Eric with his dog high jump winner Trigger.
There are festival attendees, and then there’s Eric Douglass. The Harden local became the unofficial king of the weekend recently, taking out events left right and centre showcasing a versatile set of bush skills that saw him take home an impressive haul of titles.
Douglass wasn’t just at the festival; he was everywhere, starting his adventure long before the gates opened. The Harden man was one of the dedicated participants who completed the arduous 200km Wagon Train Trek to Barellan with Riverina Wagon Tours, who specialise in back-road Riverina tours.
“We were away for 12 days altogether,” Douglass said. “Stevie Webb and I cooked for the trip, and we were away for eight days on the road. We had 12 wagonettes with us.” Once he arrived, he shifted from driver to competitor, dominating a diverse range of bush skills events:
• Billy Boiling Champion: Douglass took out the coveted title in this classic bush competition.
• Dog High Jump Winner: Proving his talents extend to his canine companion, his dog won the high jump competition.
• Team Effort Victory: Partnering with Dale Morton, Douglass helped secure a win in the Snatching Competition with a sled and Clydesdale.
• Open Male Best Rural Hat with Character: In a spontaneous moment of glory, Douglass entered and won the hat competition for his “everyday hat.”
“It was just a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing,” he admitted.
His connection to the old ways runs deep. “I just like those sort of set-ups, all the old things like that,” he explained, recalling that his “Dad had a couple of Clydesdales when I was growing up.”
Beyond the wins, Douglass was a standout for his sportsmanship and community spirit. He received high praise from another attendee for his efforts during the “Brick Snatch” event.
“And [he] made sure all the kids from their camp (and others, I think, because they just kept coming) all had a go as the snatcher in the ‘Brick Snatch’ comp! Such a great bloke,” the attendee remarked. With an estimated 10,000 people packed into Barellan on Saturday—a crowd so large you “couldn’t swing a cat there”—Douglass’s performance was certainly noticed.
He also witnessed history, as a record 62 horses helped pull an old Bennett wagon, breaking the previous record of 50.
For Douglass, the experience of cooking over a fire for 35 people for 12 days and then competing in the festival defines a good time. Now a reigning champion in multiple events, he acknowledges his new responsibilities. “I suppose I will have to,” he joked when asked if he would defend his ‘hat crown’ next year.”
The Good Old Days Festival is one of the nation’s most unique events authentically recreating and celebrating our nation’s pioneer heritage. The Festival is also the largest gathering of harnessed draught animals – horses, bullocks, camels, donkeys, mules and goats – in Australia. Held on the long weekend in October each year, the not-for-profit event is run by volunteers and contributes funds back into the regional community.
Early farming practices showcased include horse and bullock drawn ploughs, binders, wool wagons and a mallee roller. The Good Old Days Festival also celebrates the iconic water cart with a Furphy Festival featuring rebarrelling demonstrations, Furphy collectables and Furphy trains.
– Tully Potts
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