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Thursday, October 17, 2024
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Have your say on statesignificant Burroway solar farm project
Pam’s set to hold firstever Big Pink Breakfast in Narromine
STORY: PAGE 14
STORY: PAGE 11
Homeward bound: racing pigeons head home to Victoria By SHARON BONTHUYS AROUND 1700 racing pigeons were released in Narromine last Saturday morning as part of a programmed event by the Victorian Homing Association (VHA). Originally planned for Dubbo, the scheduled release was changed to Narromine, 62-year-old pigeon conveyor, “Digger” Mellerick, explained. The pigeons had been trucked to the Central West from Melbourne by Mr Mellerick and driver, Sam Spiliopoulos, 27, in preparation for the race which would involve the birds flying the 800 kilometres home in only about 10–12 hours. “They’re flying into a headwind, so it takes longer,” Mr Mellerick explained, indicating a tailwind would help propel the birds home in only eight hours. Mr Mellerick hails from Yarrambat, and Mr Spiliopoulos from Pearcedale in Victoria. If you’re a fan of the “Outback Truckers” television series, you may have seen a recent episode broadcast this year about Mr Spiliopoulos transporting and releasing pigeons for a race from Coonamble to Melbourne. It was actually fi lmed several years ago but is still circulating, Mr Mellerick laughed.
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Narromine MX kids revup local pride with top results at Nationals STORY & PHOTOS: PAGE 24
Third Dolly Parton Festival wows the crowds By SHARON BONTHUYS NARROMINE was transformed into “Dollymine” once again last weekend for the third annual Dolly Parton Festival. The town was a sea of pink for the weekend celebration as festival-goers brought out their inner Dolly and dressed to impress, many donning riotous blonde wigs, cowboy hats, and the occasional butterfly wings. The festival had something for everyone, with Friday afternoon activities for kids, Friday night entertainment across multiple venues, a Saturday Street Party with markets and local trading, and a ripper Saturday night concert at the new venue at Cale Oval, as well as recovery events on Sunday.
Daylight saving a boon for concert MOVING away from the Labour Day long weekend proved to be a genius move by organisers, with this year’s event held in daylight saving time. This ensured more
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Brooke McMullen wows on stage as the music legend herself, Dolly Parton. PHOTOS: NARROMINE STAR.
nny Rogers Will the real Ke bow...? please take a
Aleena Barlow and mum Bel Maher enjoying the concert.
of the early stages of the festival’s evening concert program occurred in the late afternoon twilight, providing a greater experience for festival-goers including the many young children who were able
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to attend this year’s free event with parents and carers. The “mosh pit” at the front of the stage was certainly a magnet for many of the festival’s youngest attendees, who happily bopped about among
the adults to the line-up of festival performers after the hilarious best-dressed fashion parade and official speeches were completed. Continued page 4
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