Issue 20 - Oct 2011

In this Issue:

Outback Festival and outstanding success
Dunnies descend for rip-roaring goodtime
World Record falls at Winton
Dunny Door goes off with a bang
Volunteers keep Outback Festival moving
Cyclists overcome heat and wind to complete inaugural Challenge
Festival kids crack a whip then join circus

Outback Festival an outstanding success

Another Outback Festival has come and gone, and the quiet life at Winton has resumed... but what an amazing five days we had! I can't recall a time when our main street was so packed with spectators for the first day of the festival, enjoying the Iron Man, Iron Woman and Masters of the Outback events, along with Bushman's Egg Throwing and Outback Iron Kid activities.

Every day of the festival brought something new and exciting - whether it was the chance to play a recycled instrument in the Winton NOISE Orchestra, get all sorts of inside secrets from some of Australia's sporting elite at the Legends of Sport dinner, or watch Australiaâs Strongest Man, Derek Boyer, create new Guinness World Records.

If you missed any events or just want to re-live the fun of the festival, we have plenty of photographs and video footage available. A huge thank you must go to Brisbane-based photographer, Barry Alsop, who gave his time to cover the event from every possible angle. You can view and buy photos from the festival at http://barryjohnalsop.photoshelter.com

Also, our sincere thanks go to James Manning, who filmed just about every festival event. We'll let you know when footage from the festival is added to YouTube.

Our team of festival volunteers and committee members did a fantastic job, ensuring all events ran smoothly and visitors were made to feel welcome. This festival simply would not run without the contribution of these people - who travelled from as far afield as Western Australia and Victoria to support us. Likewise, our sponsors and business houses are vital to the festival's success, and we thank them for their generous support.

Finally, to you, the festival-goers, thank you for sharing the spirit of our outback life! We hope you can return in 2013! In the mean time, please spread the word about our unique event!

Robyn Stephens
Outback Festival Coordinator

Dunnies descend for rip-roaring goodtime

The Winton Butchers have blasted onto the dunny derby scene, taking out first prize in the Quilton Australian Dunny Derby with their Runny Rumps entry, pocketing the team a tidy $1300. It was the second time the butchers had entered this popular Outback Festival event.

The derby was the biggest gathering of dunnies Winton had ever seen, drawing 20 entries from across Queensland this year.

The Eric Lenton Memorial Sports Field, home of this signature Outback Festival event, was ablaze with colour and costumes. From Harry's Potty to Brave Fart, the teams got into the zany spirit of the event. See all the colour and fun of the event here: http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2011/09/28/3328189.htm?site=westqld

The team from Winton's Spar Supermarket won the R. Swiper Trophy for Best Team and Outhouse, with their entry, Dunnified. As well as their dunny, Dunnified included a support team of mummies, who made a dramatic surprise appearance from beneath an Egyptian pyramid.

Meanwhile, Richmond Shire won the inaugural Mayoral Mayhem Dunny Challenge, with their entry Kronosaurus Krapper. This new event saw four Mayors and their teams, drawn from Winton and neighbouring Shires, battle it out.

With Richmond Mayor John Wharton commanding the winning dunny, the Kronosaurus Krapper cruised to an easy win.

John said his team would be back in two years to contest the title.

"If I'm still Mayor then, I will happily take to the throne again, and prove that our win was no fluke," he said.

World Record falls at Winton
One of the highlights of the Outback Festival occurred when Australia's Strongest Man, Derek Boyer, created a new Guinness World Record (GWR), by flipping a car over 10 times. Crowds packed Winton's main street cheering Derek on to create another world record. See Derek create history here: http://youtu.be/UNHR38qJ2jk Later that day, in spite of battling heat stroke, jet lag (he'd only arrived in Australia from the US a day before arriving in Winton) and exhaustion, Derek attempted to break a world record he'd previously set for the Super Yoke. This record involves carrying 300kg of steel in the fastest time over 20 metres. Derek fell short of that record by just one second, a result he attributes to having to carry the steel up a slight incline on the road. The following day, Derek initiated what he hopes will be a new GWR category, by pushing, rather than pulling, a 120 tonne road-train combination a distance of 60cm. Watch Derek take on the road-train here: http://youtu.be/iW_4AS4muzY "Because I injured myself in the challenges on the previous day, I decided the only way I could do the road train event was to push it," Derek said. "This involved wedging myself between two vehicles." Describing 2011 as his year of Guinness World Records, Derek is waiting to hear from the Asia-Pacific's only GWR adjudicator, Chris Sheedy, about whether this event creates a new world record. Derek says he looks forward to returning to the Outback Festival in 2013, to set some new world records. "The people out there can expect big things from me - I am always seeking to challenge myself," he said.

Dunny Door goes off with a bang

Artist Peter J Hill's dunny door painting for the Outback Festival's Dunny Door Auction went off with a bang, raising $3000 for the festival and clinching a colourful talking point for the new owner - Mick Hanslow, who runs the Matilda Country Caravan Park.

Each festival, Peter donates a dunny door painting. Titled "Who Blew Up the Dunny", this year's painting featured Australian politicians Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard in an explosion of colour and movement.

Peter also donated a large print of the dunny door painting for auction at the Truckies Reunion, raising a further $1100.

If you're after a piece of authentic Australian art, visit Peter's website at www.pjart.com.au. We are grateful to Peter for his ongoing support for the Outback Festival.

L to R: Festival broadcaster, Neale Stuart, artist Peter J. Hill, auction winner Mick Hanslow and auctioneer, Geoff Potter.

Volunteeres keep Outback Festival moving

We are grateful to the many people who travelled from all over Australia and even as far afield as Thailand to work as volunteers at the Outback Festival.

Long time grey nomad, John Stephens, who calls Melbourne home (when heâs there, which is not often) has volunteered at the festival since 2003. This year he was joined by his friend Mam, from Thailand, who first attended the festival in 2007.

Their efforts at this year's festival saw John and Mam moving equipment, running bars, setting up tents, waiting on tables, selling raffle tickets, selling merchandise, and anything else asked of them. No wonder John admits "volunteering can be tiring"!

But, he says, it's also "very fulfilling, a great social experience and to put it bluntly, these types of events just would not happen without volunteers".

So if you plan to attend the next Outback Festival in 2013, please give a thought to volunteering - you will experience the festival at close range, and give us a priceless gift - your time and energy!

Cyclists overcome heat and wind to complete inaugural Challenge

The inaugural Brodie Agencies and Ergon Energy Outback Festival Century Challenge attracted more than 30 participants, with Mount Isa rider, Matthias Schwarz, recording the fastest time in the 160km event - a result Mathias says will stand him in good stead when he takes part in the Crocodile Trophy.

Later this month, Schwarz will contest the world renowned Crocodile Trophy mountain bike race and said the Winton event was a perfect preparation ride.

"I totally enjoyed it, and it is exactly what I needed in my lead up to the Croc Trophy, which is the longest and hardest mountain bike race in the world", he said. The Croc Trophy covers 1200kms in 10 days in far north Queensland.

The Brodie Agencies and Ergon Energy Outback Festival Century Challenge made its debut amidst a packed program of Outback Festival events, in spectacular fashion.

Participants came from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Charleville, Mackay, Townsville, Longreach, Winton and even from Scotland.

Riders could either elect to take on the challenge of the metric century (100km) or the imperial century (160km). Event organiser, Chris Carson, formerly of Mount Isa, said the day was a great success and went off without a hitch.
"The ride was on a scenic course, with a challenging climb at the midway point of the 100 kilometre event," he said.

"Weather conditions were perfect for the start, temperatures were mild and the heat was suppressed until around 10am by some light cloud cover."

Conditions got a bit tough later in the event, with head winds and the heat impacting on the ride.

"It is a great achievement for any cyclist to complete their first 100km," Chris said, "but to do it on this course given it's toughness and the conditions, makes the achievement even greater."

Festival kids crack a whip and then join circus

From whip cracking to basket weaving and circus skills, the Outback Festivalâs workshops catered to a wide range of interests.

Free workshops were held at various locations around Winton throughout the five days. Activities included circus challenge, aboriginal art and crafts, whip cracking and percussion. The workshops were open to children of all ages and all activities were free.

Melbourne percussionist, Graeme Leak (who created Winton's Musical Fence), travelled to Winton to create the NOISE Orchestra Winton. He supervised a group of budding musicians, who gathered in the main street to build musical instruments using all sorts of trash and treasure. Even the kitchen sink was not off limits! After getting to know their instruments, and rehearsing for a few hours, the orchestra made its debut performance at the final day's Grand Parade Spectacular.

The Family Fancy Dress and the teenagers Bright'n'Tight party were voted a great success, as was the Under 8's Teddy Bear's Picnic.