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What started as a working dog auction in 1997 at the Casterton Saleyards, with bids being taken from the back of a ute, has become Australia\u2019s premier working dog auction and one of Australia\u2019s most unique community events and the Australian Kelpie Muster is returning to the annual calendar with a vengeance this June Long Weekend for the 27th time.<\/p>\n
Casterton is the birthplace of the kelpie and of the promotional work the town does honouring the place of the working dog in Australian folklore and the continued importance of the kelpie on Australian properties today, the Kelpie Muster is the pinnacle of that promotion.<\/p>\n
All the usual favourites will be part of the 2023 program but Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens said there are a couple of new facets to this Long Weekend\u2019s activities. Inspired by a donated painting by Tess Dodds, the 2023 Australian Kelpie Muster will be using the event as a fundraiser for Dolly\u2019s Dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to auction a painting that was given to us,\u201d Karen said. \u201cIt is a painting of a kelpie in a denim shirt and wearing an Akubra and was given to us by the artist to do with as we wished. \u201cThe blue denim shirt just reminded me of the blue of Dolly\u2019s Dream and it seemed like a good time to try and get involved with that charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe figured it would get younger people involved and raise some money for mental health and education around bullying \u2013 we all know how important that is.\u201d The other new partnership is with Geelong College with a Junior Handler Competition added to the usual kelpie dash and high jump.<\/p>\n
This event is for children aged 16 years & under and their kelpie companion with entries closing on June 2 with more details available at https:\/\/www.trybooking.com\/ CHZZP \u201cWe really want to encourage our young farming kids to get involved and sponsoring an event like this is part of Geelong College\u2019s charter,\u201d Karen said.<\/p>\n
The event has continued its association with naming rights sponsor Eukanuba, who came on board for the 2022 event.<\/p>\n
As it always is, the Working Dog Auction is the centrepiece of the weekend, with more than 60 dogs on offer, with a good cross section of ages, with purchasers able to be involved in person, at Island Park, or through AuctionsPlus online platform.<\/p>\n
Demonstrations will begin at 9.30am on June 11 with the auction from 3pm.<\/p>\n
The Kelpie Festival has also grown in stature for the almost three decades it has been running, from the Poets Breakfast to the Street Parade, from the Stockman\u2019s Challenge to the Kelpie Acquisitive Art Exhibition, the town is immersed in all things kelpie for two days.<\/p>\n
The Street Parade starts at 10am on Saturday, while the Kelpie Acquisitive Art Exhibition launch kicks off the weekend with the Thursday night function from 6pm at the Casterton Town Hall.<\/p>\n
The Kelpie Dash, Hill Climb and High Jump also remain some of the most popular spectator events of the weekend.<\/p>\n
For all details of the weekend and to keep up to date head to www.castertonkelpieassociation. com.au and facebook<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Working dogs in the spotlight on the June Long Weekend What started as a working dog auction in 1997 at the Casterton Saleyards, with bids being taken from the back of a ute, has become Australia\u2019s premier working dog auction and one of Australia\u2019s most unique community events and the Australian Kelpie Muster is […]<\/p>\n