IT’S been a long wait but the Casterton Kelpie Muster is finally back with a huge weekend of celebrations kicking off tomorrow night and a stellar line-up of events and celebrity appearances scheduled over five days.
“We are all extremely excited and looking forward to welcoming everybody back for a huge long weekend of events, celebrating everything Kelpie and all of the wonderful things our beautiful region has to offer,” Casterton Kelpie Association President, Karen Stephens said.
“Once again, we have had massive support from local community organisations, whose members are volunteering their time to run events, serve food, help with waste management and many other jobs on a huge list that make this weekend possible.
“As always, local businesses have also put their hand up to help with sponsorship – both in cash and in-kind support and it really is that whole-community effort that makes this weekend such a success.
“I also have to say a big thank-you to my committee, who have spent endless late nights and ‘weekends off’ ticking all the boxes for compliance, making phone calls, developing schedules and all of those other behind-the-scenes tasks that have to be done.”
The Rotary Club of Casterton Art Show starts proceedings tomorrow night and on the arts scene, the 10th annual Clarice Beckett Arts Prize – officially opening on Friday night - and the online photo competition offer a great showcase of talent from across the country.
A long-time supporter of the Kelpie Muster, Fox and Lillie’s Colin Peterson said his group was excited to be sponsoring the photography competition, once again.
“Fox & Lillie Rural have been operating in the Casterton area for over 20 years and we are proud to give back to the local community where we can and supporting the Casterton Kelpie Festival is one of those fantastic events,” Mr Peterson said.
“We encourage people to enter the Fox & Lillie Rural Kelpie Muster photography competition which draws some amazing entries each year!”
Saturday will see Henty Street packed to the rafters with events, starting with the Poet’s Breakfast, before the Casterton Business Development Association’s Kelpie Country Street Parade officially launches the party.
Market stalls, the popular Kelpie Triathlon – including the world-famous high jump – novelty events for owners and dogs of any breed, Mutton Mayhem with the Casterton Sandford Football Netball Club, stockman’s challenge and so much more will see the day through until around 4pm.
Anticipation is also building for Sunday’s 26th Annual Premier Australian Working Dog Auction, where 53 exceptional working dogs will be presented to the world for purchase, live at Island Park and online, via sales platform, Auctions Plus.
The question on everybody’s lips – obviously – is whether or not ‘Hoover’s’ world-record Kelpie price of $35,200, set last year and which still stands today, will be broken.
Only the buyers will tell.
Once again, the Casterton News and Casterton Kelpie Association have put together the ultimate guide to this year’s Muster, including schedules and maps for the entire weekend and some classic interviews with and stories about some of the event’s greatest characters. You’ll find the 16-page lift-out guide in this week's edition of CN.
