Having never attended a Boorowa Irish Woolfest in the past, fellow journalist, Annabel Cusack, my daughter Zara and I really weren't sure what to expect for the day, however, what we experienced was a fun filled day that anyone could enjoy.
From the moment we parked and made our way towards the Old Courthouse we were able to take in the sights and sounds, from the sheep being unloaded from the truck to the ABC interviewing locals live on the radio, to the smells of barbecue and not to mention the smiles on everyone's faces, the moment we arrived, we felt welcome.
The balloon sheep had a line up of locals and visitors alike waiting to have their photos taken with it, from paramedics to children, everyone was eager to pose.
The first face we recognised was the newly elected Councillor James Blackwell, who, himself was wearing a huge grin along with his now iconic orange vest, he said hello, gave us a rundown of the best sites and things we might've found of interest and then needed to continue on his way since he was going to be required to appear on the main stage soon.
From committee members, Council employees, stall holders, visitors and locals, everyone we spoke to was so happy, having a great time and make the experience a memorable one.
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We joined the line at the St Joseph's Primary School sheep race tickets and purchased our numbers in the draws, very eager to finally be able to see and experience the Running of the Sheep for ourselves, not just on video.
Following on we began to explore all of the stalls, speaking with people we knew and recognised, stopping by to pet the sheep and animals at the petting zoo before we joined in tying a strip to the amazing Superb Parrot that was being created.
We shopped, ate and explored before we found ourselves a fantastic spot to watch the Street Parade and the sheep.
We were handed a flag to wave as we listened to the speakers, Susan Corcoran, Steph Cooke MP and Cr James Blackwell on the main stage welcome everyone to the 2024 Boorowa Irish Woolfest.
There were hats, Leprechauns, Irish green outfits, floating sheep balloons, dogs of all breeds and sizes, some of whom were also dressed to the theme, children, adults, teenagers, people of all ages, ethnicities and cultures lining the street ahead of the Boorowa Rugby Club leading the way with the COMMUNITY sign.
The parade highlighted how important the community of Boorowa is to each other with everyone getting involved, from preschoolers, right through to residents from Burrowa House. Emergency services to local car enthusiasts and two very talented boys performed tricks on their bikes.
Following on from the parade was the Running of the Sheep, with the sheep to run around the roundabout this year and make their way back up the street. It was exciting enough to have experienced this for the first time, but to have the added bonus of the first time the organisers would try to do the second lap made it all the more fun.
Sheep, as they tend to do, don't always want to play ball, however, I believe the committee managed to achieve what they had aimed for, which was a more interactive experience, especially with the sheep. The crowd really got behind the kids and adults who were herding them and even helped to try and direct the directionally challenged animals.
Though none of our sheep won, we cheered and laughed along with the rest of the crowd.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent listening to music, eating, more shopping, and soaking in all of the sights and sounds.
Though it was my first Boorowa Irish Woolfest, I can safely say with the way Annabel, Zara and I enjoyed it, it will definitely not be our last!
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