MR AMBASSADOR
“Voice of Rugby” Gordon Bray has been named Upper Lachlan Shire Council’s 2018 Australia Day ambassador.
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Mr Bray will be front and centre at the Australia Day events in the shire.
He will join the ULSC Mayor, Brian McCormack in presenting the local Australia Day awards.
Mr Bray is a sports commentator and journalist. He began his career as a specialist trainee with ABC Sport in Sydney in 1969.
After completing his cadetship he was dispatched to Hobart for a four year stint and initially called Aussie Rules.
Towards the end of his Tasmanian posting he won selection in the ABC’s team at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch and has since covered 10 Olympic Games – the first in 1976 as the youngest member of the Combined Australian Television Team.
He called the Yachting Regatta for radio and television and at the start of the Games presented the first ever live colour sports transmission to Australia.
Later that year Mr Bray paid his fare to France with the Wallabies and called both rugby internationals to Australia on ABC Radio.
When ABC colleague Norman May retired from rugby commentary in 1980, Mr Bray stepped into the role and over the next four decades became known as Australia’s “Voice of Rugby”.
He has now called around 450 test matches since 1976.
He is both author and editor of six books on rugby including the best sellers “From the Ruck” and “The Australian Rugby Companion”.
Mr Bray is a member of the Order of Australia for services to the sports broadcasting and rugby union community.
In 2000 he was awarded a Prime Minister’s Sports Medal. He is also a past recipient of a Penguin Award for Best Sport Presenter.
The Australia Day celebrations include Citizen of the Year presentation and an address by the Australia Day ambassador.
It is hard to be precise about the time of the address as Mr Bray starts the day at Gunning, then arrives at Crookwell, before lunching at Taralga at approximately 12-1pm.
WHAT IS ON
Taralga started the official celebration of Australia Day in 1958 with a day of athletics, which has grown to a day demonstrating the talents of the Australian stockman with dog (both sheep and cattle) trials, campdrafting, rodeo, junior rodeo, gymkhana and children’s novelties.
Volunteers run the events, serve food and drinks, and profits are distributed to the community after retaining enough funds for the following year’s celebration.
The Campdraft is run from 6.30am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday, January 20-21.
On January 26, children’s novelties begin at 10am-12pm.
The Australia Day ambassador will make the Citizen of the Year Award after approximately 1-2pm.
Cattle dog trials will run from 2-6pm. Yard dog trials will run Friday and Saturday 26th and 27th from 8am-4pm.
On Saturday 27th, the gymkhana begins at 9am-4pm. Junior rodeo and novice barrel race 3pm-8pm. Jamie Agius Band will entertain from 8pm-12am.
On Sunday 28th, open rodeo 8am-4pm. Bar and barbecue facilities available.
For any other information, go to http://www.taralgarodeo.com.au/.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed for the barbecue shed on the three days of the Australia Day weekend.
Shifts begin at 7am each day and are for only three hours. All help is appreciated.
Please contact Prue on 4840 2558 or 0456 679 635 or Vicki on 0438 842 085.
A FULL DAY
The Garden Club will be visiting “Wild Meadows” garden at Little Hartley on Saturday, February 24.
Stephen will have perennials for sale from his five year-old garden.
A $10 lunch will be available at the RSL Bistro in Oberon before the bus travels to “Mayfield”.
The cost of the bus fare and entry into the two gardens will be $65.
Names and payment must be in before February 10.
The bus will leave the Club at 7.30am.
