General News
6 April, 2024
Wheel spins away at greatest show
RORY Wakefield’s enthusiastic voice epitomised the energy at Easter Monday’s 151st Rheola Charity Carnival. He was among the army of volunteers working overtime to make sure thousands of people had a day crammed full of traditional fun while...
RORY Wakefield’s enthusiastic voice epitomised the energy at Easter Monday’s 151st Rheola Charity Carnival.
He was among the army of volunteers working overtime to make sure thousands of people had a day crammed full of traditional fun while raising money for health services in Inglewood and Dunolly.
Rory spruiking ticket sales at the spinning wheel - the moment he had spotted the buyer of each lucky last ticket, it was over to Mitchell Catto, son of new carnival committee president Matt, to send the wheel spinning in a clockwise direction.
Rotations at an end, the pair called out the winning number - outdoing the carnival’s commentator armed with the microphone - and helped lucky punters pick their prize.
Throughout the day hundreds of volunteers were on the job. From early in the morning the gates were staffed to collect $10 admission fees from patrons for what Matt Catto says remains a family day of good value for money.
Elsewhere around the recreation reserve that was readied two days earlier for Rheola’s biggest event of the year, another army of volunteers was marshalling vintage tractors into the holding area ahead of the tractor pull and sheep were unloaded into yards ready for their release to the more subtle and nuanced voice of farmers issuing instructions to trusty dogs tackling the yard trial course.
The crowd was at its peak soon after 2pm when Lindsay Soulsby backed his farm truck into its customary place near the secretary’s office ready for youngsters to step up and impress judges, vying for titles that showed they were among the best dressed next generation at an event built on history, heritage and tradition. Tiny tots, juniors and the coveted Miss Rheola section had proud mums flipping out their mobile phones, some even able to share instant photographs on social media with Telstra having a mobile tower in action, temporarily taking Rheola out of a communications blackhole.
Loddon Mayor Gavan Holt recalled that as a 17-year-old winner of the Rheola Gift, he later had to dance with Miss Rheola at the town dance that evening, more than 50 years ago.
Cr Holt was among many back at Rheola sharing memories, reconnecting with family and friends, on Easter Monday.
It’s the way things have been for more than 150 years. It’s why, as Cr Holt said, Rheola Charity Carnival is a Loddon icon.
- CHRIS EARL