richard Pawlaczyk Katrina Vlassco
19.5m 7.99m
Athletes Division
Michael Proude Kerryn Farina
15.94m 7.78m
​
2008
Alan Sperling Leticia Kruger
15.25m 7.92m
Athletes Division
Steve Hitch Brooke Billet
19.26m 19.96m
​
2009
Darren Billet Brooke Billet
32.25m 19.97m
​
2010
Matt Staunton Brenda Wilkins
22.16m 8.5m
2011
Matt Staunton Jacqui Hockaday
23.95m 9.44m
2012
Matt Staunton Jacqui Hockaday
23.24m 9.1m
​
2013
Tim Driesden Emily Nolan
30.26m 12.15m
​
2014
Hirok Akou Jacqui Hockaday
32.97m 11.12m
​
2015
Matt Staunton Shanelle Staunton
23.06m 10.37m
​
2016
Michael Proude Shanelle Staunton
18.33m 12.27m
​
2017
Luke Reynolds Althea Mackie
17.76m 12.11m
​
2018
Levi Proude Estee Meyer-Stander
18.91m 9.6m
2019
Timothy Heyes Althea Mackie
26.72m 12.35m
2020
Timothy Heyes Althea Mackie
24.7m 11.30m
​
2021 - No event due to COVID-19
First Tuna Toss - 1980
Thanks to Port Lincoln Times
Mayor Brad Flaherty taking part in 2019
Sean Carlin
Current Men's World Record Holder
The 10kg rubber tuna was introduced in 2017 after an unfortunate freezer accident rendered the usual 'morts' unusable.
Heidi Wittesch - 4 x Women's Tuna Toss Champ &
Power Lifting World Champion
2016 Women's competitor
Brooke Krueger -
Current Women's World Record holder
2014 Winners
