'WHAT A GREAT TRIP - WHY NOT JOIN US NEXT YEAR?'

SUNSHINE COAST-based BARNEY CAMPBELL has taken a group of close to 30 to the annual Birdsville Cup meeting for the last 15 years – and last week was no exception.

Here is Barney’s report on his latest adventure to the Holy Grail of Bush Racing:

What a great trip!

A group of 34 left the Sunshine Coast on Monday of last week and travelled via Caboolture to Roma where we stayed overnight in the Club hotel-motel. The next morning, after a huge breakfast, we moved on to Quilpie for the annual street party. That night we camped at the racecourse thanks to the Quilpie Shire Council for giving us permission to stay there

On the Wednesday we moved onto to Windorah for the  Yabbie races via Coopers Creek. We camped under cover at the local tennis courts that night.

The group purchased a yabbie called Double Dee named, after one of the girls on the trip. We paid $380 for this creature, which unlike the one we bought last year, did actually move. A big crowd attended the races for a great fun night. It is highly recommended event of Aussie fun.

We left on the Thursday morning  for Birdsville and arrived at the Caravan Park about 12.30. After setting up camp  we enjoyed a sausage sizzle served up by the camp cook Julie. After a few beers at the pub an early night was had by most.

Friday was the first day of the two-day meeting and the jockey that travelled with us, Chris (Giddy-up) Kearney, had only two mounts, one of which was scratched. He picked up a late ride and was successful on it much to my disdain as I was going to back all his mounts but didn’t. I’m still spewing as it was 20/1.Our camp gave him a rousing round of applause when returned.

At night we went to the Boxing tent to hear Fred Brophy’s spiel and witness the comeback of the Cowboy.

Saturday was Cup day and we invested in calcutta tickets but to no avail. We then ventured out to the races along with about 7,000 others – a record crowd. The amount of people that dressed for the occasion in the middle of the outback continues to amaze me. The day featured arm wrestling and other fun games with no sign of malice and was a credit to the people that took the trouble to attend.

A highlight for me was when one of our group, the Rabbit, was attacked by the town Magpie. It was the only time I have barracked for the ‘magpies’ in my life.

Saturday night was a night of merriment in town and also at the caravan park.

 

Sunday we packed up after breakfast and left about 10am travelling via Beetoota (zero population) but has a racetrack which races two weeks after Birdsville.

We called into Mount Leonard station to visit Chook and his wife, Lorraine, and family, a boy and girl simply called, Boy and Girl.

The trip home consisted of stops again at Windorah and Roma and was pretty leisurely.

We used a Polley’s Gympie Coach, which performed well as usual and was extremely well driven by Andrew.

My thanks to all of those who made the trip. You have lived your dream and done what a lot of people say they want to do but never do.

If anyone is out west next weekend the Beetoota races would be worth a look.

Until next year – this is Barney signing off. I can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..