Harrow’s Tussock Jumpers Bachelor and Spinster Ball returns to the Johnny Mullagh Caravan and Camping Ground for its 21st year this weekend – but not quite as people know it.
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Treasurer Paul Penrose said the event committee decided to try different things this year.
“We’ve booked three bands instead of one, so that’s two separate performers on the Saturday night and a different one again on the Sunday. There will be different styles of music all round,” he said.
The official line-up is Melbourne Country Rockers the Iain Archibald Band, local country songstress Jade Gibson and cover band No Mistake on the Sunday.
Mr Penrose said Saturday and Sunday-only tickets were also available, in addition to the traditional full-weekend purchase price for this year’s event.
“People have been complaining they’ve been paying for the full weekend even though they couldn’t stay for the full weekend, so we’ve offered those options now,” he said.
“It’s obviously cheaper to buy a full weekend than it is to buy each day individually, and it seems to be popular with pre-paying attendees.”
In the lead-up to last year’s event, the organising committee called on people to attend, warning that it might not go ahead in the future if they didn't get support.
Mr Penrose said the ball was now in much better shape.
“We slipped a bit last year, and that may have been the pricing – so we have decided to change that and have certainly got more interest this year,” he said.
Up to 700 people are expected to attend this year, one again outnumbering the entire population of Harrow by more than two-to-one.
Mr Penrose said the event remained a major celebration on the town’s social calendar, and they would again try to make the most of it for the benefit of the West Wimmera community.
“When it’s a successful show, it does raise a lot of money for things in the town and surrounds as well. We have to see what profits we make, but the Harrow Bush Nursing Centre, Harrow Hall and Edenhope Hospital are always high on our list,” he said.
Event Information:
Organisers said tickets were $150 at the gate Saturday January 19 from 4pm onwards. They also said camping would be free for ticket buyers.
Organisers say the event is strictly black tie, with no food dye or fireworks. They asked people to call 0418875012 for any inquiries.