Tungamah’s 150 years celebrated in style

By Emma Prior

Feb 19, 2025

The 150th birthday celebrations of Tungamah was a great success with the street parade being a massive hit with the Carnsdale Park Clydesdales leading the procession of horses, tractors and classic cars down the Main Street. Photo: Photography by Sheryl Elliott. Photo by sheryl elliott

The celebrations for Tungamah’s milestone 150th birthday last weekend went off without a hitch with the town bustling and everyone enjoying the festivities.

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A movie night and childrens activities on Friday night, a town parade, official opening, jumping castle, film of old photos and live music on Saturday, and a fun run, show n shine and novelty races on Sunday were all well received and attended, with the whole weekend receiving fantastic feedback.

“It was a very good weekend, it was just excellent,” Tungamah Kickstart Committee President John Tyrell said.

“We’ve had fantastic feedback of the whole weekend so far.

“We had at least 500 people there on Saturday and probably about 300 again on Sunday. We had about 150 cars at the show n shine and they want us to do another one next year.

The Clydesdales were a massive hit as part of the parade. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“Everything worked out really well. There were no hitches, which was very good and everyone enjoyed everything that was on offer.

“It could have been a fraction warmer on Saturday, but we survived.

“A lot of older residents had come back to the town, so to see them sitting around talking and really enjoy themselves inside the pavilion where we had cups of cheese and sandwiches, and to think they haven't seen those people for 20 or 30 years, that was great.

Tractors took part in the parade before being a part of the show n shine on Sunday. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“The film we had running all day for two hours at a time of old pictures of Tungamah, at times had 50 people in the room watching it. No sound, just pictures of old and the people there just couldn't believe we still had pictures of them.

“We made some USB sticks made of the film and they all sold.

Gemma O’Kane rode her horse as part of the traditional horse demonstrations on Saturday. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“The whole event was a financial success. The football netball club were wrapped, they sold a lot of food on Sunday and the Lions did a great job too with their sausages and hamburgers on the Saturday, same as the football club on Sunday.

“The Kickstart Committee also sold sandwiches, hot dogs, dim sims and chips and ran out of everything we had.

The jumping castle and other children’s activities were popular at Jubilee Park. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“The best part was probably on the Sunday morning when we had a fun run and odd events for the kids.

“We had three legged races, sack races and egg and spoon races. The crowd was in fits of laughter; they really loved it.

Participants in the fun run had a great day on Sunday. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“We are very proud to have been able to put on the event with the help of the Moira Shire.

“Everybody was really happy with it. The committee did a great job with a lot of work and a lot of planning but we got there with no complaints.

The egg and spoon race had everyone in attendance enthralled. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“It was also great to see Moira Shire Chair Administrator Graeme Emonson PSM, Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy in attendance.

“It was great to see them there and have their support for this event celebrating our wonderful town.

The sack race had participants and the audience in fits of laughter. Photo by Les_Garbutt

“The energy, the planning and the community coming together is what made Tungamah’s 150th Anniversary so special.

“A huge thank you to everyone who put in the effort to make this event possible – the participants, volunteers, and organisers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.