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THUMBS UP AUSSIES ABN 93 732 819 761 Correspondence Only to 16 Scott Street Deagon 4017 Registrations Only to Post Office Box 11, Arana Hills 4054

Your ‘Fair Dinkum’ Management Team Co-Convenors Nev & Bev McLachlan Nev 0417 729 263 Bev 0427 135 442 [email protected]

Secretary Carmel Mathieson (07) 3269 8519

YOU did it TRUE BLUE! We knew we’d backed a winner choosing the banana benders back yard (Sunshine Coast) for the 57th Nat, and, ‘cos we tempted your taste buds with offers too good to be true, you took the bit between your teeth and came to the party (you registered). There are still quite a few out there we know haven’t taken the punt yet -. maybe they have crocodile arms (can’t quite reach the wallet/purse)! But all is not over red rover for those mates of yours who are between a rock and a hard place (can’t make a decision) - we will WELCOME your rego when you can do it. The 57th ’fair dinkum’ management team are like a box of budgies (very bright and lively) and are as busy as blowies at a barbie (hyperactive) making plans to show you a RIPPER time in 2016. If your mate’s a bit like a turtle (slow moving) and wants to dance in Buderim– it would be right up your alley (perfect for you) to give him/her a copy of the BBT and a rego form for the National. Your mates would be off to the mail box like a bucket of prawns (move hastily); you would know you’d done good and helped your mate - ‘cos that’s what Aussie mates do. That’s my two bobs worth!

[email protected]

Registrar Bob Thomson 0417 150 201 [email protected]

Publicity Carol Simondson 0400 354 445 [email protected]

Facilities Kevin Lucas [email protected]

Programme Manager Gary Petersen 0434 772 066 [email protected]

Rounds & Clogging Liaison Michael Mills 0408 703 910 [email protected]

Didyaeverwonder Y U took up Plus and A??? Here’s why! The arvo dance on 4TH JULY is just for U the FULL PLUS and FULL A dancers. This is an after the 57th BONUS No Mainstream in the arvo ‘cos there will be plenty that night. This has gotta be better than winning the chook raffle??? Give a COOOOEE to Bob the Registrar, he’d loved to have a yarn with you.

Talking about backing winners! Another famous event each year on the Aussie calendar would have to be the Melbourne Cup. ‘the race that stops a nation’. I believe it stopped the Ghan many years ago. Travellers could not understand why the Ghan had stopped in the middle of what appeared to be ‘no where’. They were even more surprised to see the driver walking away from the train and heading to ‘who knows where’. When the driver returned to the train it was revealed the Melbourne Cup was being run and he (the driver) knew he could listen to the race call at a property not far from the train line. Another true Aussie yarn. So back to the Melbourne Cup and the jockeys, strappers, owners, racing public and the trainers. Each year as the winner is declared another page is written in the history books. None so wonderful as this year with a female jockey taking out the treasured prize. A real Aussie battler! Read more over the page

CONVENTION CHECK LIST You know where you can and cannot park at the venues? YES NO You know where you will collect your Convention pack? YES NO You know what mode of transport you have chosen to get to BUDERIM? YES NO You have sorted what you will wear to the ’meet and greet’ Aussie theme event? YES NO You know where to leave your worries? YES NO You have a shopping list for the essential supplies? YES NO If you have circled YES six times - you are the bee’s knees. If you have circled NO more than once - give us a Cooooeee!

The Koala was found asleep in Central Park garden. No, not Central Park, NY, rather Central Park on the Royal Caribbean ’Oasis of the Seas’ cruise ship. I was a tad homesick and when I spotted Katie Koala it made my day. Katie’s rellies will be at the 57th!!

Didjabringabeeralong so’s we can aveagoodweegend? Yep! Didjabringcheesenbiccies? Nope bortciderbeefinsted. Barbie it is then!

AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL ANTHEM Let’s practice and sing it loud and clear so we can be heard in the Atherton Tablelands.

Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free: We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature’s gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history's page, let every stage ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR In joyful strains then let us sing, ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR.

The Payne family has been involved in horse racing for many years. Starting with the head of the family, Paddy Payne, who proudly watched from his lounge room, as his daughter Michele brought the 2015 race home. Beneath our radiant Southern Cross Strapper, and brother Stevie, were overjoyed. Together We’ll toil with hearts and hands; with the trainer, the beautiful horse, Prince of Pezance, To make this Commonwealth of ours Michele and Stevie - Aussies now have another yarn to Renowned of all the lands; tell for decades and so the list of ’true blue’ Aussies For those who’ve come across the seas has grown. We’ve boundless plains to share; Of course, one could not talk about racing without With courage let us all combine making mention of another ’true blue’ Aussie trainer To ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR Bart Cummings 1927-2015. Known as ’the Cups King’ In joyful strains then let us sing, Bart collected twelve Melbourne Cup wins in his lifetime. Bart was born in Glenelg, SA. At a young ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR. age he headed north and earned a good living catching wild horses around Alice Springs, NT. These horses Did you know? We’ll I’m gonna tell you anyway were sold to India to serve as cavalry mounts. The National Anthem of Greece has 158 verses Bart established stables in Flemington, Vic and later Randwick, NSW. Bart also was the winner of a record 268 Group One races . A legend in racing; and a very humble ’true blue’ Aussie. But that’s not all we Aussies race ... Alice Springs, NT

Howzat?

The ‘fair dinkum’ management team wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas, however you choose to celebrate. For some it will be the traditional roast, vegies and pudding. For others it may be ‘Leyland Brothers’ style on the ‘frog and toad’, or perhaps a backyard barbie - shared with the rellies. ENJOY! We also wish one and all a very Healthy, Happy 2016 Each year in Alice Springs there is the and hope YOU will continue to support each and every annual Todd River race - folks build a ‘boat’ and race along the dry bed of the National Convention put together for your enjoyment. Todd River. There are Camel races - and most country and outback towns just love to get together for a racing event of some description. We race tractors; drones; cars, motor cycles and we even race pigeons. Gotta love the Aussie lifestyle but then Australia is the ...... BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! We’ll yarn some more real soon ...

To ensure you are kept ’on your toes’ at all times at the 57th, there will be in excess of 65 Callers & Cuers to entertain you. Make sure you tell ‘em. GOODONYA and THANKS See you up north in 2016 ...