Birdsville how is it going

Submitted: Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 08:16
ThreadID: 49234 Views:2291 Replies:4 FollowUps:8
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Anyone up there can you let us poor tragics that cant get there know how its going ??
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Reply By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 10:57

Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 10:57
OK, Tragics, everyday the weather has been about 25 degrees, sunny, no wind , no duststorms, about 10 degrees overnight. Beer very cold, music very good, racing of all kinds outside the Pub in the street (hobby horses, iron man events including nasty red cordial, dry weetbix hot beer and a few other things), bicycle races- wheelie bin races. Brophy's Tent has been fantastic - I'd tell you who got knocked out each night or broken noses but they are mostly local tough boys. Plenty of dancing in the streets, hall and pub - Paul Costa Band (very good too) a great DJ who played fab music. Friday they had the VIP tent and Girls Glam and Glad Lunch (with partners) in the Hall and Saturday it was full on at the race track. Three bookies (instead of 14) and racing down south. Racing in Birdsville was wheelie bin races, calcuttas on southern races, Playboy Bunnie races, Fashions in the Field (very glamorous hats) and then there were those who had quirky fashion ideas. Elvis re-entered the building (usually about 7 of them) and the old guy who dresses as the French Maid wasn't here. 150 planes took off this morning at 2 minute intervals and our reckoning of people numbers was about 3,500.
All in all it was the best weather we've had for 11 years and probably the best fun - because people really made an effort to join in the extra festivities the Committee thought up - where as normally they just stand and drink. Regardless of what you might read in the media - the most amount of people ever at the Races in the past 11 years has been 6,000. So all in all it has been a very good week, thanks to the generous spirit of all involved - 8 coaches from all over Australia still came with their people and they then provided transport back and forth to the racetrack as Greyhound pulled the pin and went back home (they normally have about 250 people in their camp).
Who's for a beer for smoko?
AnswerID: 259944

Follow Up By: Willem - Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 14:55

Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 14:55
You sound very chirpy, Ruth. Many Merlot's no doubt....lol

Good to hear Birdsville made the very best of their predicament. Typical outback ingenuity!

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 23:59

Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 23:59
It's good to hear it turned out well, just shows people can get on.

Cheers

Richard
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Reply By: Footloose - Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 13:31

Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 13:31
I can well imagine the festivities.
Did they have to use the grader again to clear the streets of beer cans ?
AnswerID: 259955

Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:51

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:51
Footsie, they used to use the loader to clear the streets and it would tip into the small truck - but one year they picked up a load and when they dumped into the truck - there was a live body. Apparently some bloke passed out on the street and his mates covered him in empty beer cans - he came out of it with a broken collar bone and arm. Since then, no loaders. Collex (or Veolia I think it's now called) walk the streets and fill wheelie bins by hand to clear the rubbish - and they do a brilliant job. They start about 3:30 a.m. and by the time the boys and girls start again the whole town is clean and sparkling. I must say though, that the general rule is that people are more conscious of rubbish and mostly the town is quite clean and tidy. There are plenty of bins around and 44's and we found that when people know the rubbish is going to be collected regularly they make an effort to keep it all together.
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 11:05

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 11:05
Ruth, thats excellent news. Interesting about the loader.
They used to do a great job, races on Sat, dance Sat night, no cans or tourists on Sunday :)))))))))
From what I read, this years activities went down well not only in Birdsville, but in the media. Jockey racing indeedie ! I'll bet the fashions were a little "less" than in previous years also.

I can remember trying to "borrow" some drinking water from the local school tanks, only to find the place was full of sleeping beauties. I still have some treasured pix of those times. The races caused the place to metamorphize from a lovely quiet place to ....well what can I say ?
And all that time you guys probably thought you needed horses to have a good time...sheesh !
LOL
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Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 23:35

Sunday, Sep 02, 2007 at 23:35
Sounds like you are having a ball!!!!!!!! Our plan for next years trip is Birdsville in time for the races.

Cheers

D


Simba, our much missed baby.

Lifetime Member
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AnswerID: 260022

Reply By: Member - Duncs - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 09:56

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 09:56
The comment from one of the guys at work was that he was glad he had not planned his trip to the races for this year because the place would be dead.

I said I woldn't bet on that. Takes more than the horses not showing to stop outbackk folk having a good time.

Maybe a "Birdsville No Races weekend could be added to the callendar every year."

Sounds like a lot of fun.

Duncs
AnswerID: 260045

Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:53

Monday, Sep 03, 2007 at 10:53
Your mate must be from overseas Duncs, seeing as he doesn't understand the Aussie way of making the best of things.
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 10:00

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 10:00
Actually Ruth he was born and bread in the south west of Sydney as were his parents.

I am the one who is from overseas. (Is that a dangerous confession here?)

Duncs
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Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 14:49

Tuesday, Sep 04, 2007 at 14:49
Ha ha - just goes to show, doesn't it?
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 11:31

Wednesday, Sep 05, 2007 at 11:31
Actually Ruth I have been here a good while now, probably longer than him despite the fact that he is an Ausie and I'm not. I think I arrived in this country before he was born.

I think his problem is that he has not spent enough time west of the Great Dividing Range. Doesn't know what he's missing.

Duncs
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