What's On

The Good Old Days Festival program 2025, proudly sponsored by Bendigo Bank Narrandera & District

Friday, October 3:

9.30am: Gates open, market stalls commence, chaff cutting and horse works with Steve Johnson, all day, demonstrations in the dairy. Side saddle talk with Vanessa Wells in the cattle team penning arena. Whip cracking demonstration by Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing area. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena.

10am: Yoking of the bullocks near the blacksmith forge with teamster Ron McKinnon. Codemo Machinery animal nursery. Whip cracking workshop with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing demo area. Learn to crack a whip or improve your skills. Traditional lettering, pin striping and scroll work with Ian Stewart-Koster on a rare Nevertire Fire Fighting cart and a double Furphy water cart at the Aussie Heavy Horses site. Camel rides near the Cattle arena.

11am: Grand parade leaves the Barellan showground to travel to Yapunyah Street (main street), including penny farthings from Ross West and Wayne Brissenden.

12pm: Coffee and food vans. Scones at the CWA Rest Rooms in the main street. Yarrum Working Dogs in the Clydie Arena with Murray Wilkinson. Whip cracking demonstration with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing demo area.

12.30pm: Whip cracking workshop with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing demo area. Learn to crack a whip or improve your skills. Launch of the Barellan Furphy Festival commemorative cast iron ends, display and talk by David Irvin.

1pm: Clydie bar opens. Wagon wheel retyring demonstrations under the trees with Tim Peel and Chris Hill. Ron McKinnon gives a master class on training a pair of young lead bullocks and (allows his sponsor to drive his team) on the trotting track.

1.30pm: Fiona Mottram talks all things miniature and small mules from packing to riding and driving near the blacksmith forge.

2pm: Lachie Cossor horse display and liberty animals in the Clydie Arena. Masterclass on yoking the camel teams with Rodney Sansom next to the blacksmith forge.

2.30pm: Whitton Malt House Wood Chop demonstration – tree felling, underhand cutting, standing block and crosscut saw (commentary by Ron McKinnon) on the main arena. Whip cracking demonstration with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing demo area.

2.45pm: Side saddle talk and demonstration with Vanessa Wells in the cattle team penning arena. See the bullock, horse, camel and donkey combo – unique in the world on the trotting track.

3pm: Bendigo Bank Billy Boiling Championships at the shearing shed. Whip cracking workshop with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing area. Learn to crack a whip or improve your skills.

4pm: Children’s races on the track including Barellan Hobby Horse Cup and the Teamsters Dash for the big kids and junior and senior tug-o-war competition.

5pm: BBQ and food vans

6.30pm-9pm: James Blundell with Lachie Cosser and band on the AgnVET stage.

Saturday, October 4

7.30am: Gates open. Bush breakfast featuring bush poetry with Geoffrey W Graham in the marquee. Walk-ups welcome.

8am: Registrations taken for classes in horse ring.

8.30am: Horse ring events start in main arena. Two rings running concurrently.

9am: Market stalls open. Meet and Greet our teamsters – horses, camels, bullocks, mules and donkeys – Q & A on the AGnVET stage. Horse works with Steve Johnson. Obstacle course in main arena. Furphy display. Carriage rides. Camel rides near the Cattle arena.

9.30am: Whip cracking demonstration by Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing area.

9.45am: Troy Cross, farrier, will be hot shoeing a horse. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena. See the young dancers from Prestige Dance Studio perform on the AGnVET stage.

10am: All day scone making, cow milking, milk separating, butter churning, market stalls, barbecue and hot food, working sheep dogs with Phil Halden, blacksmith forge, whip making, rope making, Riverina Light Horse Troop static display and talks, Codemo Machinery Animal Nursery. Traditional lettering, pin striping and scroll work with Ian Stewart-Koster on a rare Nevertire Fire Fighting cart and a double Furphy water cart at Aussie Heavy Horses site.

10am: Carriage rides. Entertainment with Jasper Lucas on the AGnVet stage. Old fashioned games for the kids, face painting. Whip cracking workshop with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing area. Learn to crack a whip or improve your skills.

10.15am: Masterclass on yoking the bullock teams near the blacksmith forge with bullocky Ron McKinnon.

10.30am: Ploughing on the Findlays Barellan crop area with Matt and Kim Fitzgerald, Carnsdale Park Clydesdales. Lachie Cossor Outback Stockman Show in the Clydie arena.

11am: Official opening on the AGnVet stage.

11.15am: Sheaf Toss Challenge juniors. Masterclass in harnessing donkeys with Emily Parrott near the blacksmith forge.

11.30am: Rebarrelling of Furphy water carts, Jerilderie Tyre Services camel races on trotting track with cameleer Rodney Samson, and Sheaf Toss Challenge Seniors, children’s games. Wood chop demonstration – tree felling, underhand and standing block (commentary by Ron McKinnon).

12 noon: Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East demo and tips to improve your skills in the ploughing area. Bar opens. BBQ, light luncheon in the Carroll Pavilion. Entertainment on the AGnVet stage with Jessica Lorraine. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena.

12.15pm: Masterclass on mules in harness with Noel Wiltshire near the blacksmith forge.

12.30pm: Riverina Troop Light Horse display

1pm: AGnVET Services grand parade in the main arena, including penny farthings from Ross West and Wayne Brissenden.

1.30pm: Harnessing of the Barellan team commences on the trotting track. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie arena.

1.45pm: Side saddle talk and demonstration with Vanessa Wells in the cattle team penning arena.

2pm: Barellan & District War Memorial Club Dog jump competition (enter at secretary’s office), children’s games and face painting.  Entertainment on the AGnVet stage with Jasper Lucas.

2.30pm: Fiona Mottram talks all things miniature and small mules from packing to riding and driving near the blacksmith forge.

3pm: The Australian record breaking Barellan horse team and wool wagon in the arena.

3.30pm: Demonstrations of horse drawn implements, carriage rides, camel rides, donkey rides. Lachie Cossor the Outback Stockman in the Clydie arena. Ron McKinnon and the Mallee roller demonstration on the trotting track.

4pm: Children’s races on the trotting track including the Barellan Hobby Horse Championships for little and big kids and junior and senior tug-o-war competition.

4pm: Masterclass on goats in harness with Emily Parrott near the blacksmith forge. Entertainment on the AGnVet stage with Jessica Lorraine.

4.30pm: Horses pulling sleds and logs on the trotting track with Jason Gavenlock and Brian Pinchers. Judging of the best rural hat – open male ($50), open female ($50) and youth under 16 years ($25) categories – sponsored and judged by Bill Ronald on the AGnVet stage. Cash prizes. Winners will compete for grand champion rural hat – $100.

5pm: Auction of a 20-seater horse drawn drag which starred in Picnic at Hanging Rock, with 25% of the proceeds to be donated to Barellan Working Clydesdales.

5.15pm: The Big Crack Off whip cracking competition with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East (whip donated by Doug Priest)

5.30pm: Two course camp oven dinner under the stars.

6pm: Geoffrey Graham bush poet – Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson, CJ Dennis and other mates on stage.

6.30pm: Australian premiere of “Heavy Horses and Harness” with Tim Peel in the Carroll Pavillon. Produced by West Wyalong Movies.

7.30pm: Entertainment by Marissa and the Sleepless Knights on the AGnVET stage.

Sunday, October 5

7.30am: Gates open. Bush breakfast featuring bush poetry with Geoffrey Graham in the marquee. Walk-ups welcome.

9am: Market stalls open. Meet and Greet our teamsters – horses, camels, bullocks, mules and donkeys – Q & A on the AGnVET stage. Horse works with Steve Johnson. Obstacle course in main arena. Furphy display. Carriage rides.

9.45am: Troy Cross, farrier, will be hot shoeing a horse. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena. All day scone making, cow milking, milk separating, butter churning, market stalls, barbecue and hot food, working sheep dogs with Phil Halden, blacksmith forge, whip making, rope making, Riverina Light Horse Troop static display and talks, Codemo Machinery Animal Nursery, yoking the bullock teams near the blacksmith forge with teamster Ron McKinnon. Carriage rides. Hand painted scrolling and lettering demonstrations at Aussie Heavy Horses site. Old fashioned games for the kids, face painting.

10am: Watertek ploughing competition in ploughing area judged by Tony Riley, Mudgee. Blade shearing at the shearing shed. Riverina Light Horse Troop skill-at-arms in the main arena. Traditional lettering, pin striping and scroll work with Ian Stewart-Koster on a rare Nevertire Fire Fighting cart and a double Furphy water cart at Aussie Heavy Horses. Entertainment on the AGnVET stage with Jessica Lorraine.

10.30am: Horse drawn harvester, binder and mower on the Findlays Barellan crop area (season dependent). Lachie Cossor and the Outback Stockman show in the Clydie arena. Fiona Mottram talks all things miniature and small mules from packing to riding and driving near the blacksmith forge.

11am: Sheaf Toss Challenge juniors. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena. Master class on harnessing mules with Noel Wiltshire near the blacksmith forge.

11.30am: Rebarrelling of Furphy water carts, Jerilderie Tyre Services camel races on trotting track, and Sheaf Toss Challenge Seniors, children’s games.

12 noon: Bar opens. BBQ, light luncheon in the Carroll Pavilion. Entertainment on the AgnVet stage with Jasper Lucas.

12.30pm: Lachie Cossor and the Outback Stockman Show in the Clydie Arena.

1pm: AGnVET Services grand parade in the main arena, including penny farthings from Ross West and Warren Brissenden.

1.30pm: Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie arena.

1.40pm: Harnessing of the record breaking Barellan team commences on the trotting track. Riverina Light Horse display and talk.

1.45pm: Side saddle talk and demonstration with Vanessa Wells in the cattle team penning arena. Masterclass on harnessing camels with Rodney Sansom near the blacksmith forge.

2pm: Barellan & District War Memorial Club dog jump competition, (enter at secretary’s office), children’s games and face painting. 

3pm: The Barellan horse team and wool wagon in the arena with camel and bullock teams in Tribute to the Teams parade. Presentation of the Perpetual Teamsters (horses) and Little Teamsters Trophy (mules), Norma Zingel Trophy for ploughing, Obstacle Course trophy and Tim Peel Perpetual Young Teamsters trophy (new).

Horse events finish 3.30pm Sunday.

3.30pm: Furphy Festival display, carriage rides, camel rides, donkey rides. Market stalls. Children’s activities. Ron McKinnon and the Mallee roller demonstration on the trotting track.

5pm: Gates close

See our Facebook page for program updates. Horse works times may change.