The Mallee Root Round Up has once again proven that country people know how to celebrate, with 750 guests exuding enthusiasm and a strong sense of fun and excitement all weekend.

Marking 20 years since its re-birth, the Ball, which ceased in 1997 and was revived in 2005, drew people from all across Victoria and as far away as the middle of New South Wales.

The utes began rolling into town on Friday afternoon, with the street buzzing as party goers stocked up on supplies for the weekend. The campground was soon packed with tents, swags, marquees and brightly lit utes, many decked out with flags, flashing lights and sound systems. The air was filled with laughter, music and the occasional revving engine as mates gathered around campsites, tuned stereos and joined in the traditional ute key banging to kick off the weekend’s celebrations.

The entertainment lineup hit all the right notes, with local band “The Shorts”, featuring the Glens and Simon Sharp, returning to the stage. They were crowd favourites once again, having been much loved by B ‘n’ S goers over the years.

In between bands, Disco Gold kept the crowd dancing, while headline act Benn Gunn added a national flavour to the night. Benn Gunn, an Australian country rock artist known for his energetic live shows and hits such as “Girls Like Guys With Trucks” and “Only In Australia,” brought a high energy performance that perfectly matched the spirit of the event.

President Matt Ryan said, “Following some tough years during Covid 19 and the devastating flood, the ball is really starting to rebuild momentum. We are incredibly grateful to the local community and the wider B ‘n’ S community. The ball goers are great fun, they never cause any trouble, and we have had nothing but positive feedback.”

The effort behind the scenes was enormous and synonymous with country spirit. The hospital cooks and carves the meat each year, with Kev Sharp reheating it on the night. The Early Childhood Centre provides bar staff, the netball club looks after the ticket booth, the trotting club cooks meat on the barbecue and serves the recovery breakfast, and the tennis and cricket clubs handled the clean-up.

Emergency services personnel were also on hand, providing valuable support to the committee and ensuring everything ran safely and smoothly.

“And in addition to all the clubs and organisations that help us out, individual community members and local businesses support the event in countless ways, from lending a hand to lending equipment. Everyone just gets in and helps,” said Matt.

The event is a great example of the community coming together for the greater good under the guidance of a passionate and hard-working committee. The organisation is phenomenal, and everything ran seamlessly from the very first booking to the last item packed away.

With such strong attendance and positive feedback, the Mallee Root Round Up Ball has truly reestablished itself as one of the region’s most anticipated and enjoyable events, proving that the B ‘n’ S tradition remains deeply tied to the culture of the bush, mateship, hard work, humour and fun.

See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 24 October 2025.