In 2009 the Outback Festival will again feature dual Australian Whipcracking Champion, Noel Cutler. Noel has been attending the festival since 1997 and through his workshops, has taught a generation of children how to crack a whip.

Some of the children I have worked with in workshops at the Outback Festival are now married with children of their own, and they are bringing their children to festival workshops, he said. "It's wonderful to know this unique Australian skill is being passed on through the generations."

Noel was first given a whip at age 11, and cracked it until it broke. Although he very much enjoyed using the whip, he lacked a mentor to provide direction and knowledge about this age-old Australian tradition. It was only 30 years later, when he bought a property and found a whip left by the previous owners, that Noel began learning whipcracking in earnest.

He now teaches people of all ages how to crack a whip in different directions, using one hand and two. His workshops also cover the qualities of good and bad whips, and provide direction about how people can further develop their whipcracking skills.

While at the festival, Noel will also judge whipcracking competitions in six categories - mens, ladies, juniors, juveniles, locals and pairs.

A country boy at heart, Noel says he loves being part of the Outback Festival because it brings him face-to-face with Australia's outback heritage.

At an Outback Festival some time ago, I met an old drover/train driver by the name of Bill Hay, who as a boy had shaken hands with Banjo Paterson in the North Gregory Hotel, in Winton. It's not every day you get to meet someone like that!

Although his main focus is now on forging a musical career, Travis still owns a truck (he bought his first truck at just 22 years of age) and enjoys doing the occasional run.

"I still think of myself as a truckie, and really appreciate the thinking time" that comes with driving a truck", he said.

Travis plans to try out songs from his forth-coming album (written but not yet recorded) at the festival, along with crowd favourites such as Eating Up the Bitumen and Rockin" the Rig.

Since entering the world of country music in 2002, Victorian-based Travis has had an amazing few years. His highly successful debut album Rhythm of the Highway earned him an Australian record of ten consecutive Top Ten singles.  He has also collected a host of awards along the way, such as a 2003 Golden Guitar for Best New Talent.

Travis' latest project is the recording of Ride Tough, a song created for the Australian rodeo film Shadows of the Past, released last month.

Travis says he's looking forward to kicking up some red dirt with truckies and festival-goers alike.

"We"ll be putting on a really good show and we"ll hang around afterwards to chat with people," he said.

To hear some of Travis' music, visit www.travissinclair.com

The town now claims the title of Bush Poetry Capital, and is home to the much sought-after bush poetry award, The Bronze Swagman Award, which will be presented at this year's Outback festival.

The hilarious Bush Poet's Breakfast has been a tradition at the Outback Festival since its inception. This year, three of Australia's most popular bush poets - Marco Gliori, Murray Hartin and Bill Kearns (pictured) - will launch each day with a bucket of laughs, lies and larrikins. Their highly original 90 minute show presents a wonderful opportunity for visitors to celebrate the spirit of Australia through poetry and storytelling.

Marco Gliori has been a full-time poet/entertainer for more than 16 years, delighting audiences with his comedy race calls, funny anecdotes and thigh-slapping ballads. Marco was recently voted by the Australian Women's Weekly as their modern-day 'Banjo', a claim he modestly denies.

"No-one could emulate what Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson did", he says. "They were the first to write about this magnificent country using our distinct Aussie/English language, but it is a privilege and honour to continue the tradition."

This year Marco has invited a couple of real wags to accompany him to Winton.

Murray Hartin's poetry has a distinctly contemporary appeal to it. He is the author of the heart-wrenching piece, Rain From Nowhere, a tribute to people on the land and the depression associated with hard times.

Bill Kearns is a first timer to Winton. Based on the central coast of NSW, Bill has penned rib-tickling poems about pensioners brawling over chook raffles, and amorous lovers getting stuck together in public by their many body piercings.

So come along, grab some brekkie, have a laugh, and if the mood strikes, share a poem or two with your fellow audience members. Who knows, we might even find a bush poet in the making!

Individually, Willie and Roy were two of the most influential performers of our times. Together in this musical, they are remarkable!

The men behind the musical are John Roberston and Mark Shelley, two musicians now based in the Blue Mountains. They have been working together for more than two decades, and have performed in a variety of styles and guises during this time.

In On the Road Again, John gives an unbelievably real portrayal of Willie Nelson, singing favourites such as Stardust and To All the Girls I've Loved Before. Mark plays Roy Orbison, and delivers songs such as Crying, In Dreams, and Only the Lonely, just as Roy did - effortlessly and full of emotion.

The story begins when, during a Willie Nelson concert, Roy Orbison appears for one final performance.  Experience the excitement as Willie and Roy share with each other and the audience, the highs, lows, laughter and sadness of their lives. On the Road Again is a celebration of the songs and music that have made Willie and Roy true legends.

People attending the musical also have the chance to help raise money for CanTeen, the Australian organisation supporting young people living with cancer. John and Mark are committed to raising money for CanTeen, through sales of bandannas and CDs at the show. Like Willie Nelson's character, audience members are encouraged to wear their CanTeen bandanna to show their support for young people living with cancer.

As part of its commitment to giving back to the community, Golden Casket is once again sponsoring the Outback Festival's Grand Parade Spectacular, held on Saturday 26 September. This sponsorship continues an association with the Outback Festival which began in 1999.

Like the Outback Festival, Golden Casket has been going strong in Queensland for many years.

In 1916, the Entertainment Committee of The Queensland Patriotic Fund established the Golden Casket lottery draw to raise money for WW1 ex-servicemen and their dependents. The first draw took place in 1917 with a first prize of 5,000 pounds.

Initially, cash prizes were not permitted by law and, consequently, caskets containing gold were offered as prizes.  These were immediately bought back from winners for the cash value of the prize.  The word "casket" (being a small box of fine workmanship for jewellery and precious items) was thereby enshrined in the name of the Queensland lottery.

Over the past 90 plus years, Golden Casket has paid out over $8 billion in prize money and returned over $4.4 billion to the Queensland Government to fund worthwhile community projects, including hospitals, medical research, maternity clinics, kindergartens, cultural centres and more.  Even the introduction of our free public health system in the 1950s is believed to have been made possible from Golden Casket funding.

Today Golden Casket's range of lottery games gives people the chance to realise their dreams almost every day of the week.  Around 70 per cent of Queenslanders play our games and the lottery creates around 100 first division winners each year around the State.