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CHECK OUT... |
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OAK PARK RACES! Timmy and Billy Mallett on the grandstand at Oak Park!! The races have been held every year since 1904 and are the highlight of the outback season. People come from thousands of miles - the Malletts travelled the furthest this year at 10,000 - to experience something unique and wildly entertaining!  getting to Oak Park is part of the adventure. 7 hours of dusty roads from the coast!  watch out for the occasional floodway - a natural breeding place for crocs and other nasties!  The road trains are the another man made hazard on the way.  Best advice is stay off the road...!  and keep a watch out for wildlife - emus during the day - kangaroos at night!  Invited by the Karydas family the Mallett men join the Collins camp!  The Collins camp is home to just 120 this year!!  are we nearly there yet?!!  It's a big welcome from Arthur!  Gillian Collins, our camp cook, gives Timmy a guided tour...  Our home for the next 4 nights!  Jim's collected over 100 freshwater yabbies from the creek for a big campsite feed!  First across the river gets a dunking!  It's even harder in a group!  Timmy went painting along the Copperfield River!  With a group of critics...!  The completed water colour!  Camp site dunnies can be a little challenging!  But it's a perfect place to get an award winning trim!  it's called a "donkey" - strange name for a water boiler for the showers!  Dressing correctly for the races, Timmy even wore a tie...!  The grandstand is filling up!  The races are amazing!  and the grandstand view is brilliant!  dressing for the races. Timmy with Auranea and Terry Karydas!  And these outfits came out of their tents!!  that's Bluey - ABC Cairns' famous race commentator!  one or two trophies up for grabs!  dressed for the occasion!  with our great mate Ross Blennerhassett!  The Mallett and Beer brigade - all set to walk 500 miles!  crowds gather for the big ocassion of the night!  the band kick off with the Proclaimers classic!!  The Karydas Klan in all their finery!!  crowds gather for the highlight of the meeting - the foot race!!  The runners check out their opposition. "Good luck cripple!" says Metcalf to Billy!  Billy comes in for a cash prize of $50!  The only runner to compete with his leg in agony!  The pain is forgotten in the moment of triumph!  Thanks for the words of encouragement Ross and Maxine congratulations speedy Mallett!  Worth the adventure - we'll be back! |
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See Timmy's paintings from... AUSTRALIA
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