Pretty Pine pushes on for dads

Despite the drizzly weather, gates opened as planned at 10am, with more than 40 market stallholders already set up and waiting for the families to arrive.

The Pretty Pine Recreation Reserve community centre was packed with food and refreshments, with the raffle and spinning wheel providing extra excitement.

There were also plenty of attractions for the kids, including an animal nursery and petting zoo and the famous Rotary train, all free due to an Edward River Council Community Grant.

Adding to the attractions was a display of vehicles and musical performances, including from Deni singing group The Gents.

Attendees brought along their four-legged friends, including some new working dog pups along, who were chosen to be included in the on-site dog training demonstrations by Rogueriver Kelpies.

Other pups got their chance to shine in the returning flat chat dog race and the dog high jump competitions.

Dads also got a chance to show off their skills in the cross-cut saw competition.

Event co-organiser Daniel Liphuyzen said while the weather did impact proceedings, attendees still got to enjoy several of the fun staples of the event.

“We ended up with about 7mm of rain for the day, including the bigger fall after 11am, but after that, the sun came out and it was beautiful.

“Everything got going, but the crowd had thinned out a bit by then.

“We ran a couple of events, including the dog jump, which saw an all-time record jump of eight foot and three inches.

“The on-site dog trainer was quite good all day.

“We also had the kids races, the flat chat dog races and the Deni Fertilisers Rubber Duck Race.

“We ran the cross-cut saw competition and ended up running one heat, with Matt Pattison the winner.

“We also had Chris Reeves from AGSPARES draw the raffle first prize winner, which was Jack Hope.

“Each year the whole community comes together, and it is a great community effort.

“We’re all farmers so we appreciate the rain.”