CASTERTON’S annual premier working dog auction is paying dividends once again for the community, with 20 local organisations presented with their ‘thank you’ cheques at the Kelpie Association’s annual general meeting.

Relying on hundreds of pairs of hands for set-up, running and clean-up over three days, Casterton’s annual Kelpie Muster and working dog auction is supported by local organisations who volunteer for everything from building sheep yards and emptying endlessly full garbage bins, to administrative duties and feeding the masses.

Each year, profits from the working dog auction are returned to those organisations and the 2022 auction saw another $12,750 back in circulation, bringing the total return to the community for the life of the festival, to more than $150,000.

In addition to providing cash funding to local organisations, the Kelpie Association also supports local businesses, with art supplies vouchers for both Casterton Primary and Sacred Heart Schools, which are used at Casterton Newsagency and Lotto and a Casterton Farm Supplies voucher for Casterton Secondary College, which is used to purchase essentials like animal health products, for the college’s farm.

Recipients this year included Casterton Fire Brigade, Casterton Sporting Motorcycle Club, Casterton Young Farmers, Glenelg Pony Club and the Dergholm Social Club; sponsorship cheques were also presented to the Casterton P&A Society and Rotary Club of Casterton.

After introducing and running a successful working dog trial at last year’s Casterton P&A Show, the event will again go ahead in 2023, with the addition of $400 from the Kelpie Association and the major $2000 prize for the Kelpie Art Exhibition, hosted by Rotary and held on the Friday night of Kelpie Weekend, is also funded by working dog auction proceeds.

As always, the association committee selected a major beneficiary for the 2022 funds, with the Dunrobin Public Hall this year’s recipient, receiving $1000 towards the hall’s roof restoration project.

Casterton Kelpie Association President, Karen Stephens and committee members, Giles Kent, who co-ordinates infrastructure for the working dog auction and Sharon McGrath, who co-ordinates catering for the workers prior to the working dog auction and hundreds of visitors on the day, presented cheques to volunteer representatives who attended Thursday’s meeting.

“Throughout the day and over the weekend, volunteers work tirelessly to ensure visitors had the best time and witnessed some exceptional activities whether that was the Kelpie Hill Climb, the Mutton Mayhem or the Stockmen’s Challenge,” Mrs Stephens said.

“Or maybe, the visitors favourite was the art display at the town hall, organised by the Rotary Club of Casterton.

“There was something for everyone and I sincerely thank each volunteer that gave 100 per cent to ensure the festival ran smoothly.”

Mrs Stephens said returning to a full festival weekend after a two-year ‘no-show’ due to the global pandemic, organisers were unsure what to expect and early indications during set-up on the Saturday morning of the muster, were for a quieter day of events.

“By the time our committee members raced up to the Australian Kelpie Centre to have an official ‘committee photo’ the crowd was building and by the time we turned around and made our way back to the town hall for the commencement of the street parade, to our amazement the crowd was suddenly huge – it was game-on!” she said.

Mrs Stephens said the association’s mission statement was simple – to promote Casterton as the ‘Birthplace of the Kelpie’ for the benefit of the Casterton community.

“Each year our dedicated volunteer committee strives to ensure that we meet this goal,” she said.

“To our wonderful committee – congratulations to each of you on another successful year.

“Thanks for the laughs, the ribbing and good humour that makes being a part of the association such a pleasure. 

“I thank you and your families for your dedication, energy and commitment to our event.

“To Rob Pilmore and Jarrod Alcorn, congratulations on another successful auction. 

“Giles Kent and Darren Holmberg, your efforts in pulling the jigsaw puzzle together, fitting the infrastructure into place each year is outstanding – thank you. 

“To Sharon McGrath and Sally Auld for overseeing the huge catering task, you are amazing. 

“To the office team Samantha Hill, Chris Munro and Rachel Jamieson well done.”

Like many community events, the Kelpie Muster and working dog auction also rely on the generosity of businesses and organisations for both financial and in-kind support.

In 2022, pet food company Eukanuba was the Kelpie Muster’s major sponsor and the weekend was supported, as always, by Glenelg Shire Council.

Mrs Stephens said in addition to these major organisations, local businesses were essential to the events’ success.

“To our local businesses that dig deep and provide either a financial contribution or in-kind support, we just couldn’t do it without you all pulling together with us and we thank you sincerely for your commitment to build the Casterton community through the Australian Kelpie Muster,” she said.

“It has to be said there are always unsung heroes and for us that’s the local haulage businesses that quietly go about collecting sheep, hay and portable sheep yards and then returning each item to their rightful owners – never charging us for petrol or their time and as we all know with the price of diesel this is a huge commitment – so for those businesses that continue to go above and beyond, we are sincerely grateful for your generosity.”

Thursday night’s meeting also saw the election of office bearers for the Casterton Kelpie Association for 2023.

Mrs Stephens was re-elected president, with Giles Kent vice president and Rachel Jamieson and Samantha Hill return as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

The Casterton Kelpie Muster and Premier Australian Working Dog Auction return to Casterton in 2023 on June 9, 10 and 11.