Running of the Sheep - Illawarra Chapter

10 October 2022 / Words:Franchesca Fenn Photos: Franchesca Fenn

THE RUNNING OF THE SHEEP, BOOROWA 2022

Words and photos by Franchesca Fenn. Brendan's photos and videos here (featuring a great race call!)

Saturday 1st October:

Hella and Mark Underwood were finally able to lead us to the famous Running of the Sheep (3rd time lucky).  They had already made two reconnaissance missions (one pre-, and one post-covid, to make sure that everything was perfect).  Now that’s dedication to the cause!!

 We left Haywards Bay with six MX-5s and two Abarths, but the number was to grow!

The word for the weekend was “Potholes”….they were EVERYWHERE!!  As a slight diversion from potholes, there were cows on the side of the road not far from Haywards Bay.

After a scenic trip into Goulburn, we had refreshments in Valerie’s Sunroom Café.  They were a little overwhelmed by the number of customers (RPM, and Sydney people had joined us there), but the service was friendly and the coffee and nibblies are highly recommended.

A game of “I spy with my little eye” between 20+ cars on 2-way radios was a novelty and helped to make the drive a laugh.

After more scenery, and more potholes, we made our way to the Terracotta Restaurant in Harden.  Again the number in the group was a challenge for the caterers, but they managed.

Carl Valerius, the sculptor of the magnificent bronze of Bill the Bastard gave us an amusing talk on sculpting in general and of the making of Bill in particular.  

 The statue is situated in Harden-Murrumburrah, just outside of Carl’s workshop. 

 The story of Bill himself is amazing.  A “Waler” who on August 4, 1916, at the Battle of Romani, saved the lives of his rider and four other troopers by carrying all 5 of them at once, 3 km to safety.

The murals on the silos in Murrumburrah were fabulous.

A short drive past glorious canola fields took us on to the attractive Chinese Gardens on the outskirts of Young.  The gardens were established to recognise the contribution of the Chinese community to the settlement of Young in the 1860s, and to the ongoing contributions of the Chinese community to Australia as a nation.

 After this full day we finally arrived at the Cherry Blossom Motel for a well-earned rest and 5-sies (that’s drinks and nibbles to the uninitiated).

Dinner at the Young Bowling Club was a good time for chats and laughter as always…although the food was a little slow in coming.

Sunday 2nd October 2022:

A quick pothole-filled trip this morning to the quaint township of Boorowa for the (usually) annual Irish Woolfest and Running of the Sheep, which like everything else, has been on hold for two years, due to Covid.

The weather was glorious.  We had blue sky and warm sunshine, which is a novelty for most people lately.

Canberra Chapter turned up for the day, so the club was well represented.

Street stalls abounded: face painting, food and drinks of all sorts, raffles, clothes, books, balloons, souvenirs….even some Jack Russell terrier pups were for sale. Vintage cars were on show, Irish dancers were dancing, Scottish pipers were piping, woodchoppers were chopping, and a “Bubble Artiste” was blowing bubbles everywhere.

 

The Blessing of the Fleece and official opening was at midday.  Then the parade began with the local children playing a big part. Tractors, emergency vehicles, the vintage cars and community services, were also there.

We should have all joined onto the back of the parade.  Our cars would have doubled the length of the parade…perhaps next year?

By now the main street was packed as everyone was “flocking” to see the main event.

Then…..the moment we had all been waiting for:

The Sheep….and they were running…closely followed by two kelpies to make sure they did. This lasted only a matter of minute/s as they were fast sheep and the main street isn’t that long.  

 

 Later, there was a Troopers versus Bushrangers shootout on the main street which was loud.

Sheep souvenirs were popular with the group.

 

Eventually we all made it back to the motel for some R & R (5-sies), then a walk to the Young Services Club.  More talk, more laughter, more food orders lost and found, and the rugby league final on the T.Vs. Could it get any better?

Monday 3rd October.

Today was a free-for-all, so most folks drove home, but a hardy band of six continued on to the Liquorice and Chocolate Factory at Junee, as well as a High Lunch at a lovely renovated local Pub.

Chrissie and John stayed on at Young to pick up a new tyre on Tuesday…a rock on the road, not a pothole, damaged a tyre.  They had a nice time on that extra day.

 

Thanks Hella and Mark,

and

thanks Boorowa and Young.

The answer? 4000