Big Oyster, Taree owner does not find ‘Sh**test Big Thing’ success amusing

It may be a much-loved mollusc-shaped monument but Taree’s Big Oyster has reached the semi finals to crown Australia’s ‘Sh**test Big Thing’ – and some are pretty shucking unimpressed.

The Big Oyster on the NSW Mid-North Coast is in the running to be crowned the nation’s ‘Sh--test Big Thing’. Picture: VisitNSW.

It may be a much-loved mollusc-shaped monument but Taree’s Big Oyster has reached the semi finals to crown Australia’s ‘Sh**test Big Thing’ – and some are pretty shucking unimpressed.

Mid North Coast Automotive Sales Manager Max Araldi said the Ford dealership, which sits on the banks of the Manning River with the Big Oyster proudly atop, had received “multiple calls and emails” about the “honour”.

However, Mr Araldi didn’t think the joke was “worth the attention it was getting”.

“I don’t really think much of it,” he said of the competition being run by popular Facebook page Sh-t Towns of Australia.

“I wouldn’t say it is funny, no.

NSW :Taree: The Big Oyster tourist tourist attraction at Taree, June 1994.

“The point is that the Manning River was very popular for its oysters. The same as the Big Prawn, it was known for the prawns.”

Mr Araldi said the Big Oyster was a valued and distinctive part of the business.

“There was talk we were going to put a Kia showroom there but that’s sort of not happening at the minute,” he said.

“It’s a really good thing for us and people ask ‘where’s your car yard?’ We say ‘the Big Oyster’ and they know where it is.”

New Zealand comedians Geoff Rissole and Rick Furphy (both are stage names) launched the original Sh-t Towns of New Zealand, Facebook page roughly seven years ago and followed up with Sh-t Towns of Australia, which has over 600,000 followers.

This will be the fourth time they have asked people to choose the Australian “Sh--test Big Thing”.

Mr Araldi isn’t a fan of the joke. NSW Travel

“We both love any kind of that roadside tack, that silly and kitschy stuff, anyway we can showcase that we do it,” Rissole said.

“Everyone says their big thing is the best or the worst, so we will figure out which it is.

“I think it appeals to the child in all of us, you are on a road trip and you ask the old man to pull up and look at the big mango or whatever it might be. It puts you back in that mindspace.”

Rissole said he hoped the Big Oyster car dealership would enjoy the silly nature of the competition.

“I don’t know how seriously you can take yourself when you are running a car yard outside of a giant clam,” he said.

“I think they should have a bit of a laugh.

“If they end up taking it out they might see some more foot traffic that might be good for them.”

In the semi-finals the Big Oyster has been pitted against the Giant Koala at Dadswell Bridge in Victoria after surviving previous head-to-heads which saw the field whittled down from 12 to four.

The attraction that receives the most votes will face off next week against the winner of the Big Potato in Robertson, NSW versus the Big Poplar in Bredbo, NSW death match.

Rissole said the giant spud, which has won twice before, will be hard to beat.

“It’s all done strictly on the vote so it can be a big surprise,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the big potato comes through again. It seems to be a fair favourite.”

Rissole pointed out that claiming the “honour” of Sh--test Big Thing can be a positive.

“In Robertson last year they had to put on buses for people to have a look at the Big Potato once the interest drummed up when it won, so there is essentially an opportunity,” he said.

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Originally published as Big Oyster, Taree owner does not find ‘Sh**test Big Thing’ success amusing