21-02-2023
The following article is based largely on clippings from documents collected and generously made available by Dianne Layden. In putting this account together there are bound to be errors and inconsistencies. We apologise for any omissions or mistakes in this article, and look forward to building a more thorough history of Crookwell’s main event from input received.
The beginning
The Crookwell Country Weekend (CCW) is back this year.
But back from where, you may ask. Or from when?
The event’s history, complete with gap years and name changes, is unknown to many and forgotten by others. It is a history of stops and starts, of ups and downs, and through it all, an event that was all about celebrating life in the country and more specifically, in this region.
But to fully appreciate this history, we need to set the scene and provide some context.
The year is 1983…. Bob Hawke had just become Prime Minister, Dick Smith completed his solo circumnavigation of the world by helicopter, Australia II and it’s famed winged keel came from behind to win the America’s Cup, Austen Tayshus topped the singles charts with “Australiana”, American singer Karen Carpenter died, actors Emily Blunt, Chris Hemsworth and Henry Cavill were born, and on May 5 1983 at a meeting of the Crookwell Junior Council at Crookwell High School, the Crookwell Country Weekend was conceived.
Over 50 people were in attendance at the meeting – including not just the Junior Council but also their adult steering committee. The initial aim for the festival was to ensure that the Grabben Gullen Sapphire Safari and AP&H Rodeo were able to continue, adding other events to breathe life into those two events while creating something new at the same time.
By the end of the meeting, they already had in place a complete outline of the weekend that was mostly retained in the final plans including bands, buskers, a street fete and a parade.
The 1983 weekend went off without a hitch with estimates of 6,000 people or more enjoying everything on offer. Of particular note … one of the bands taking part was the Bushwackers, who return to the stage for the Concert in the 2023 Crookwell Country Weekend forty years later.
In 1984, the CCW returned, again on the October long weekend, and this time was greeted by an unseasonal heavy snowfall. Despite that, a story in the Crookwell Gazette advised that numbers weren’t too far behind the previous year and that the event not only brought the community together but also a very large number of visitors. Among the highlights was a major wool promotion (maybe they saw the snow coming?) and local Member Robert Webster taking the role of MC for the official opening. In an honour attached to the Grabben Gullen Sapphire Safari, Melissa Charnock was named the Flower of Grabben Gullen.
In 1985 it was all systems go again. Two years, two great events. Even the snow couldn’t keep crowds away. What could possibly go wrong? In fact, a survey released in March 1985 claimed that 91% of respondents said the CCW should continue, and 92% of respondents said the CCW was of benefit to Crookwell and district. Most (64%) also believed the October long weekend was the ideal time for the event.
But in that same month, a subsequent meeting of the steering committee called off the Country Weekend due to poor meeting attendances and the apparent lack of preparedness by people to become involved.
What had, in such a short space of time, proven so popular and so successful, had fallen over with little fanfare. And that was the last people heard of the CCW. That is, until…
The year is now 1993. After some years in the wilderness, Meat Loaf had made a comeback to the top of the Australian charts, and the CCW was about to make a comeback in Crookwell.
The 90s relaunch
With $130,000 about to be spent on a new look main-street for Crookwell, there was a feeling in the community that there should be an event to showcase it. In December 1993, Sylvia Cullen of the Crookwell Shire Tourist Association announced plans for the Country Weekend to return in 1994, on March 19 and 20 (essentially the same weekend it will take place in 2023).
Many of the same elements from the previous Weekends returned for the 1994 reboot, along with a range of other events including a Bushranger escape, subsequent search and later trial at the Crookwell Court House followed by a public flogging. Again, the CCW was adjudged a great success with the local paper estimating “at least” 2,000 people present, declaring it was the biggest crowd in the main street in living memory.
In 1995, the same weekend was chosen for the CCW. The streets were filled with stalls, the bouncy castle made its first appearance, there were cooking demonstrations, street theatre by CADS, rides on the old railway line, a massive parade coordinated by Robert Bill (who along with his wife Sandra is coordinating this year’s parade). Again, described as a great success, the crowd estimate was upgraded to between 3,000 and 4,000.
In 1996, finishing the three day weekend on St Paddy’s day, the CCW was renamed the Crookwell Irish Country Weekend. Many of the same events returned along with the unveiling of the Blarney Stone, an appearance by Irish “yarn spinner” Ned Coogan and and green beer at some pubs. Local member Alby Schultz officially opened the event, Nicole Writer was crowned Queen of Crookwell and, despite a bit of rough weather it was again hailed a great success.
Later in October a story discussed concern about the future of the event but it was back in 1997, minus the Irish label. Most of the usual elements were back, including the street parade, 50 stalls and live music. Quadcycle and trike rides took place from the old railway station, there were sporting events, a Potato Fest within the event, Vietnam veterans made their parade debut and there were a stack of other events. Again, big crowds and a big success.
In 1998 NRL CEO and local man Neil Whittaker was the guest MC. Total crowd estimates for 1998 had blown out to 6,000, with a sporting hall of fame presentation a new addition, a visit by the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter and a strongman event added to the popular, tried and tested elements of live music, street parade, stalls and community group activities.
In 1999 the CCW committee decided not to have two competing big events in the year, and took the year off in order to help concentrate funds and efforts towards the millennium ending/beginning celebrations.
But the event returned in 2000 with an estimated 4,000 in attendance and bright, sunny weather. The usual elements of a ball, street parade, 60 bikes and riders from the Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Club, pet parade, bands, stalls, Binda Picnic Races, further inductees into the Crookwell Sporting Wall of Fame were all in place along with a long list of other events that had become such a part of the weekend.
The 2001 CCW combined both a Federation Theme and a Scottish feel (how soon that Irish experimentation was forgotten). The now-traditional Ball was cancelled due to lack of numbers and the Show was again visited by cold weather and a violent storm early on the Saturday morning. Some out- of-town stall-holders pulled out for fear of the weather but the bad weather didn’t last and most events and activities went ahead, including the 44-float-strong grand parade. In 2001 a short-lived newsletter, the Crookwell Country Weekend Whisper, “New and Views on Crookwell’s Biggest Tourism Event” was also launched.
Back to better weather in 2002, and Dick Smith officially opened the ceremonies. The weekend included most of the usual favourites, along with line dancing, Car Show and Shine, Potato Peeling competition, a skit by CADS, a Crookwell Green Devils match and much more.
Details on the 2003 CCW were not instantly available for this story, but in 2004 the weather was perfect and everything ran like a dream. All the regular activities were back and the Crookwell Art exhibition returned for the second year in a row. Veterans Motor Cycle Club was joined by Patriots MC (who will ride in the 2023 street parade) and there were both rugby league and rugby union matches at Memorial Oval.
Wet weather was back for the 2005 CCW and made life difficult for the 90 stalls and the estimated 1,500 visitors. A lot of events were impacted or called off but conversely a lot of indoor events proved very popular.
Keen CCW regulars described the 2006 event as being right up there with the best ever. Good weather was back to showcase popular activities including such as medieval displays, whip cracking and all of the usual favourites.
In 2007 it was time for a name-change and the Crookwell Country Weekend became the Crookwell Country Festival (the reasoning being that it was not for a full weekend that year). Entertainment was split between the main street, Memorial Park (with the Crookwell 10s Rugby tournament next door again in Memorial Oval) and the Crookwell Showground, where the Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Club held their national meet and a concert took place in the evening. There was an RAAF hot air balloon, a reptile display, brass bands, all the regular features and an estimated crowd of 4,000 plus.
In 2008 the name Crookwell Country Festival remained and the event was promoted as the 25th Anniversary. There were helicopter rides, Art and Quilt Shows, stalls, the street parade Vietnam Veterans rides, marching bands and much more.
After a successful Crookwell Country Festival in 2009 that attracted over 3,000 visitors, in November that year a press release cautioned that the event might fold without more assistance for the organising committee.
In 2010 the Festival moved out of the main street and into Memorial Park and Oval. There was no parade, but there were 70 stalls and a series of events at those venues, as well as Memorial Hall and the Railway Museum. Numbers were described in the range of 2,500 and 3,000, lower than the previous year, with a lot of public feedback saying they missed the parade.
The Potato Festival Years
In 2011 the Country Weekend, Country Irish Weekend and Country Festival, a rose by any name, was no more. An article in the Goulburn Post at the time stated that “the Crookwell Country Festival has been cut to make way for a more unified and economically productive celebration… Crookwell Potato Festival.”
The new festival was substantially different in as much it was not centred around the main street and, as the name suggests, had a potato theme. Nonetheless, many of the same elements lived on in the new Festival of the Spud including markets, art shows, live performances and much more.
In 2012, there was a clever “Anything but Chips” competition encouraging local eateries to create a meal featuring potatoes that included… you guessed it… anything but chips.
Inclement weather struck again for the 2013 Crookwell Potato Festival which included the inaugural Spud Wagon Australian Poetry Competition.
In 2015, like on so many other occasions, the festival was “bigger and better than ever,” this time with a special “spud bus” running people to and from Gary Kadwell’s farm for an Eco Farm experience in which where they were treated to a free information and entertainment session on the potato farming experience.
Potato cooking (and judging) were front and centre for the 2016 with local member Pru Goward among the guest judges.
In 2017, activities covered a spectrum from rock climbing and poetry reading, to ploughing and spud picking and to brass bands and string quartets.
In 2018, television presenter Costa Georgiadis was the special guest of the Festival.
The Irish sub-theme returned in 2019, greatly appreciated no doubt by special guest, His Excellency Breandn Caola, the Irish Ambassador to Australia.
In 2020, in the middle of the COVID pandemic, organisers opted for a digital program.
In 2021, still under the influence of COVID restrictions, a series of smaller events were held throughout April but despite the downsizing of the event, Peruvian Ambassador to Australia Miguel Palomino De La Gala took part.
And in 2022 the event was moved from May to November, partly due to the conflicting Robertson Potato Festival make its debut on April 30 to May 1, 2022, but in the end did not take place and, following its cancellation, the Crookwell Potato Festival Committee was disbanded.
Today
The Crookwell Country Weekend is turns 40 this year… that is, 40 years since the first Weekend.
In those years there have been stoppages and restart. There have been new names and directions.
We will let readers debate whether the Potato Festival was a modern incarnation of the CCW or a whole new event to be regarded separately.
But whatever the name, whatever the identity…
The Crookwell Country Weekend is BACK. And we can’t wait to experience it again.