ABOUT US

The Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival will celebrate its 16th year in 2010. From modest beginnings, today’s event brings together people from all walks of life – from Queensland, Australia and overseas.  Julia Creek, based in McKinlay Shire, is proud to host what is fast becoming Queensland’s “must go” event.  Each year the Committee aims to reproduce the highlights of the previous years and add new attractions to continually showcase the town, its people and the true Aussie Outback.

Building on the success of the 15th Birthday celebrations last year, the Festival is quickly becoming more than bulls, bikes and butts. Situated in the centre of the adventurous OVERLANDERS WAY the Julia Creek Dirt & Dust Festival provides the focal point in the magnificent month of April for our many visitors who gather and celebrate, before heading out to explore or work in our glorious outback.

From Humble Beginnings

Starting in 1994, it all began with a couple of locals spinning yarns over the bar at the Town and Country Club, coming up with ways to put Julia Creek on the map. Low and behold, in one of Queensland's hottest and harshest climates the idea was born to run a triathlon! Whilst many would have scoffed at the idea, the challenge was taken up by many competitors in what was (at that stage) the newest tough sport.  A junior triathlon was run in conjunction with the seniors, with figures such as Brad Beven inspiring the youngsters on. In 1997 the triathlon became part of the Saucony Adventure Series for professional triathletes.

The triathlon continues to grow both in numbers and esteem. It’s not easy – but then nothing is in this part of Australia. That’s the challenge. There is however something for everyone else that doesn’t run, ride or swim. Over the years we have seen magicians, country music talent quests, amateur boxing, dance groups, cultural performers, fireworks displays, tobacco rolling contests, local ironman/woman contests, and the list goes on. Perhaps the biggest addition was hosting a sanctioned Bullride.  The men that you can now see taking on the bulls at the Dirt & Dust are not your regular cowboys, but some of the best in Australia - for we host a sanctioned Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event!

Dedicated Volunteers - The Spirit of the Bush

The Dirt and Dust Festival is organised by a non-profit organisation run by a small group of volunteers, committee members and a part-time event coordinator.  With the event growing in magnitude each year, the pressure placed on the committee also continued to climb.

Early in the new millennium the organising volunteers were overrun with the juggling act between the event, their families, work commitments and everything else that is just part of life in a small country town.  For those who wonder what there is to do in small country towns, the answer is…plenty.  There are just fewer people to do it.  But the community continues to ensure the success of the event, with 20% of all McKinlay Shire residents volunteering in some way each year.

In the lead up to the 10th anniversary many were asking if were to be the 10th and final event.  The fact that we are still going today answers that.  In that year (2005) horse races were introduced onto the program with great success.  The afternoon at the track incorporates the must do Red Claw Luncheon which features a locally grown product - recently declared by one of Australia’s finest chefs as the “best in the WORLD”.

We love our volunteers. Each year we show our appreciation in one form or another. In 2009 the Festival organised a series of professional skills based training sessions to ensure our volunteers have the knowledge and confidence to promote our community for many years to come. Technology now plays a major role in the festival’s success, with YouTube, FaceBook and a multitude of other sites whetting the appetites of thousands of would be visitors from around the world.

Our Accolades

In 2006 and 2007 the community was rewarded by the Festival taking out the Outback Queensland Tourism's Award for Significant Festivals and Events category and Tourism Queensland’s Excellence in Innovation award. 2008 saw the Dirt & Dust Festival announced as a FINALIST at the prestigious TOURISM QUEENSLAND AWARDS. In 2009 the Festival was shortlisted in the Q150 poll that recognised Queensland's top icons – a remarkable achievement in view of the relative youth of the Festival. In 2009, the festival also WON the Best Festival and Event in Queensland at the TOURISM QUEENSLAND AWARDS. We now go on to compete at the National Tourism Awards in Hobart in February 2010! Whilst the committee is very pleased to receive recognition for the huge amount of effort that is placed into the event each year, the true reward comes from what is seen over the weekend of the Festival.

The community truly comes alive. We draw those who work tirelessly on the land into town for a weekend of socialisation. We reunite past and current residents. We meet new friends from near and far. We introduce international athletes to the heart of Queensland. We bring together committee members who now live throughout Australia. We light up the faces of our kids. We see that rural Queensland truly is a great place to visit and live.

So come along and check out the many colourful characters in our part of the world.  Try your hand at one of the competitions.  Or sit back and enjoy the hospitality and excitement of the weekend.

See you here...April 16th – 18th April 2010