Tomerong
Country Fair
22 September 2007
They all did it!
The team from the school community, working for weeks before and many long hours afterwards.
The Tomerong famous, with their diverse skills, the Shoalhaven craftspeople and enthusiasts of so many kinds.
"Do you do this regularly? Are you a professional clown?"
"I do it very regularly. Every two years for this festival."
Every two years the Parents and Citizens group at the Tomerong Public School organise the famous Tomerong Country Fair. Quite a show for a village with just over a hundred houses. It all began with a community Bush Festival in 1985 and continues strong.
This year's event was huge and delightful. Skilled craftspeople, world's best woodchoppers, Ron McKinnon and his team of fourteen bullocks, the Tomerong history display... and much more. A great day. And a bright and sunny spring day.
The history exhibition is very special and you can find it if you click here.
Todd Gallant, the president of the P&C and chief organiser of the Country Fair this year, had reason, after months of work, to be very pleased and finally relaxed.
Magic of the telephoto lens, below.
Ron was actually downhill, but he surely regards his bullocks as larger than life!
There are fourteen bullocks in this team. Yes, you did see Ron and team on ABCTV.
The champion senior woodcutters finished fast.
It was great then to see them turn to watch, encourage and applaud
as (below) the junior woodchopper
summoned courage and strength to finish this extraordinary task.
All the preparation and markings, all the plank steps put in place are his own work.
Meryl did the announcements with her usual grace and style
Maggie shucked her Pilates teaching garb to read a palm or three
Don was there, as was community radio
Pipers and dancers
a blacksmith........ and a low diet hound supporting an animal welfare cause
"No Charlotte, not until you are older."
said Pat Thompson, editor of the New Bush Telegraph
To go to see the lace making please click here
Photos, text and web pages: Dennis Argall