Events > Blessing of the Fleet
Blessing of the Fleet
Sydney Fish Market, 29 September 2019
It was perfect weather for this annual blessing of Sydney’s fishing fleet. The Blackwattle Bay wharf where the fishing boats are moored, and which is usually out of bounds, was open to the public. An all-male Italian band played traditional standards while, dotted along the wharf, decorated tents held exhibits from Ocean Watch Australia, showcasing activities of the fishing community, the Australian Navy and Infrastructure NSW with a display of plans for the new Sydney Fish Market.
At 10.30am Greg Dyer, the new CEO of the Sydney Fish Market opened proceedings. Geoff Lee, NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, was also present. Special mention was made of members of the Association of the Bagnara Calabria who provided a replica of the statue of the Madonna - Santa Maria Di Porto Salvo (St Mary of Safe Ports), the protector of seafarers. The officiating priest led the community in an opening prayer before joining the entourage bearing the statue of the Madonna, blessing the businesses throughout the complex, then returning to the wharf to bless the decorated fishing boats. This was a lively and colourful celebration of a centuries-old tradition, practised in fishing villages along the Mediterranean coast and now part of our own culture brought to Pyrmont by the migrant families of southern Italy.
