We made it to Winton two days before the festival starts and we check in to the Waltzing Matilda centre behind a que of others frenetically trying to organise thier accomodation - we pre booked 8 wks in advance and eveywhere except the Showgrounds had already been taken, so we booked there, we got directions and off we went to find we were in the ground space inside thier race track!! we had to clear horse pooh away and put copious amounts of Talc down to stop the ants ( it apparently disorientates them) There is one good thing here and that is the ablution block at least thats new.
So we get settled with power and water - and with this heat you sure need it!
We got up next day and wandered outside to see a 7 foot Western brown slither past us arrrgh -so what does Rob do but chase it, I'm shouting come away it's dangerous and Rob is after it hitting it with a rope when all of a sudden it turns and flares up, he was soooo lucky it did'nt turn on him as I know which would have moved the quickest. Oh what you see when you don't have your camera at hand....
We saw some contests/competitions etc that I'd never seen before:
There was the:
True Blue Roo Pooh blowing
Cow Pat Discus throwing
The Australian Quilton Dunny Derby
Iron Man, Woman, and Kid events
Whip Cracking clinics
Truck pull Men & Women
World Crayfish Derby
and much more
There were street parties, Australias stongest man Derek Boyer to do a truck pull and aim to set another Guiness World record, and friday and Sat evening concerts.
I have a couple of videos to post later but here are some photos to start with
David & Goliath alius Robbo & Derek Boyer Australias strongest man
Derek attempting to set a Guiness world record doing a leg press against a 120 ton truck!! He managed half a meter.
Old truck on display at the truckie reunion
The welcome into Winton
It seems that lark Quarry nearby is the site of the worlds only recorded evidence of a Dinasaur stampede.
Statue of Banjo Patterson Outside the Waltzing matilda centre with the words and music behind.
Winton lays claim to Australias unofficial national anthem Waltzing Matilda - I believe it was written out at Dagwood station and first sung at the North Gregory hotel here in town
Painting of the The Tatts hotel - it does'nt look much different today.
Check out the ceiling inside the tatts and the fashion - who said that!
I think there were lots of hangovers sold here this week.
The Lightening Pharts dunnie mobile ready for the race
We spotted this in Arnos wall and look All the way from Dursley!
Arnos wall with anything and everything in it.
The accomodation - Winton Showgrounds on the day we left, well you have to make the best of a bad thing don't you!
I had a few more pics but they don't want to seem to load. Videos to come
Time to go back to Longreach to collect the new part for the Motorhome.
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