Balmoral, Casterton & Kelpie's

Yesterday, we went for a day trip down to Casterton for the
Annual Kelpie Muster.

My dad and his partner, Kaye, were there for the weekend,
over from Gippsland, 

so it was a good chance to catch up with them.

We stopped at Toolondo on the way,

the third born was suffering from motion sickness.

When I was growing up, my family used to have a ski boat,

we spent many weekends skiing and swimming here.

It has now been drying for many many years

(for those who went to Balmoral High,

the old part is behind in this pic)

The next motion sickness stop was Balmoral.

I spent my teenage years growing up here,

we stopped at the school to show the boys were mum went to high school.

The high school was a couple of kms out of town and now the

primary school has been moved there too.

It's a great facility, has changed so much since I was there,

They even have a lovely little vegie patch

and some chooks.

This is the Pub Corner in Balmoral, the town has barely changed.

I had not been through Balmoral for many many years,

it was a great spot to grow up,

a small rural supportive community.

Driving through bought back lots of memory's,

of growing up during those teenage years.

Over on the bowling green were a group having

a relaxing Sunday morning bowl, among them,

Neville Trotman who used to teach me at school.

A quick hello to "Trotty" and then on our way again.

Another motion sickness stop at Coleraine

(husband cleaned it up)

Next stop, beautiful Casterton.

There was a morning of "For Auction" Kelpies

demonstrations for the people looking to purchase a dog

Then in the afternoon, the Auction started,

big money was spent on these very talented working dogs.

They even reached the

1 Million Dollar Milestone yesterday,

since the Kelpie Auction started about 10 years ago

Here's the second born with my Dad, Ron

And Ron with his Kelpie, Aussie

And, Kaye's Kelpie, Ruby with the 3 boys

And we even spotted a celebrity!

Ben Dark from Getaway.

I'm a sucker for a country boy in a hat with a nice smile!

(The towns I have mentioned are in Western Victoria)
Hope you all had a great weekend

Jacqueline