THIS weekend, the region will join in commemoration of Judy Campbell’s silver anniversary as our town crier.
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Town criers from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia will compete to discover a new Australian Guild Champion plus a World Champion at the World Invitational Town Crier Tournament and Australian Guild Town Crier Championship.
Tomorrow, Saturday, town criers and attendants will become ‘Living Books’ at Echuca library from noon until 2pm.
Contact the library directly to book your exclusive time to chat with a town crier.
Sunday, October 13, the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers’ 30th anniversary championship will be held at the land next to the River Captain’s Cottage and Moama Telegraph Station from 9.30am to 3pm.
International town criers will also compete at this free family friendly event, which also includes handcraft demonstrations, lace making, quilting, woodwork, morse code, vintage car club display, handmade crafts, market stalls, children’s games, entertainment and an original jinker display.
The event will start at 9.30am with a parade led by The Loyal Company and Pacific Rim Guild of Town Criers Piper along Chanter St, Moama, followed by a traditional Welcome to Country, flag-raising ceremony and national anthems, sung by Bella A’Capella and Murray River Voices, before the competition begins at 11am.
There are prizes for the best dressed person in period costume and vintage car club members will also dress in costumes of the same era as their prized vehicles.
All town criers will present a cry telling of the wonders of their home areas, while the second round of competition, at 2pm, will feature proclamations on the host cry theme: The Long Paddock.
You can also vote for your favourite town crier on the day.
On Monday, October 14, until Sunday, October 20, the town criers will tour Campaspe Shire and Murray River Council towns, including school visits to Tongala Primary, Kyabram P-12 and Mathoura Public schools, Border Fly Wheelers Club in Barham, Tongala Aged Care and Dick McGowan Men’s Shed, Jane Austen exhibition at Kyabram Town Hall, Kyabram Fauna Park, Lockington RuralAid Day, Rochester Sports Museum and the famous Tongala murals.
A detailed program of the event, competition locations and times are available on the Facebook page Echuca Moama and Shires or Bust.
The awards ceremony for the Australian Guild Championship will be held at a dinner at Echuca Workers Club on Sunday, October 13, at 7pm.
Tickets are $40 per person.
Next Sunday, October 20, will see the final day of competition at Moama Market with the World Invitational Town Crier Tournament, with winners announced at Rich River Golf Club.
Tickets are available for $40 per person.
For information, contact Judy on 0419 253 658 or email judytowncrier@hotmail.com