General News
30 January, 2025
Community Event of the Year is Toora Show and Rodeo
The Community Event of the Year for 2025 was the Tooraweenah Show and Rodeo
The Community Event of the Year for 2025 was the Tooraweenah Show and Rodeo, a day thoroughly enjoyed by over 1100 people who attended in early October last year.
Councillor Greg Peart read out the two nominations for the event of the year, Cruisin’ into Christmas and the show and rodeo.
“The 2024 Tooraweenah Show and Rodeo include a diverse range of attractions including local markets, horse riding events, a tractor pull, and rides for the kids including a rock climbing wall and mechanical bull.
"Art, fresh produce, craft, and more were on display and up for judging in the pavilion. The rodeo kicked off in the afternoon. Attendees were delighted by the performance of Ellie Mazzocchi, an amazing young trick rider. For the adults in the crowd, the bar was open till late with live entertainment from award winning song writer Clancy Pye,” read councillor Peart.
“What an honour,” said Kristy Gale, secretary of the Tooraweenah P, A & H Association.
“I’d like to thank our very dedicated committee who are all volunteers and spend countless hours in preparing for our show. To our show day volunteers, we thank you; without all of you the show couldn’t run.
“The committee has been very dedicated… over the last few years, [we have] upgraded our facilities and those who have been out [at the show] can see we have brand new amenities, a kitchen area, a secretary’s office, and a first aid room.
“Thank you to the Gilgandra community for coming and supporting our show. To hear so many positive comments last year about the show… it really was amazing to know all our hard work paid off,” said Kristy.
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Nominee Cruisin’ into Christmas
Cruisin’ into Christmas fundraising concert took place on December 1, 2024 and was a rousing success. Gil Alive shook off the dust and put together a fantastic afternoon for the seniors and young people alike at the Gilgandra Shire Hall. There was food, music, comedy, and more which delighted the audience. It took a great deal of time, energy, passion, and commitment to get the idea off the ground but the newly minted Gil Alive president,
Jessica Reed, did an excellent job of pulling the event together.
The line up featured many local legends including Jess Reed, Greg King, Maxine Elsom, Lucie Peart, Janet Cheal, Naomi McCutcheon, Alana Elsom, Jess Watson, Cameron Wendt, Haylee Bishop, Justin Bywater, Steve Bignall, Di Quealy, Maddy Foran, Lyn Edwards, Emily Horan, Point Blank Writers, and the Gilgandra Dance Collective.
Money raised from the concert went towards the 'Terry Nangle Drums Kit' Fundraiser. This is to purchase the town of Gilgandra a set of quality drums to replace the ones Toss used. These will be available for community events. Any remaining funds went towards the St Ambrose Restoration Fund.
