Official launch for Spikefest

Spikefest, a festival celebrate the life of Spike Milligan, was officially launched on Sunday September 14 on the top level of Woy Woy commuter car park.

Desmond Milligan, Spike's younger brother, said that Woy Woy was chosen as it was an appropriate venue for the launch.

"Not only was it our parents' home town but many of his famous poems and jokes were based around Woy Woy," he said.

Spikefest will run from October 3 to October 12.

Activities for the festival on the Peninsula will include a Spike Milligan Bushwalk to the cave at Daleys Point in Bouddi National Park on Friday, October 3.

The highlight of the festival is to be the "walking backwards to Woy Woy fun walk and parade" on Saturday, October 4, at 11am.

Entrants will be asked to dress back-to-front and walk forwards or wear a mask on the back of their head.

The Central Coast Arts Society will also present an exhibition at the Peninsula Community Centre from October 11 to 12 entitled "Picasso according to Spike" featuring comic visual art inspired by the humour of Spike Milligan.

The Bouddi Society will host a "Comic and Crazy Verse" competition and cavalcade at Wagstaffe hall from October 10 to 11.

The performances and awards will be held on Friday, October 10, at 7pm and a matinee performance will be held on the Saturday, October 11, at 2pm.

The Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy, will present "Radio Wollombi" on Friday, October 10, and 7pm and Saturday, October 11, at 2pm.

A play by Desmond Milligan and John Scholes, "Size seven socks from a chicken's laundry", will be performed on Sunday, October 12, at 2pm.

Woy Woy library will host a kid's comedy writing program from October 7-11.

This will include comedy writing workshops for children using the works of Spike Milligan, performances of selected works by professional actors, comedy story time with The Silly Billies and special pre-school story time with Rollo the clown.

Umina Beach Bowling Club will present comedy performances by Libbi Gorr, Bev Killick, Jackie Loeb and Gabby Milgate on Friday, October 10, at 7pm.

The Australian Cartoonists Association will hold its annual Stanley Awards gala dinner at Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club on Saturday, October 11, from 7pm.

Lizotte's at Ettalong War Memorial Club will feature Steady Eddie on Sunday, October 12, at 8pm and a dinner show "The goon comedy show tribute" with Tim Wild on Friday, October 10, from 6:30pm

An amateur comedy competition will be held on October 12 from 1-5pm at Lizotte's as well as at Umina Beach Beach Bowling Club on Thursday, October 9, at 8pm with the final play off to be judged by Steady Eddy at Lizotte's on Sunday, October 12.

According to organisers of the festival, the objectives of the Spike Milligan Comedy Festival are to be funny and acknowledge Spike Milligan's art and life.

Objectives also include lifting community spirit through Spike Milligan's humour, fostering creative talent of all ages in the area of the comedy, and attracting people to visit the Central Coast region of NSW.

Flyer, September 15