Day 7 Friday 23/2/2024 Rochester, sunny 26˚

No two days are ever the same when you’re in a caravan.

We drive over to Kyabram to see the silo art by Jimmy DVate. The works are on a large squat water tank that sadly is behind a wire security fence.

Not to be put off we head over to Tongala as it boasts many artworks. For Aussies as old as we are you may remember that Tongala was famous for milk products when we were kids.

What a pretty little town it is. The short row of shops are opposite parklands we grab a pie and enjoy the outlook. Now, when they say they’ve got artwork, they’re not exaggerating. I reckon whatever doesn’t move gets painted, so if you visit…don’t stand still! The RSL (Returned Servicemen’s League) has a 3-dimensional jungle-themed mural where water drips through the jungle. There are humorous works, cartoons, and historic serious ones, but the one that tickled us was the depiction of the town celebration when the town was sewered.

Entitled “Hoorootoniloo” the plaque says:

“In 1982 Tongala celebrated the connection of sewerage and to farewell the old dinkum dunnies in the town, with a festival that not only raised a huge donation for the Anti Cancer Foundation but created publicity nationally and overseas.

Activities included the longest Dunny Dash 20km from Kyabram, children dressed as red back spiders, the plumbers handicap provided the spectacle of particular arrangements of pipes and fittings, a Dunny Cram of over 15 in the loo at the same time, performances by the “Dunny Can Band” all made for an enjoyable day.

Men and women with dunny cans slung over their shoulders thundered down and over an obstacle course in the Dunny Can race urged on by the crowd’s screams of laughter. In between the games and races singers, dancers and comedians entertained. All set in amongst a fine selection of outside loos gathered from around the town.

Publication of a booklet with toilet humour supplied by famous sporting folk, artists and other special people was produced. As the sun was setting Petty Officer Peter Thomsen, RAN, played the Last Post as the last dunny was set alight. The crowd stood in silence with many sad, embarrassing and happy moments floating towards the night sky.”

Back at camp the Rochy Show opens its gates at 5:00pm and we wander over to soak up the atmosphere of a good old country show. There are dodgem cars and rides and a good turnout of locals. There are fried twirly potatoes and beer at the bar under the peppercorn trees. The heifer competition (under 12 months) is a highlight, and they’ll be huge cows when they stop growing. The handlers carry scratching pole thingies and stand gently scratching their tummies (the cows). As they parade past the judges, one frisky beast knocks her handler to the ground and ‘heads for the hills’. But the organisers are having problems of their own and there’s a lot of shouting going on “Bruce, the sound system’s down, Bruuuce!” Gosh some of those cows are pretty.

Over by the BBQ truck (where the rampant heifer will end up if she’s not careful), there’s a bloke trying to sell God from a blue trailer. With a scarcity of customers, he looks bored stiff as he quietly doom scrolls on his phone. Out on the arena, there’s a ‘Show n Shine’ in progress with some very nice cars. You know, the ones with real engines that can be fixed at home in the backyard. However, of all the classic cars, there are only two that are older than us.

As we walk back into the caravan park, we are overtaken by a certain headstrong heifer that is being followed by flustered farmers on foot, and in utes. “She went that way” we shout.

After all that bovine activity we cook steak and sausages for dinner before the evening’s entertainment commences.

Two local pilots put on an aerobatic display in their bi planes and as soon as it gets dark we are treated to a fireworks display only metres away from us. And some people think that caravanning is boring. Hope they’ve caught that bloody cow.

Accom: $42.00