Camels, donkeys and mules in harness pulling an array of wagons and a Cobb & Co coach will compete for the prestigious teamster’s trophies in a spectacle rarely seen in modern Australia at The Good Old Days Festival, at Barellan in southern NSW on October 5-6, 2024.
Organised by the Barellan Working Clydesdales committee, the festival will comprise a full program of authentic heritage events, a Furphy Festival, camp oven dinner under the stars with entertainment by country band, The Bushwackers, Tribute to the Teams grand parade and the famous Barellan Clydesdales team.
Visitors will be able to see horse, bullock, camel, donkey, mules and goats in harness, an Australian Light Horse display, camel races, blade shearing, butter churning, working dogs, blacksmith, log snigging, rope turning, sheaf tossing, dog jump, old fashioned children’s games, bush poetry, scone making, billy boiling competition, market stalls and the grand parade.
Master horsemen Bruce Bandy, Barellan, Steve Johnson, Lake Cargelligo, and Aleks Berzins, Exeter, will drive a composite team of more than 30 heavy horses pulling a wool wagon around the arena.
They will be joined by cameleer Rod Sansom, Salt Ash, NSW, bullockies Ron McKinnon, and Darcy Quinn, Nowra, NSW, and Philip Thomson, Numinbah Valley, and their teams, a donkey team driven by Emily Parrott, Anna Bay, NSW, a mule team driven by Noel Wiltshire, and Barellan farmer David Irvin with his vintage tractor pulling a Furphy water cart train.
A highlight this year will be the Perpetual Teamsters Trophy presented by Tim Peel, Borambola, NSW, and being a model of a Bennett wagon crafted by Allan Langfield, Wagga Wagga. The trophy is awarded on a rotational basis to a different species of draught animal each year and acknowledges their contribution to the building of the nation.
The camel teams will compete this year for the trophy, including a five camel team pulling a Cobb & Co coach.
Donkeys and mule teams will be ridden, under pack, snigging logs, ploughing and long reining with talks and demonstrations for visitors. The teams will also compete for the Little Teamsters trophy to be judged and presented on Sunday, October 6.
The popular additions to the program will be back – Meet the Teamster with bullocky Ron McKinnon and cameleer Rod Samson, and an obstacle course for heavy horses and their handlers, the Norma Zingel Memorial Trophy for the champion draught animals in a single furrow plough and the QPL Rural-McGrath Riverina Billy Boiling Championships.
New this year will be a display of British and Australian World War I horse drawn vehicles, period tents and a field kitchen by members of the 18th Battalion Living History Group from Sydney. The display will be adjacent to the Riverina Light Horse display of a World War I encampment.
Also new will be a working beehive display, safely behind glass, and a laundry collection from the early 20th century including washboards, concrete wash tubs, coppers, detergent, wooden pegs, old irons and a genuine mini Hill’s clothes hoist. Visitors will also be transported back in time with “Grandma’s kitchen” comprising a leadlight dresser, Laminex table and chairs, lino, crockery, cutlery, and kitchen appliances of the 1920s and 1950s.
The Outback Stockman, Lachie Cossor, from the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach, will keep visitors entertained with his singing, whip cracking and animals at liberty show each day.
Barellan Working Clydesdales Committee secretary Fiona Kibble said the festival volunteers were excited to be planning for an event which will see the most experienced teamsters in the country assemble at Barellan to showcase horses, camels, donkeys, mules, and goats hauling wagons, binders, headers, ploughs, carts, buggies, sleds, sulkies and a mallee roller.
“We are working hard to increase the visitor experience with an enhanced program plus the standing favourites to underpin what is the Narrandera Shire’s biggest tourism event,” Ms Kibble said.
“This year we look forward to welcoming visitors from all corners of the country in what is a huge economic injection for our small town and regional economy.”
The major sponsors for 2024 include AGnVET, QPL Rural-McGrath Riverina, Jerilderie Tyre Service, CK Crane Hire and Watertek.
Bookings can be made for gate entry and camping via the website www.barellanclydesdales.com.au
Ends
Caption: The Good Old Days Festival will return in 2024 with donkeys and mules competing for the coveted Little Teamsters Trophy at the nation’s biggest gathering of draught animals on October 5-6 at Barellan, NSW.
NFP: For media comment contact Fiona Kibble on 0409 363 682
