HORSE

Late March saw us head to the Victorian High Country to the small town of Corryong. We were attending the Man From Snowy River Festival.It is a unique bush gathering of mountain riders, poets, artists and lovers of the Australian High Country and pioneering spirit. Held every April, the Festival brings together people from around Australia as well as international visitors to celebrate traditional high country and bush culture and in particular the imagery created by AB Banjo Paterson’s and Australia’s most famous poem “The Man From Snowy River!” Click on this link and watch a YouTube video of Paterson himself reading the poem.

We camped seven nights at the Golf Course in Corryong along with about 700 other caravans/motorhomes/fifthwheelers etc. There was a great community spirit and we couldn’t have asked for better weather – sunshine and blue skies.

We attended a reenactment of the poem, watched a rodeo, learnt what it takes to break in a wild horse, visited the local museum and listened to a variety of singers and poets.

CROW

The following weekend found us in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, at The Stone The Crows Festival – this is a unique event designed specifically for Grey Nomads. It is held every Easter at the Australian Clay Target Association grounds. Approx 500 Caravans/Motorhomes/Fifthwheelers etc set up camp on the field for either 7 or 4 nights. We stayed for the seven nights and enjoyed a variety of entertainment, games, woodwork and craft, ukulele tuition, talent quest, trivia, open day markets, and the signature event the Stoning of the Crows! We enjoyed it soooooo much that we have already booked for next year!

Some of the acts we saw were – Mike McClellan who has long been regarded as one of the finest singer, songwriter, guitarists Australia has ever produced. Darren Carr, comedian and ventriloquist who has won numerous awards and appeared on Australia’s Got Talent. Jackie Kerin and Sarah Depasquale, story teller and violinist who enthralled us with a story called Tales from the Flyway – we highly recommend you click on the link and find out more about this duo.

PELICAN

The final festival we attended was in Goolwa, South Australia – The South Australian Wooden Boat Festival and it is only held every two years. The Pelican of the blog title is Mr Percival from the book Stormboy by Colin Thiele. The book was written in 1964 and the movie was filmed in and around Goolwa in 1976. The wooden boat used in the movie has been kept in Goolwa and was on display during the festival. Jude used to holiday in Goolwa when she was a child as her Auntie and Uncle lived in the town.

Once again we had brilliant weather with sunshine and blue skies. We went for a cruise on the PS Oscar W their flagship paddlesteamer – watched the grand parade of all boats old and new, small and large, steam and sail. Enjoyed listening to the entertainment and checking out the variety of stalls on offer and were spellbound by a superb fireworks display over the bridge.