TIt was a proud year for the CKA as we reached $4million dollars in sales at our 28th annual working dog auction. This coupled with the successful hosting of the kelpie festival ensuring we continue to support local initiatives.
We thank the following businesses and individuals for their contributions to this report:
• Kristy MacDonald, Casterton News
• Nicole Cleary
• Beryl Camilleri
• Clitch Media
• PaigeCreative
President:
Karen Stephens
Vice President: Giles Kent
Secretary: Judy Shorland
Treasurer: Jodie Jolly
Working Dog Auction Coordinator: Neil ‘Radar’ Cooper
Working Dog Auction Secretary: Sarah Bruce Smith
Infrastructure Coordinator: Giles Kent
Catering Coordinator & Volunteer Coordinator: Sharon McGarth
Committee Members:
Jack Matthews, Brian Burns, Darren Holmberg, Beryl Camilleri, Jo Ward, Ellen Simpson and Sally Auld.
The Casterton Kelpie Association thank everyone that has been involved throughout 2024, and if you would like to join the organising committee please have a chat to one of our members – everyone is welcome.
[Karen Stephens, Association President]
The Casterton Kelpie Association is the proud organising committee of the annual Australian Kelpie Muster, which comprises the 28th Australian Premier Working Dog Auction and the Casterton Kelpie Festival.
The association's Mission Statement’ is simple – ‘to promote Casterton as the “Birthplace of the Kelpie” for the benefit of the Casterton community’. Our dedicated volunteer committee strives to ensure we meet this goal each year.
From the very beginning, the association has never underestimated the community vision to badge Casterton and the Kelpie together all those years ago. What was never planned was the catapulting of this event to the dizzy heights we witness today. The sheer growth, patronage, reputation, and popularity of our event continue to grow and amaze so many every day of every year.
And they still ask, ' Why do you do it?’ Well, the answer is simple for each of our committee members—we do it for the community, and we love what we do! We give back to our community, support local businesses, and have heaps of fun along the way!
After nearly 12 months of solid planning, it was interesting to witness the general momentum commencing much earlier than usual this year, with great anticipation for the event with enquiries from print and radio medians. We are proud to say the level of attention continued in the weeks leading up to the Australian Kelpie Muster weekend and never abated until well after the event.
On Saturday, our annual Street Parade provides the most amazing celebration for the Casterton community, filled with vibrant colour and so much laughter - and the bands. What a fantastic exhibition of such talented musicians, with our local Vice Regal Band playing with neighbouring bands from Portland and Mount Gambier. It's no wonder the judges gave them second place.
This year’s winners did themselves proud by promoting the local football and netball club. The Casterton Playgroup, which took third place, reminded us of the importance of the Royal Flying Doctors service to rural communities.
The Kelpie Festival is a must-see and must-do for many regular visitors. This year, an overwhelming number of people joined us on Saturday to witness firsthand what the festival had to offer. The positive feedback we have received is undoubtedly a testament to the hard work of volunteers in the months leading to the weekend.
As always, the Kelpie Dash and the Kelpie High Jump didn’t disappoint, and the ‘Man on the Mic’ Jack Matthews still got a laugh with his ever-head-spinning Dad Jokes! Whilst there were no new world records, competition was fierce right to the end of the high jump, which could have gone either way in deciding the final winner! The Kelpie Dash was entertaining, with most sprinting to the finish line as required, but some provided lots of laughter as they paused to sniff or decided
they wanted to go back to the start line or just didn’t want to take part today!
The Stockmen’s Challenge is always a crowd pleaser, and many are thrilled to see the outstanding skill and horsemanship of the riders as they put their working dog through its paces, rounding up the sheep and penning them into the required yard. It is a simple pleasure to sit and watch on the banks of the famous Glenelg River, which has been talked about for weeks.
Our local Young Farmer’s group comes together each year, supporting the association by running the annual Kelpie Hill Climb. With all the logistics and organisational skills at the ready for 2024, I bet they never expected that a runaway Corgi would steal the show by completing the Hill Climb in 2024!!
To each festival event coordinator, I sincerely thank you and your team of volunteers for your professionalism, which underpins the quality of our event each year. Witnessing the excitement on the competitors' faces and hearing the cheering of the crowds must give you great satisfaction and reward for your efforts.
On Sunday, the 28th annual Australian Premier Working Dog Auction was always going to be a winner, as we anticipated that the prized $4 million mark would be reached at the auction. This is such an outstanding effort for a small rural community that has held the line and continued to promote the community for the benefit of the community over these years.
Our auctioneers, James Tierney and Bernie Grant, did an outstanding job in another really tough market, successfully selling 33 dogs for a total of $203,600, giving an average of $6,169. The top-priced dog is $20,000, and the top-priced pup is $9,000. Long-time supporters of the Casterton Auction bred both, Paul Macphail. Reaching that $ 4 million mark could have dropped anywhere, but it was Paul Macphail that also took the prize selling Beloka Jock II for $15,000 – congratulations Paul and thank you for always entrusting us with the sale of your dogs over so many years.
The Casterton Kelpie Association, through our annual Auction, continues to build a strong platform recognising the value of the ‘working dog’ to farmers nationally and internationally, with the prices now being paid as a testament to the true value of working dogs. I sincerely thank Neil ‘Radar’ Cooper, Sarah and the team that diligently oversees the administration and running of the annual auction; we certainly appreciate your valuable contribution and volunteerism.
Of course, our event would not have proceeded without the generous support of our valued sponsors, and we thank our ‘naming right’ sponsor, Eukanuba, for entrusting us with the event. The Glenelg Shire Council continues to support us each year through a Triennial Grant and staff ensure that Island Park and the general township are presented to visitors at the highest possible standard.
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. We thank you sincerely
for your commitment to building the Casterton community through the Australian Kelpie Muster.
It has to be said that there are always unsung heroes, and for us, that’s the local haulage businesses that quietly collect sheep, hay, and portable sheep yards and then return each item to its rightful owners. So, to those individuals and businesses that continue to go above and beyond, we are sincerely grateful for your generosity.
Of course, there are people who make things just tick! They are our wonderful committee members, our Secretary Judy, who is a dream to work with, our always diligent Treasurer Jodi, and our go-to for anything else, Beryl. We sincerely thank you all.
And to Giles and Jack for always being great sounding boards who always have a solution for any situation that may arise— thank you!
Finally, I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank the families of our committee and volunteers for allowing them to take the time to support our annual event. Without them, we could not achieve the dizzy heights that the event has reached— so simply thank you!
Yours sincerely,
Karen A Stephens President
[Jodie Jolly, Association Treasurer]
The Casterton Kelpie Association finished the year in a strong financial position, enabling the committee to return over $13,150 back to the community groups this year bringing the total amount returned to groups since 2004 to an amazing $165,900.
We thank our sponsors sincerely for their support and generosity again in 2024 partnering with us to promote and deliver this nationally recognised event.
Whilst the association maintains a keen eye on spending each year, we also are acutely aware that it takes continued targeted investment into the event to maintain our high standard.
I sincerely thank all committee members for their support and the laughs along the way!
Kind regards,
Jodie Jolly Association Treasurer
The Casterton Kelpie Association is proud to partner with a number of sponsor’s that ensure the continual growth of the Australian Kelpie Muster and supports the promotion of Casterton nationally and internationally.
In 2024 we were honoured to have Eukanuba as our Naming Rights sponsor, to be able to work with such a professional team and promote good nutrition for working dogs was a pleasure.
A number of our sponsors are local businesses who have stuck by us for many years and for that we are truly grateful and, as a voluntary committee we sincerely value your ongoing support and commitment to the event.
$13,150 CUMULATIVE TOTAL since first allocation in 2004 $165,900
For those sponsors from away that continue to support the Australian Kelpie Muster such as Elanco, SFM Asset Management, Fox & Lillee Rural and Shearwell Australia Tags and the Port of Portland we value your financial contribution that enables us to continue to deliver the event.
The Glenelg Shire Council continues to sponsor the Australian Kelpie Muster each year through a Triennial Grant. Council’s ongoing assistance and guidance on matters such as compliance and ongoing regulation changes is greatly appreciated.
Furthermore, council assists with the supply of rubbish bins, signage and the Parks & Gardens crew do an amazing task ensuring that all areas around town and at Island Park are at a high standard showcasing Casterton to visitors.
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.
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 putting their hand out for payment 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.
TheCasterton Muster Weekend is like watching a live jigsaw become complete.
The whole Casterton community of organisers, volunteers, breeders, owners and onlookers, pull together to create an amazing event in one action packed weekend. And then, there’s the KELPIES.
The intelligent “let’s get to work now” dogs, the cute little pups that are not sure what to do, the high jumpers, the sprinters, the obedient dogs, and the “I’m just here to have fun” dogs that want to race up THAT HILL.
We came to Casterton Victoria from Busselton WA (3775kms, and worth every bump in the road along the way), We are admirers of kelpies, our Milo had energy to burn for most of her 17 years and we hankered to experience the Casterton Kelpie Muster.
Long weekend June 2024 finally arrived, and we were ready to embrace the BIG EVENT!
Thursday saw us settling into the campground thanks to Bettina, then we ventured off to the Kelpie Visitors Centre where we enjoyed the interactive display of Jack Gleeson’s Kelpie and the folklore story surrounding
Warrock Station. After gathering information about the weekend (and our purchases), we were amazed to understand that the population of Casterton swells from 1,800 to 10,000 for this memorable weekend. Downtown we met more locals with country hospitality as we replenished our food supplies at the butchers, bakery and grocery shops. The Rotary Art Show was an interesting display championing once again ‘The Kelpies’.
The weekend started out being a bit chilly, but the community spirit was warm and inviting as the Kelpie and town parade got underway. Visitors and locals alike joined in the fun and banter of watching the kelpies and their owners race, dash and jump. Excited kelpies having fun!
The main street echoed with joyful celebration at their antics.
Watching the stockmen and their obedient stock horses work with the dogs to get the sheep in the yards was an eye opener for us, as we are from the southwest of WA where sea sand surf and sport are the general topics and pastimes. Saturday ended with a delicious meal at the Footy Club (and Annie tuning the TV to the AFL for
us) and meeting with more locals and volunteers who were endeavouring to make the weekend terrific for everyone.
Sunday at the Dog Bowl was an event all on its own as we met up again with local acquaintances who gave us cheek and banter about coming from WA to the Casterton Kelpie Muster. (breakfast at the dog bowl was lip-smacking too) Like everyone else we watched in awe as the working dogs were put through their paces rounding up the sheep into the pens. The agility of the dogs obeying the commands of the trainers with the slightest of hand movements and a whistle (and the occasional mutter of ‘silly sheep’) was thrilling. The slight grin on the face of Joe Spicer indicated a job well done as he closed the gates on yet another yarding. The image of onlookers perched on the hay bales catching up with mates or giving high-spirited advice to the commentator, is one that no camera can capture completely. You just must be there at the Muster to feel the vibe!
At the auction, it was down to the serious business of choosing the best Kelpie for the right new owner. We positioned ourselves for a good view in the stands
and were lucky enough to sit next to a breeder/trainer who kept us informed of what a good working dog’s attributes were. Booklet in hand and armed with advice we watched the dogs be auctioned, we made sure to keep our hands in pockets as Radar’s eyes were forever watchful for a bidder. Sunday evening, we decided to farewell our new friends at the Footy Club and were privileged to meet Karen and more of the volunteers and organisers of the muster who made the weekend such a success.
Monday morning, we became tourists and purchased our book about Warrock Station and spent the day exploring the local area and Warrock Station mindful of the story of Jack Gleeson and his pup called Kelpie. An evening at The Glenelg Inn completed our visit to Casterton where we heard stories of past Musters and old times and personalities around the surrounding area.
Our ‘once in a lifetime’ journey to the Casterton Kelpie Muster has given us incredible memories which we will recall each long weekend in June.
$2.3m
In a significant step towards modernising our event management and improving our data collection capabilities, the Casterton Kelpie Association partnered with local company EdgeGuides to introduce a digital check-in system at this year’s Kelpie Muster.
This initiative, spearheaded by local entrepreneur Emily Edge, has provided valuable insights into our attendee demographics, travel patterns and crowd pleasers.
The implementation of EdgeGuides’ check-in program marks an important milestone in our ability to accurately gauge crowd figures and understand our event’s reach in partnership with our social insights. While still in its inaugural year, the system has already demonstrated its potential to become an invaluable tool for future event planning and marketing strategies.
One of the most notable benefits of the new system was its ability to track the geographical diversity of our attendees. The data revealed that the Kelpie Muster’s appeal extends far beyond local boundaries, attracting visitors from as far as the Northern Territory and Tasmania. Perhaps most excitingly, we recorded international check-ins, underscoring the event’s growing global recognition.
The system logged 1,874 people that checked-ins, providing a solid baseline for attendance figures.
However, it’s important to note that this number likely represents only a portion of the total crowd. Visual observations from locals indicated a significantly larger turnout, with parking reaching capacity and many attendees having to park as far as the hospital and Sacred Heart Primary School. This discrepancy suggests that while the check-in system is a valuable tool, there is room for improvement in capturing a more comprehensive picture of attendance in future years.
As we continue to refine and expand the use of this technology, we anticipate it will become an increasingly useful resource for understanding our audience, optimising our event planning, and enhancing the overall Kelpie Muster experience.
We extend our gratitude to Emily Edge and the EdgeGuides team (mum and dad) for their innovative contribution to our beloved annual event.
From the moment James walked through the doors into the livestock industry way back as a School Leaver we all knew he was a success story waiting to happen.
James’s casual personality and drive to help others and a ‘gift of the gab’, made him a natural to the livestock industry.
And then came the voice ... and how powerful and commanding did that come as he competed nationally and internationally on the auctioneer stage, taking away his first awards at a very young age.
And how privileged are we at the Casterton Kelpie Association to have James travel 9 hours home each year to support us with his exceptional auctioneering skills.
This year we proudly recognised James for his 25 years of service to the annual Australian Premier Working Dog Auction.
For the Casterton Kelpie Association, volunteers have been and continue to be the lifeblood of our organization, forming the essential foundation that makes our event truly exceptional.
For nearly three decades, these dedicated individuals have stood at the forefront of the Australian Kelpie Muster weekend, embodying the spirit of community.
While the association diligently works year-round to meticulously plan every aspect of the event, ensuring all elements are in place, it’s the magic that unfolds during the weekend itself that truly brings our vision to life. This transformation is made possible by the tireless efforts of our volunteers, each playing a crucial role in the event’s success.
Our volunteers, easily identifiable in their distinctive blue vests, come from all walks of life and contribute in myriad ways. Some dedicate an hour, others a day, and a dedicated few commit to year-round involvement.
Their tasks are as diverse as they are essential: tagging dogs, selling merchandise, marshalling the Street Parade, coordinating events, recording scores, preparing homemade soup, supplying sheep yards, and even providing hundreds of sheep for the demonstrations and competitions.
We firmly believe that no contribution is too small. Each volunteer’s effort, regardless of its scale, weaves into the rich tapestry that makes the Australian Kelpie Muster a unique, exciting, and inviting experience. It’s this collective effort
that creates an atmosphere so special that visitors return year after year, eager to immerse themselves in the excitement and be part of something truly extraordinary.
This year, in recognition of our volunteers’ invaluable contributions, the association hosted a Volunteer Evening at the local Football Netball Clubrooms in the lead-up to the Muster weekend. This event served multiple purposes: it provided an opportunity for volunteers to connect and network, allowed the association to share important details about the upcoming weekend, and most importantly, it was our way of saying a heartfelt “thank you”.
Looking ahead, we recognise the need to continually nurture and expand our volunteer base. To this end, we are exploring new ways to recruit, train, and retain volunteers. We’re developing a comprehensive volunteer program that includes year-round engagement opportunities, skills development workshops, and recognition initiatives.
In conclusion, as we reflect on another successful year, we are filled with profound gratitude for our volunteers. Their unwavering dedication, boundless energy, and genuine love for the Kelpie breed and our community are what truly make the Australian Kelpie Muster an world-class event.
We look forward to many more years of working alongside these remarkable individuals, continuing to celebrate the Australian Kelpie and the spirit of volunteerism that defines our community.
[Neil ‘Radar’ Cooper]
What a year! The operation, administration and presentation of the 28th Australian Working Dog Auction was once again a resounding success.
Wow 28 auctions and $4,152,709 in dogs sold what a success!!
The agriculture sector has endured a challenging period over the past twelve months and continues to experience increasing input costs, downward trends in commodity prices and the exceptional circumstances around the significant impact of recent climatic conditions. The auction committee was concerned as to the level of success of the auction recognising the challenges to our vendors, buyers and community were experiencing and the ability to pull together a quality catalogue. Was there to be a flow-on effect and would there be a correction in the value of working dogs?
The good news however, reported by our vendors, was that they had been inundated with demand and enquiry for working dogs. A number of vendors selling dogs normally reserved for Casterton purely because of urgency and price prior to auction. That said the committee and vendors were still able to maintain and ensure we had a catalogue which represented the best working dogs Australia has to offer for our annual auction. It is clear that the agricultural sector sees the value in these hard-working dogs, with demand for quality working dogs and our auction attracting a growing buyer market.
The Association has worked diligently with our Vendors over the last couple of years since the introduction of new compliance standards and we know the regulator has confidence that our organisation will meet the requirements of the ‘sale permit’ and deliver a quality event each year. AuctionsPlus continues to enhance our brand, catalogue and opportunities for vendors and prospective buyers.
We are indebted and grateful for the support of our
auctioneers James Tierney and Bernie Grant and their team of spotters who provide the professionalism and expertise that drive our event ensuring the very best result for our vendors. James Tierney was presented with a special award this year in gratitude and recognition for his long service and support to our event presiding over his 25 years as Auctioneer.
The highest priced working dog this year was presented by vendor Paul Macphail with Beloka Laila selling at $20,000 and the Highest Priced Pup was 6-month-old Beloka Bootz bred by Paul Macphail selling for an impressive $9,000.
At auction a total of 49 quality working dogs from across Australia were offered with 33 selling under the hammer for a total value of $203,600 bringing the total number of dogs sold over the 28 years to 1,340 for the total combined value of $4,152,709.
The AuctionsPlus online platform provides our Vendors with the opportunity to reach purchasers both nationally and internationally. This year’s online auction catalogue was viewed 19,003 times and recorded 941 bids with a total of 14 dogs successfully sold from across 115 online active bidders. There were 1,429 online registered bidders.
The committee recognises Nancy Withers for her dedication and enduring support to the association especially her ability and willingness to share her knowledge of all things working dogs.
To our local Vet, Dr Lexie Leonard who volunteers and assists across the weekend and at the auction ensuring that our animal health checks and animal husbandry standards are met, we thank you and are grateful to have your expertise on board.
Thanks must go to Sharon McGrath and her team for feeding the hungry hoards at the Dog Bowl, your organisational skills serving up delicious meals across the day whilst managing an army of volunteers is to be applauded.
Gratitude to our new Casterton Working Dog Auction Secretary Sarah Bruce-Smith and Association Treasurer, Jodie Jolly for pulling it all together, ensuring that each Vendors needs were met and that each Purchaser was provided with what they required - your professionalism and tireless work is greatly appreciated and to Chris Munro for supporting Sarah and Jodie on auction day in the office.
A huge thanks also to Elders Casterton for coming on board this year to manage the processing of the sale. This included Maggie Gray and Ash McDonald being in the office on auction
day along with Michelle McCombe behind the scenes. Thank you all for your support. Sarah managed the huge administrative load between vendors, AuctionsPlus, catalogue production, and our web page information a position which is not to be undervalued.
I would also like to thank my fellow Working Dog Auction Committee members and all our volunteers for your patience, support and tireless efforts in delivering an outstanding 28th Australian Premier Working Dog Auction --- well done and a great job by all!
[Ewe, Me and the Dog]
[Giles Kent, Vice President ]
The overall infrastructure needs of the annual Australian Kelpie Muster just take time to organise the logistics. The key ingredients are volunteers and our generous local businesses.
Whether it be Tony Hunt delivering three B Double loads of hay each year and collecting after the event, Jacky Smith transporting the sheep, or the many local farmers who generously allow us to use their portable sheep yards.
All these items must be picked up, delivered and then returned - but it all comes together.
The week leading into the event starts on Tuesday with the first Hay drop-off, and with a small number of Volunteers’ assistance, the set-up of a number of key components is underway.
As the week progresses, the momentum of the event picks up. We welcomed the Casterton Secondary College Agricultural students on-site at Island Park, working hand in hand with our community volunteers. The day was filled with not just work, but also learning and laughter, fostering a sense of camaraderie and fun within our community.
But the set-up and pack-up, the efficient and accurate scheduling of the demonstrations, the auction site, seating, power, marquees, compliance, and professionalism of the event wouldn’t have happened without the generous support of our volunteers from Tuesday through the following Tuesday, each willing to put in and assist when and how needed—we say thank you.
We also sincerely thank Jim & Marg Tierney for their generous support in providing many quality sheep for the auction demonstrations. The importance and reliability of having access to one line of sheep is integral to supporting our event, as we cannot run the pre-auction demonstrations without suitable sheep.
On a personal note, I want to express my gratitude to all the Committee members and Volunteers who have dedicated countless hours to make this another successful year. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2025.
Sincerely,
Giles Kent
Infrastructure Coordinator
1.5km Sheep Yard Fencing
2.2km Temporary Fencing
[Sharon McGrath ]
The logistics in the months leading into the weekend are vital to the smooth running of the catering for the day. Having fantastic support from our local businesses, with Herbert’s Bakery, Richardson Butchers, and the Foodworks supermarket supplying great local produce, is a dream for any coordinator.
However, the volunteers make up the backbone of the Dog Bowl each year, from the volunteers who make the gallons of delicious homemade soup to the Dergholm Social Club boys, who keep us entertained with their antics while cooking up a storm on the BBQ.
Over forty-five volunteers cook up and serve hot roast lamb rolls, steaks, sausages, hamburgers, homemade soup, sandwiches, homemade biscuits, and the always famous donuts. They also make an endless supply of gravy and coleslaw to fill the gap for hungry visitors.
Of course, the setting up and packing up are done with knowledgeable precision with the support of community groups such as Gerald and Peter from the RSL, quietly going around collecting the necessary equipment to heat and serve food for Sunday—what a dream it is to have their support!
We sincerely thank every volunteer, from the Strathdownie Hall ladies, who provided lunch on Friday for the volunteers setting up for the weekend to Sunday afternoon. If you were there and supported us, we thank you.
To every visitor who took the time to thank a volunteer and compliment us on the quality of the food – we thank you. Your support and appreciation inspires us to do it all again next year, and we can't wait to see you there!
Sharon McGrath
Catering Coordinator
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
Damon Peacock 380
Greg Featherstone 377
Sharon Barry 362
Best Dog Section: Damon Peacock
Best Horse Section: Damon Peacock
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
1st Casterton Sandford Football Netball Club, with their theme “Mock wedding”
2nd Casterton Vice Regal Band and Portland Citizen Brass Band
3rd Casterton Playgroup with their theme “Angel Flight”
Children Section ‘Favourite Kelpie’ theme
Open Section ‘Kelpie Portrait’ theme
Open Section ‘Kelpie at Play’ theme
Open Section ‘Kelpie Pup’ theme
Open Section ‘Kelpie at Work’ theme
Open Section ‘Kelpie goes to town’ theme
THE CKA KELPIE ACQUISITIVE AWARD
Winner
Gayle Newcombe: for "Away-to-Me"
High Commendations
Emma Raidis for "Boofa"
Diana Ashworth "Nellie"
THE VICKERY BROS "AUSTRALIANA" AWARD"
Winner
Kathy Koop for "Trawool Valley"
High Commendations
Peter Hill for "Australian Lighthorseman",
Julia Francese for "Across Rhodes Street Casterton"
THE GORMAN PRIZE FOR PORTRAITURE
Winner
Colin Tenney for "Self Portrait"
High Commendations
Caroline Herring for "Ned" "Primo" by Rita McInerney for "Primo"
PACKER'S PRIZE
Winner
Linda Robinson for "Here's Wally"
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Winner
Gayle Newcombe for "Are you Home yet?"
ART SHOW RAFFLE:
Winner
Casterton Resident Cindy Smith
In 2015 we lost one of our most precious volunteers John "Cheify" McGrath.
The Casterton Kelpie Association stuck this award to recognise the significant contribution John made to the success and volunteering patronage of the Australian Kelpie Muster over many years.
John was a unique individual who was able to bring out the best in everyone, galvanise volunteer effort and pride, harmonise community volunteers whilst maintaining a productive, rewarding and enjoyable experience for all.
John was reliable, tireless, driven and held high expectations for our event and the quality of each activity or product that built and maintained our reputation. He strongly believed that the quality of what the event was able to deliver ensured Casterton was recognised on the regional, state, national and international agendas as ‘Birthplace of the Kelpie’ and home of the ‘Australian Kelpie Muster’. The award recognises the selfless and dedicated contribution of volunteers who consistently support our event, forming enduring friendships, growing our event and building a better community.
The John McGrath Volunteer of the Year Award annually recognises one of our outstanding individuals who volunteer their time at our event. This year, for the first time, the award will be presented to someone not of Casterton heritage.
The association unanimously agreed that the worthy recipient of this prestigious award would be ‘the man in the black hat’ – Daniel Ball.
Being an avid supporter, trainer, and owner of kelpies, he thought it appropriate to attend the muster, and so he did in 2005. This first visit started what is now a sabbatical for the ‘Ball’ clan.
Since that initial connection with the Australian Kelpie Muster and all things Casterton - Daniel quickly bloomed, or, shall we say, ‘boomed’ into one of our most noticeable, reliable and dedicated volunteers.
Daniel originally entered events such as the Kelpie High Jump, Kelpie Dash, and the Kelpie Hill Climb. Then he and Joe Spicer mastered the art at the Kelpie Pinball, getting those pesky Indian Running Ducks through the obstacles. His knowledge as a competitor has then enabled him to assist with the logistics and running of the events.
His infectious personality, colossal presence, jovial nature, and desire to help others, combined with his commitment
to volunteering during the lead-up to the event and then delivering events, come what may shined through.
Daniel is known for his generosity in and around the Island Park Caravan Park precinct. He ensures everyone is settled in and has all the necessities to enjoy their Casterton experience. He is our very own Russell Coight of Island Park!!
In recent years, Daniel and his girls, Sophie and Emily, have been instrumental in setting up the Dog Auction Shed and security. They have set out the floor plan, erected hessian barriers, ensured Vendor and corresponding dog information are correct for each pen, and secured the tethering chains for each entrant.
When the Dog Shed is done, Daniel will assist with setting up a variety of other auction infrastructure until it’s all done and it’s time to knock off for the day.
Daniel is a regular in the annual Street Parade. He proudly walks in the parade with his prized Kelpie, the large black hat, and engages with everyone along the way!
Daniel has been known to ‘vet’ dog entrants on Saturday morning at the Town Hall registration desk, determining whether that dog is a ‘kelpie’ – ensuring that the breed criteria are adhered to. Once that is done, he can be heard on the microphone commenting on the novelty event, pinball, or whatever is needed – always reliable and always there.
On Sunday morning, after a hard day at the office and a night
at the pub – Daniel fronts up again for the Working Dog Auction demonstrations at 9.30 am ensuring the smooth running of the event by taking his turn on the microphone, advising spectators of the key attributes of the demonstrating Vendor and working dog for auction later that day.
This is an integral part of the auction, keeping prospective purchasers and the audience in attendance or via the livestream median informed and connected to our event with all the necessary information.
Daniel also coordinates, delivers and administers the Ewe, Me and the Dog working dog training school on the Monday of the King’s Birthday Weekend.
“The man in the black hat” is everyone’s go-to man, always obliging, extremely generous with his time and contribution to our event and is a proud and valued ambassador for Casterton, the Australian Kelpie Muster and the Kelpie.
Daniel Ball is a stalwart of our event; he is one of those valued individuals we look forward to seeing arrive in Casterton by placing his arrival date in our calendar.
His contribution to our event cannot be underestimated. He continues to support us with unwavering passion and commitment, epitomising the criteria and values of the John McGrath Volunteer of the Year and everything it represents. Recognising Daniel in this manner is an absolute honour, and we sincerely thank him.
With paper advertising an ever increasing world, the Casterton Kelpie Association planned a relative conservative approach to media spending in 2023 2024 financial year. Coverage continued across the south west of Victoria and Eastern South Australia in the following areas alongside editorial coverage:
Casterton News provided extensive coverage of the event, with editor Kristy McDonald’s supplement selling out before the weekend. Publication partner papers, The Hamilton Spectator and Portland Observer featured the lift out as well as media releases leading up to the weekend.
The Border Watch featured a detailed preview article highlighting key attractions like the street parade, Kelpie triathlon events, and the Premier Working Dog Auction. Post-event coverage in regional papers focused on the record-breaking $4 million milestone reached in cumulative auction sales since the event's inception.
Continuing to embrace the cross border community we live and host in, Casterton Kelpie Association once again engaged Mt Gambier Times ‘Lifestyle1’ free publication as a media partner. In return the publication featured the muster weekend across four editions pre and post event.
A1 real estate magazine featured this years Kelpie Muster in the June Issue of A1 Insider Property Magazine.
While specific TV coverage details are not available, events of this scale typically attract regional news coverage. The visual appeal of the Kelpie high jump, hill climb, and working dog demonstrations likely made for compelling television segments.
This years Television advert played for fourteen days in the lead up to the event across:
The event received coverage on local government websites and tourism platforms as well as the Casterton Kelpie website. The Glenelg Shire Council website promoted the Muster as a headline June long weekend activity, detailing the schedule of free familyfriendly events.
Casterton Kelpie website:
2024 Australian Premier Kelpie Auction submissions were moved to an online form this year, elevating manual form submissions.
In addition to the auction, photography competition forms were also run through the website, ensure a lighter load for the volunteers on the other end of the email box.
Kelpie website continues to grow, with regular updates to the site it is a user friendly option across multiple devices, time zones with the ability to.
Overall Traffic: The website attracted significant interest, recording a total of 28,529 sessions throughout the event period.
Mobile Dominance: A standout trend in this year’s data is the overwhelming preference for mobile access. An impressive 78% of users accessed the Kelpie Muster website via their mobile phones. This statistic highlights the importance of maintaining a mobilefriendly website design and emphasizes the need to optimise our digital content for smaller screens.
Key Pages and User Intent: We noted 349 session views to pages related to contacting the associations. This suggests a strong interest from users in direct communication, whether for inquiries, participation, or feedback.
The website continues to play a vital role in the success of the Australian Kelpie Muster. By leveraging these insights and continually adapting to user preferences, we can enhance the digital experience for our audience and support the continued growth of this beloved event.
At least one media release was issued highlighting the recordbreaking auction results, emphasizing the $4 million cumulative sales milestone and featuring quotes from Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens. This release was picked up by regional news outlets, contributing to post-event coverage.
The media coverage successfully communicated the Muster’s significance as both a community event and an important marketplace for working dogs, while also highlighting its cultural aspects through associated art exhibitions.
RECORD-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS
Run: 13 papers, 1 radio
YOUNG HEARTS, FLEET PAWS
Run: 6 papers, 1 radio
School newsletters
UNLEASHING SUCCESS
Run: 3 papers
$4m Auction
Run: 8 papers, 1 radio
Over the past 12 months, the Casterton Kelpie Association social media accounts have shown consistent growth and engagement.
The Instagram account has seen a steady increase in followers, with a notable spike around the annual event. The Facebook page has maintained its strong community presence, with high levels of interaction on posts, live and shared content.
Both platforms have successfully leveraged their unique features to showcase the Australian Kelpie and the muster event, resulting in a robust and engaged online community. In terms of content performance, visual posts featuring Kelpies in action have consistently garnered the highest engagement rates across both platforms.
On Instagram, a series of action shots from the high jump competition became the year’s most liked and shared posts, with 2.5k likes and 200 comments. While on Facebook, a pre event post on the morning of the big day reached 7.1k individual
Overall Audience Growth
New Followers: +552 across all platforms
Demographics:
accounts. Reels and short-form video content have emerged as powerful engagement tools, particularly on Instagram.
On Facebook, live videos have proven to be highly effective, this years street parade had the highest number of real-time viewers and comments of any ‘video’ based content this year. Links to event registration and accommodation information have also seen high click-through rates, especially in the months leading up to the muster.
The accounts have successfully used their platforms to not only promote the muster event but also to educate followers about the Australian Kelpie breed and showcase the strong community surrounding these working dogs.
User-generated content, such as follower-submitted photos and stories, has played a significant role in maintaining engagement between events. Moving forward, there’s potential to further leverage this community engagement, perhaps through more live content at the event.
People Reached Impressions Engagments
Local and regional radio stations provided pre and post event coverage alongside their on-site broadcast and interviews on the Friday from the Kelpie Art Show.
The OSB provided our volunteers, sponsors and attendees an opportunity to speak about the engaging weekend ahead and why they support the event.
People Reached Impressions Engagments
7,160 9,199 114
We thank our naming right sponsor Eukanuba for their continued support and enthusiasm each year.
