This weeks show we have moved on to Thagomindah for the Shearers Shindig.
What a great event this is, the weather was perfect, the town is lovely and everyone is so friendly. The best Information centre as you are close to the outback so its good to stop in and find out what the roads are like and suitable to travel on.
Phill catches up with “tractor” John Ferguson the Mayor of Thargomindah.
Tractor has been the Mayor for 2o years and on the council for 24 years. A population of over 200 people.
The Shindig has been running for 5 years, and next year the Music in the Mulga is heading out to Thargomindah and will make it a week long event.
The Shearers Shindig bring in over 100 shearers from around Queensland and NSW. A competition that comes with great prize money.
Apart from the shearing, there is pig racing which is a must see and stalls with products for sale and food vendors. https://www.explorebulloo.com.au/events/event/36/quick-shears-shearers-shindig-2024
Next on the show is “Ferret”. Ferret has been in Thargomindah since 1977 as a shearer and stayed. The area used to have over 50 shearing sheds but now only has one shed with 6000 sheep. He is now a contractor as he damaged both his elbows from shearing. Tune in and hear the chat.
Next on the show we meet Kevin the Pig Whisperer. Kevin is responsible for the pig racing which is a must see.
The piglets are trained very young to find bowls of milk and then race through a track to find the bowl. Before each race they run an auction to see which pig you have and then you can buy tickets when drawn out that is your pig and if it wins you win prize money. It certainly gets every one in watching and cheering on.
Kevin come from near Warwick at the Sandy Creek Pub. They travel the east coast with his pig racing and money raised goes to specific charities. Kevin has been running this event round the towns for the last 24 years.
Next up we meet one of the Shearers that is in the running for the $10k prize money. Imran Sullivan who is from Victoria, has been attending for the last 4 years and been shearing for 15 years.
Imran started shearing at 14 and started when he was 18. Shearing is in the family. Shearing is a very physical job so you need to keep your body in shape. Imran shears up to 200 sheep a day which is hard work and taking 2 minutes to shear a sheep but at the Quick Shear did it in 27 seconds.
Now not only is there pig racing and shearing there is music on the Friday and Saturday night, we were entertained with a magician for the kids, pyrotechnics on Saturday night and great food stalls.
