Back O Bourke Picnic Races – Easter Sunday, 20 April 2025
Back O Bourke Picnic Race Club
The Back O Bourke Picnic Race Club will be holding its 10 Year Anniversary race meet when it races...
Campers everywhere – except at festival site
They came from all Australian states, and even from overseas. Their destination was the annual Esoteric Music Festival site, north of the Donald township. Sadly, though the weather was ideal, their journey was cut short by several kilometres, when the popular event was cancelled early on its first day, Thursday last.
Decision flattens festival-goers
It’s an event which, annually, has drawn lovers of the Great Outdoors to a location in Victoria’s Buloke Shire. From within the State, and from far beyond, they have travelled to enjoy the music and mateship of Donald’s Esoteric Festival ... Instead, they were walking the streets of the town, prior to leaving to return home without having as much as set foot on their Victorian countryside destination.
What’s happening at the gallery
The countdown is on for the Lowan Art Prize Competition, with entries closing on March 28. Interest in the event has been overwhelming, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! The Official Opening will take place at 2 PM on Sunday, April 13, where winners of each section will be announced.
Food and Wine better than ever
Madison Eastmond. The Riverland Food and Wine Festival took over the Berri riverfront for the first time in six years last weekend, with the showcase selling out and returning with zero behavioural issues. With tickets completely sold out before the 12noon start-time, the revamped day-long festival focused on local produce, wine, and entertainment that was enjoyed by 1200 Riverlanders.
Milton Show 2025: Short Takes
https://youtu.be/-AZlCIL7dIc
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Binda Picnic Races, 15 March 2025
Binda Picnic Races
The Binda Picnic Races are a cherished annual country picnic race meet held in the charming town of Binda, New South Wales. These races have...
Festival forges ahead
The decision to issue a planning permit to this year’s Esoteric Festival was made conditionally at Buloke Shire Council’s ordinary meeting held on Monday night in Wycheproof. The Council had announced its decision to deny a ten-year planning permit late last week following health and safety concerns, as well as emergency services regulations.
Core values
Tucked in the picturesque and fertile Harcourt Valley is a hub of apple production and its annual festival is this weekend on Saturday 8 March from 10am to 3pm at Harcourt Leisure Centre. Harcourt Applefest 2025 features activities to please every member of the family and it has grown so much that it has now spread to a larger location.
Local hope looks to go back to back
A big weekend is looming for first-time author, Dixie Coutts, whose book on the history of the Towong Turf Club will be launched on the eve of this year’s Cup meeting. She is also a part owner of 2024 winner Euphemia who is aiming for a repeat sucess on Saturday to join a select group to have won multiple cups.
Mime, masks, Monet play a part in artist’s magic
Patricia Gill. South African born Ellis Pearson's love of art and reverence for nature will be revealed in an exhibition which opens at the Denmark Visitor Centre on Friday evening. The former professional actor and alumni of L'Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris will present 15 oil-on-canvas works.
Show Society under threat
Peter Mahoney. Narrandera Show Society committee is in jeopardy as it tries to recruit new members to its ranks. Until these members are recruited the society will have no option but to close. For an organisation that has survived since the 1880s it would be a great pity for the town to lose the society and worst of all the Narrandera Show.
World domination begins: RYT take to the stage
Madison Eastmond. Joining forces with other regional artists and teen ensembles in Whyalla and Bendigo for the 2025 Adelaide Festival, the Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT) will bunker down to survive an alien invasion in their new collaboration and retelling of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds.
Low emissions workshops for Wimmera farmers
Helping farmers track and manage their carbon emissions will be the subject of free Wimmera workshops in March. Bellarine Peninsula livestock producer and low-emissions farmer and educator Cam Nicholson will lead workshops at Great Western Hall on March 17 and Taylors Lake Hall on March 18.
Geoff and Ace win top dog at Gundagai Show
Geoff McDougall and champion kelpie Ace recently won the open section of the South West Slopes Championships Working Dog Trial ... Yard dog trials are competitions that test the skills of dogs and their handlers in guiding sheep around a course.
Festival application refusal
The Buloke Shire Council has advised the organisers of the 2025 Esoteric Music Festival to cancel the event due to Council officers recommending the refusal of a planning permit based on significant health and safety concerns. With the Festival’s previous five-year planning permit expiring after the event last year, an application for a new ten-year permit was submitted in September 2024, with approval required to enable this year’s event to be held in Donald from 6 to 11 March 2025.
A fringe too far for Yorke Peninsula
Sarah Herrmann. Just one act is visiting Yorke Peninsula this Adelaide Fringe season, while regions a similar distance from the city, such as the Clare and Barossa Valleys, are hosting up to 30 events. This has prompted a local arts advocate to urge YP audiences to speak out and, importantly, show up when the time comes, if they want to see more arts offerings here.
After eight years, opera returns to Art Deco civic hall
It’s been a long time coming – the last time there was opera at the Casino Civic Hall was in 2017. The upgraded civic hall will again host a night of country music and opera in May.
Moving creatures moving together
Jordine and Dor wanted to blend their love of dance and movement with their philosophy of helping people become more active and less lonely. They knew they could easily do this at a local level through dance classes but they wanted to reach more people; they wanted to “move the world”.
Yass Show, 15 March 2025
Yass Show Society Inc.
It's that time of year again! The 2025 Yass Show is on 15 March 2025. A one day traditional agricultural show,...
“OK”! What a weekend!
Jenny Pollard. As the adrenaline rush from "OK Motels" subsides, Charlton can reflect on how the modest little festival, which began back in 2018, has now grown into a full-on, "all-of-town" experience as 800 visitors descended on the "Friendly River Town" to make last weekend’s event one for the record books.
Local cups carnival
Peter Hibberd. Over the next three weekends the Boort, Birchip and Charlton Clubs will run their feature meetings with the running of their pacing and trotting cups ... On a very competitive day of racing, drivers Damian Wilson and Alex Ashwood took the driving honours with each having a double.
