About Our Festival

So, one hot December day, a Chinaman, an Irishman and an Aussie walk into The Courthouse Hotel in Jamieson. After ordering their drinks (Creme de Menthe with lemonade, a Guinness & champagne known as a "Black Velvet", and a tall glass of milk), they make themselves comfortable at the bar. The Chinaman says "We should have a festival in Jamieson! In Autumn!! Next March!!" The Aussie downs his drink exclaiming, "Now you're talkin'. What a Mickey Mouse idea! Reckon we might be a bit tight on time though!" The Irishman, after downing his and ordering another, replies, "Jaysus, you're feckin' jokin' aren't ya!",

That was back in December 2013. The three men tossed around some ideas then held MANY community meetings to hone down, what is now, a very successful festival. The first festival, in March 2014, was held in the Police Paddock, behind the CFA shed. A handful of musicians came along (after much pleading and begging) to provide entertainment. And with our community BBQ and the Craft Ladies providing tea and cakes and refreshments for the punters, everyone was happy. Demonstrations included classic cars, cooking displays, stationary engines, blacksmithing and horse & cart rides for the kids.

And of course the competitions, that are now the mainstays of the festival, The Gold Nugget Throw, Cow Poo Lotto and The Hay Bale Race provide those quintessential elements of fun and laughter.

In 2016, one of the large Sequoia trees (Giant Redwood, sequoiadendron giganteum) in the Police Paddock had to be felled. This made an awful mess of the paddock after the heavy winter rains turned the chopped up ground to mud! And it didn't dry out in time for the next festival. So, in April 2017 the festival moved to Perkins St. An inspired move as it turns out.

Now the festival has grown to include many stalls of food, wine, beer, cider, plants and arts. There are blacksmithing, woodwork and line dancing displays, gold panning, an art precinct, Thomas The Tank Engine rides, kids games and a plethora of musicians, dancers and poets to provide a complete family day of fun in Jamieson. The festival is now spread along a closed road section of Perkins Street fron Deb's Cafe to the grassy bank of the Jamieson River.

The original idea of the Jamieson Autumn Festival was designed to showcase the many skills and talents within this vibrant community. And holding it in Autumn highlights the beauty of Jamieson in all its glorious colour at that time of year.

And the best bit is it's free!!!! These three blokes, along with a large army of Jamieson community volunteers, have managed to keep this festival running without charging any entry fee.

How good's that!!

Chris Badrock

Chris, captain of the CFA and past President of the Jamieson Community Group, is a key organiser, but is probably better known as the voice of the festival. As Festival MC, he tootles around the festival in a golf cart (kindly loaned to us for the day from a local resident) Chris broadcasts up coming events, competitions, displays etc. You can't miss him - he's the man in the hat!

Peter Horan

Peter, involved in some way in every Jamieson group except The Craft Ladies, is the Event Organiser. Months of telephone calls, emails, applications and meetings allows Peter to bring this whole fabulous day together. On the day he's a blur of yellow, running from one event to another, ironing out the wrinkles, answering questions, directing, resolving and keeping it all under control......of sorts!

Freddie Leong

Freddie, Jamieson's very own Chinaman, is the eternally optimistic marketing man and festival photographer. Nothing is too difficult for Freddie. After negotiating discounts on the advertising material, he personally takes each promo item to outlets here, there and everywhere!! On the day of the festival, Freddie can be seen with a big DSLR in one hand a smartphone in the other, creating those all important memories (not to mention images for next year's posters).