Boorowa Irish Woolfest Program Flipbook

A story from days gone by...

Every town needs a focus and in the late ‘50s and ‘60s for Boorowa, this was the Gaytime Festival. Who thought that our civic fathers could have been so forward thinking with the naming. Our Gaytime festival was much simpler, girls would contest to be crowned Queen and the guys ran for the Ugly Man Contest. Whoever raised the most money was duly crowned, and this was probably determined by whom had the biggest band of helpers.

The Gaytime Festival Street Parade was a feast of color and excitement. The oldest of lorries would be transformed into the grandest of chariots using chicken mesh and an acre of crepe paper and a rainy day of course, spelt disaster. There was an armada of floats interspersed by

brass bands and the precision baton twirling of the marching girls, who also had the hearts of every country teenage boy racing. There were wheelbarrow races, bingo, cake stalls and much more including a quick introduction to vandalism where for two shillings you could take half a dozen swings with a sledgehammer at a designated car. Anything to raise money and it served its purpose as the spoils went into projects like the building of the community swimming pool and multipurpose hall at the Central School.

In 1994 a group of people banded together to form the Wool Week Committee. Again, remarkably simple. Our main aim was twofold. One was to bring people to town so that we could promote Boorowa, without the expense being passed onto the business houses and secondly to promote wool as an amazing and durable, environmentally friendly, natural fibre. It was an easy fit as we do house some of the greatest sheep studs in Australia as well as a very robust commercial flock.

Our first Wool Week Fest occurred on the 18th Sept at the Showground. Although, not having any budget we were gifted with huge resources.

It was the inauguration of the Shearing Shack by the late greats Donny Marion and Mick O`Dea, we had a world champion shearer, working sheep dogs, singers, whip crackers, all at our disposal. We loaded up the shearing shack and took it to Civic a week earlier. It was such a great display that

“From Gaytime to Woolfest: Celebrating 25 Years of the Boorowa Irish Woolfest.”

many Canberrans suggested that there was no need to travel to Boorowa the following week as they had seen enough.

Each year saw Wool Week grow a little bigger. The second year saw the incorporation of a fashion parade at the pavilion which was wall to wall with people and as well as the normal array of markets and stalls there was a Korean Choir from Sydney. How they got there is still a mystery. Things were so successful that with council approval we moved down to Marsden Street with the street procession. markets and entertainment.

In 1998 Council stepped in and I must say with great relief for the committee.

It was re-branded The Boorowa Irish Woolfest and that acknowledged our extraordinarily strong connection with Ireland.

It was commonly reported that the emancipated convict Ned Ryan sent money back to Ireland to support the passage of relatives and friends. Proved today by many Corcorans, Dwyers, Mcgraths, Corkhills, Hurleys and Ryans still residing here today. After six generations they may have lost the accents but certainly not the looks or personalities.

So, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary this coming October long Weekend, there could be nothing more splendid than driving into Boorowa this Spring

and seeing the lush green pastures set in contrast to the golden fields of Canola and our wattle trees.

It is a weekend to highlight our wonderful town to visitors from everywhere. It is a wonderful time for families to reunite and for those people that have left, to come back and rekindle old friendships.

The parade begins at Noon sharp, there is a long cavalcade of floats, again interspersed with marching bands. There is nothing grander to make your adrenaline surge than the sound of bagpipes and drums. Following, we have The Running of The Sheep, which some describe to be like “The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona”. A nice comparison but I think of it more as what I would describe as an Irish Crack. Trying to get sheep to do anything is always difficult.

As you can see the committee has savoured all the good things through the years for your enjoyment. So come and enjoy this Long Weekend, the art show, the quick shear, the parade, The Running of The Sheep, the wood chopping, the markets and great music and dancing. Just be prepared to smile, laugh and do a fair bit of foot-tapping.

See you in Boorowa!

Written

by Jack Ryan, who has been a huge part of this festival since the day it began.

Getting here

Driving to Boorowa and the Hilltops Region

Boorowa is located on the B81 Lachlan Valley Way. Boorowa is approximately 45 minutes south of Cowra, 35 minutes from Yass, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Canberra and 3 hours and 20 minutes from Sydney.

Irish Woolfest Enquiries Hilltops Destination and Economy Team

P: 1800 628 233

E: vic@hilltops.nsw.gov.au

W: irishwoolfest.com.au

/ Irish Woolfest Boorowa

Branding and Graphic Design by Minta Viski

W: mintaviski.com.au

Printed by Chambers Whyte Design & Printing

W: chamberswhyte.com.au

Photography Contributors

Camilla Duffy

Disclaimer: The Boorowa Irish Woolfest Committee reserves the right to change the program at any time without notice. Adverse conditions and unseen complications with third party suppliers can result in changes beyond our control.

Fringe Events

Friday 29 September

5:00PM

ART SHOW - OFFICIAL OPENING

Cocktail Party $10 entry

Location: Old Courthouse Building Marsden St, Boorowa

7:00PM

LIVE MUSIC AT THE BOOROWA HOTEL

Big Willy, solo cover artist Location: 37 Marsden St, Boorowa

7:30PM

LIVE COMEDY SHOW AT THE OCCASIONAL WINE BAR

Sean Woodland headline act, $20 entry

Location: 9 Marsden St, Boorowa, next to pharmacy

8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC AT THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL, BOOROWA

Music until close Location: 12 Marsden St, Boorowa

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What’s On Saturday 30 September

From 9:30AM

BOOROWA WOOLFEST BOWLS TOURNAMENT

Contact the club to enter: (02) 6385 3338 Location: Ex-Services Club 55-59 Pudman St, Boorowa

10AM TO 4PM

BOOROWA IRISH WOOLFEST ART SHOW

FROM 11AM 2023 QUICK SHEAR

COMPETITION

Featuring Ford 4 Shearing Location: Ex-Services Club 55-59 Pudman St, Boorowa

Location: Old Court House Building, Marsden St, Boorowa 11AM TO 2PM

BOOROWA MUSEUM Location: 35 Marsden St, Boorowa

FROM 5PM

LIVE MUSIC AT RAM AND STALLION HOTEL, Beer garden, pizzas served from 4pm Location: 70-74 Brial St, Boorowa

What’s On

Sunday 1 October

7.00AM to 5.00PM

YARD DOG TRIALS

Location: Boorowa Recreation Club

8.45AM to 4.00PM

BOOROWA IRISH WOOLFEST ART SHOW

Location: Old Court House Building, Marsden St, Boorowa

9.00AM to 11.00AM

POETS’ BREAKFAST WITH ROBYN SYKES

Location: Old Court House Building, Marsden St, Boorowa

10.00AM

CANBERRA CELTIC PIPEBAND PERFORMANCE

Location: The Roundabout, Marsden and Pudman St

10.00AM

WOOD CHOPPERS - SOUTH COAST & TABLELANDS AXEMAN

Location: Ned Ryan Motel Lawn

What’s On

Sunday 1 October

10.30AM

CHILDREN’S STORY TIME

Presented by the Boorowa Library Location: Old Court House Lawn, Marsden St, Boorowa

10.45AM and 1.00PM

MAIN ACT: LIMERICK BAND AND THE SHAMROCK DANCERS

Location: Main Stage

11.00AM

HAWKESBURY WORKING DOG DEMONSTRATION

Location: Old Court House Lawn, Marsden St, Boorowa

11.40AM

BLESSING OF THE FLEECE AND OFFICIAL OPENING

Proudly presented by M H Premium Farms

Location: Main Stage

12.00 NOON STREET PARADE AND RUNNING OF THE SHEEP

Proudly presented by Mainline

What’s On

Sunday 1 October

1.30PM

HAWKESBURY WORKING DOG DEMONSTRATION

Location: Old Court House Lawn, Marsden St, Boorowa

1.45PM

MASSED BAND PERFORMANCE

Canobolas Highland Pipe Band and Canberra Celtic Pipe Band

Location: Front of Main Stage

2.00PM

COMPETITION TIME

Irish Accent Competition and Guiness Pie Eating Competition

Location: Front of Main Stage

2.30PM

MAIN ACT: LIMERICK BAND AND THE SHAMROCK

DANCERS

Location: Main Stage

2.45PM

HAWKESBURY WORKING DOG DEMONSTRATION

Location: Old Court House Lawn, Marsden St, Boorowa

What’s On Sunday 1 October

ALL DAY FUN

Musical Performances presented by Gold Trail

Re-Enactments

• Main Act - Limerick

• Simon Watts – Violinist

• Canberra Celtic Pipe Band

• Canobolas Highland Pipe Band

• Lugh Damen

Childrens Entertainment presented by Boorowa

Court House Arts and Craft Co Op

• Bubble Artist

• Face Painting

Library Storytime

wool display, prepared by famous local studs

Location: Nutrien Wool

Shed, 37B Queen St, Boorowa

25 A NNIVERSAR Y SILVER

What’s On Sunday 1 October

ALL DAY FUN

Irish Craic presented by SquadRon Energy

• Irish Accent Competition (Entry on the Day), from 2pm followed by Pie Eating Competition (Entry on the Day), and Shamrock Dancers

• Robyn Sykes Poetry

Location: Main Stage

Demonstration Excellence presented by 2LF and Roccy FM

• Wood Choppers - South Coast & Tablelands

Axeman

• Shearing Shack

Hawkesbury Working

Dog Demonstration

• Gold Trains

Re-Enactment

Entertainment

What’s On

Sunday 1 October Night

FROM 4PM

PIZZAS AT RAM AND STALLION HOTEL

Location: 70-74 Brial St, Boorowa

FROM 6.30PM

RUGBY LEAGUE GRAND FINAL ON THE BIG SCREEN

Location: Ex-Services Club 55-59 Pudman St, Boorowa

FROM 4PM

LIVE MUSIC FEATURING LOCAL ALBIE CAVANAGH

Location: The Occasional Wine Bar, free event

FROM 6PM

LIVE DJ AT THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL

Also showing Rugby League Grand Final

Location: Courthouse Hotel 12 Marsden St, Boorowa 2LF

Thank you to our Shamrock sponsors:

Sponsors Leprechaun

• Boorowa Tyre Service

• Hilltops Wine Association

• Horne Shearing

• Corcoran’s Rural

• Moorby’s Transport

• Nutrien Ag Solutions - WoolStore

• Vanity Hair

• Corkhill R B & Co

• Boorowa Central School

• Boorowa Chinese Restaurant

• Ned Ryan

Sponsors

Pot of Gold

Thanks to all our wonderful sponsors –without them there would be no festival.