20/09/2025
The Good Old Days Festival program for Saturday, October 4. Tickets at the gate or on line at www.barellanclydesdales.com.au
7.30am: Gates open. Bush breakfast featuring bush poetry with Geoffrey W Graham in the marquee. Walk-ups welcome.
8am: Registrations taken for classes in horse ring.
8.30am: Horse ring events start in main arena. Two rings running concurrently.
9am: Market stalls open. Meet and Greet our teamsters – horses, camels, bullocks, mules and donkeys – Q & A on the AGnVET stage. Horse works with Steve Johnson. Obstacle course in main arena. Furphy display. Carriage rides. Donkey rides with Iron Brook Donkey Farm. Camel rides near the Cattle arena.
9.30am: Whip cracking demonstration by Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing area.
9.45am: Troy Cross, farrier, will be hot shoeing a horse. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena.
10am: All day scone making, cow milking, milk separating, butter churning, market stalls, barbecue and hot food, working sheep dogs with Phil Halden, blacksmith forge, whip making, rope making, Riverina Light Horse Troop static display and talks, Codemo Machinery Animal Nursery. Traditional lettering, pin striping and scroll work with Ian Stewart-Koster on a rare Nevertire Fire Fighting cart and a double Furphy water cart at Aussie Heavy Horses site.
10am: Carriage rides. Entertainment with Jasper Lucas on the AGnVet stage. Old fashioned games for the kids, face painting. Whip cracking workshop with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East at the ploughing area. Learn to crack a whip or improve your skills.
10.15am: Masterclass on yoking the bullock teams near the blacksmith forge with bullocky Ron McKinnon.
10.30am: Horse drawn harvester, binder and mower on the Findlays Barellan crop area (or ploughing, season dependent). Lachie Cossor Outback Stockman Show in the Clydie arena.
11am: Official opening on the AgnVet stage.
11.15am: Sheaf Toss Challenge juniors. Masterclass in harnessing donkeys with Emily Parrott near the blacksmith forge.
11.30am: Rebarrelling of Furphy water carts, Jerilderie Tyre Services camel races on trotting track with cameleer Rodney Samson, and Sheaf Toss Challenge Seniors, children’s games. Wood chop demonstration – tree felling, underhand and standing block (commentary by Ron McKinnon).
12 noon: Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East demo and tips to improve your skills in the ploughing area. Bar opens. BBQ, light luncheon in the Carroll Pavilion. Entertainment on the AGnVet stage with Jessica Lorraine. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie Arena.
12.15pm: Masterclass on mules in harness with Noel Wiltshire near the blacksmith forge.
12.30pm: Riverina Troop Light Horse display
1pm: AGnVET Services grand parade in the main arena, including penny farthings from Ross West and Wayne Brissenden.
1.30pm: Harnessing of the Barellan team commences on the trotting track. Murray Wilkinson and his Yarrum Stock Dogs in the Clydie arena.
1.45pm: Side saddle talk and demonstration with Vanessa Wells in the cattle team penning arena.
2pm: Barellan & District War Memorial Club Dog jump competition (enter at secretary’s office), children’s games and face painting. Entertainment on the AGnVet stage with Jasper Lucas.
2.30pm: Fiona Mottram talks all things miniature and small mules from packing to riding and driving near the blacksmith forge.
3pm: The Australian record breaking Barellan horse team and wool wagon in the arena.
3.30pm: Demonstrations of horse drawn implements, carriage rides, camel rides, donkey rides. Lachie Cossor the Outback Stockman in the Clydie arena. Ron McKinnon and the Mallee roller demonstration on the trotting track.
4pm: Children’s races on the trotting track including the Barellan Hobby Horse Championships for little and big kids and junior and senior tug-o-war competition.
4pm: Masterclass on goats in harness with Emily Parrott near the blacksmith forge.
4.30pm: Horses pulling sleds and logs on the trotting track with Jason Gavenlock and Brian Pinchers. Judging of the best rural hat – open male, open female and youth categories – sponsored and judged by Bill Ronald on the AGnVet stage. Cash prizes. Winners will compete for grand champion rural hat. Entertainment on the AGnVet stage with Jessica Lorraine.
5pm: Auction of a 20-seater horse drawn drag which starred in Picnic at Hanging Rock, with 25% of the proceeds to be donated to Barellan Working Clydesdales.
5.15pm: The Big Crack Off whip cracking competition with Australian Ladies Whip Cracking Champion Emiliqua East (whip donated by Doug Priest)
5.30pm: Two course camp oven dinner under the stars.
6pm: Geoffrey Graham bush poet – Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson, CJ Dennis and other mates on stage.
6.30pm: Australian premiere of “Heavy Horses and Harness” with Tim Peel in the Carroll Pavillon. Produced by West Wyalong Movies.
7.30pm: Entertainment by Marissa and the Sleepless Knights on the AGnVET stage.
