Australia's Strongest Man, Derek Boyer, set a new Guinness World Record at the Festival. As an awe-inspired crowd looked on, Derek pulled a road train combination weighing 80 tonnes and measuring 64.520 metres in length, for a distance of 2.157 metres in 3.22 seconds.

Derek was accompanied to Winton by Australia's Strongest Man Runner-up 2008-09, Ebin Le Roux, and former Australia's Strongest Man and Guinness World Record holder, Bill Lyndon. The trio amazed the crowds with their feats of strength.

Derek says he is often asked why he is involved in extreme sports such as pulling trains.

He answers: "When a person is dead they have no strength at all. In fact they simply fade away. When a person is close to death, they have little strength to use. So it stands to reason that when a person is at their strongest and most capable they are most alive. That is why I push myself to the very limits of strength and power. To feel alive!"

Showcasing 150 years of Winton's history and narrated by professional actor/director, Mark Reed, this outdoor pageant was enthusiastically received by a large festival crowd.

Mark was supported by young amateur actor, Chrissy Reushle, and 15 locals and visitors who were appropriately costumed for the era. Also featured was acclaimed didgeridoo player, Adrian Ross.

Adding to the spectacle were early forms of transport, including a Cobb & Co Coach, an 1899 Winton Phaeton, and other restored styles of early motor transport. It was a fantastic piece of theatre. Funding for this event was provided by the Community Gambling Benefit Fund.

Although it drew entries from across Queensland, the locals came home strong in the Quilton Australian Dunny Derby 2009, with the local rugby league club, the Diamantina Devils, claiming first place with their entry, Turdy-Tree-And-A-Turd.

Gold Coast team, Daily Habit, won the Constipation Stakes, while the Ladies Bracelet was won by local team, "The Squatters".

Channel Seven's Queensland Weekender program was there to cover the action and even the show's producer, Jess, couldn't resist joining in the fun. She donned her 'jocks' for the start of the derby as a member of the 'Dapper Crappers' team. Coverage of this event was aired on 24th October.  It also included many action scenes of other events on that day, and gave viewers a great insight into the variety of entertainment offered for just one part of one day of the Outback Festival.

The Outback Festival prides itself on its family-oriented program of events, and in 2009 we were able to offer free workshops on activities as varied as whipcracking, drumming and kite flying.

The kite flying workshops were co-ordinated by the Redcliffe Kite Club and funded by the Arts Queensland Regional Arts Development Fund.

Children attending the whipcracking workshops benefited from the skills, patience and perseverance of dual whipcracking champion, Noel Cutler, who spent many hours with children during his clinics.

The drumming workshops 'Steel Vibrations' were very well attended during three days of instruction by the Caribbean Arts Company. Children became proficient in various forms of percussion and amazed spectators when they performed publicly with the three members of Jahbutu. These popular workshops were made possible by funding from Festivals Australia.