The following message was sent to the Canberra Herding Group but all of you are also welcome to volunteer – just contact Barbara Brown. Michelle Wilkins will be entering with her Koolies and there may be more.
Hello fellow sheep dog enthusiasts,
The thrills and spills of the National Sheep Dog Trial Championships will be on again every day between 11-16th March in the Village of Hall Show grounds.
As you know, there is no better way to to see the extraordinary relationship between human and dog than when they are working together on a challenging task. In this case, skill and teamwork pitted against the irreverent unpredictability of the sheep makes for great viewing.
This year, the event celebrates its 65th birthday – having been held in Canberra since 1943.
Some of you are entered in the trial, but for those who are not we would love you to come along and see handlers and dogs, from the local area and further afield, demonstrate their skill in this heritage sport.
Even more, we would love your assistance. I know many of you, give up some time each year to help and it would be great if you could do so again. Here's some of the things we need assistance with (just a few hours of your time would make all the difference):
Sunday 9th March – setting up the course, fencing the oval and general clean up of grounds
Tuesday 11th March to Friday 14th March – announcing over the PA, collecting lunches and preparing morning & afternoon teas for judges and workers, helping in the sheep yards, collecting score cards from the judges and writing up scores on the results board
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March – same as Monday to Friday + welcoming spectators and collecting entry fee at the gate, and of course cleaning up after the prize presentations
If you are interested in lending a hand for a few hours, please contact Barbara Brown by email bbrown@webone.com.au
BBQ for competitors and volunteers
As a volunteer or competitor, you would also be welcome to attend the annual BBQ on Thursday evening of 13th March at the Hall Showgrounds Pavilion. This year, local Hall band West Texas Crude will be playing their combination of country rock, rock and roll and blues. As the Nationals is a not-for-profit organisation they do need to cover some costs, so there is a charge of $10 per head but this includes a BBQ with hamburgers, sausages, salads, bread rolls etc... and tea and coffee (it's BYO any other drinks). Tickets can be organised at the Hall General Store, or email Barbara.
Be part of living history
In celebration of its 65th birthday in 2008, the National Sheep Dog Trials Association is starting to document the history of this heritage event, to preserve it for future generations. They would like to bring those records to life with more personal accounts and invite you to contribute any photos, press cuttings or stories you might have about the event in previous years.If you have any historical material, photos of any of trials or stories to tell, pop in to the official caravan at the event.
Best of luck to those competing and look forward to seeing you there,