By Matt Churchill

A sell out crowd welcomed designers and models to the Tin Shed Fashion Awards on Wednesday evening.

The whole evening was hosted on the Mic's by Tamzin from Peppers Beach Club, also a DJ on Radio Port Douglas with her Saturday arvo 'Power and Passion' show and her last minute replacement co-host, Roy Weavers, who many of you may know is Editor of our very own Newsport Daily and the Port Douglas Magazine.  Roy answered the emergency call when unfortunately local icon, Bob 'Parrothead' was taken ill the day before, so naturally couldn't take his rightful place behind the microphone.

The three judges who's unenviable task to decide the winners were Debbie, Editor of City Life Magazine, Sam Cullen, Managing Director of tourismportdouglas.com.au and Carla, Head of Fashion at TAFE.

Three TAFE fashion design students, Sarah Brenner, Nigel Vogler, and Sarah Lancaster, used local models to parade their designs to an enthusiastic audience, in the hope that their creations would secure first prize, a $1,000 Spotlight account.

Event organiser and Tin Shed Club Manager, Janine Allen, herself a Fashion and Design graduate, knows all too well the challenges of being a young designer. "It's really hard to keep digging into your pocket to get money to buy material. That's why the $1,000 from Spotlight will be so useful." she said.

Janine said the support of local retailers, who competed in best day wear, evening wear, and beach wear categories, was crucial in making the event a success. "It's great to see the locals really get behind the event so I'd really like to thank Beau Gentry, Crocodilliacs, Bamboo Shack, Georgies, Attitudes, and Transit.".

Last year's winner, Karlie Jay, also supported the event with her stunning creations.

But after the models had paraded, the impulsive conga line had dispersed, and the judges had deliberated, it was Nigel Volger who was awarded as the Best Designer for the evening. It is interesting to note that the young designer finalists had made a pact that whoever won would share the $1,000 first prize with the others equally. We spoke to Nigel after his win and he confirmed he would indeed be sharing his win. Now that's team work!

Other category winners were Bamboo Shack for Best Day Wear, Beau Gentry for Best Evening Wear, and Attitudes for Best Beach Wear.

If the end of the show was supposed to signal the end of the party, there were plenty of people who had other ideas as the drinks flowed and organisers let their hair down, safe in the knowledge that the Tin Shed Fashion Awards would be hazily remembered as a 2010 Carnivale highlight.

Editors Comments: You will be delighted to know that we have just been told that 'Parrothead' is recovering well and is currently terrorising the nurses with his country music.  He should be back home with us all soon but will need a full months recouperation.