The new Julia Creek Dirt N Dust committee has announced details for the return of the festival in 2022, though an adventure run will replace the triathlon.
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Nobbled by COVID in 2020 and again in 2021 it seemed as if the festival would be forever consigned to history when it was unable to command a committee in July to take it forward.
Outgoing president Nathan James-Laneyrie said the continued risk and uncertainty of COVID-19 had originally made planning one of the biggest volunteer run event in Outback Queensland a huge challenge.
But then just a month later the festival was saved as a brand new committee came forward to save the day though it warned a triathlon would likely not be part of the program.
That was confirmed this week when the committee briefed the Julia Creek community on where they stand.
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"Planning is currently full steam ahead for the 2022 Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival," the committee said.
"With a brand-new committee, it has taken time for us to find our feet. The event was not able to run for the last two years so there have been some hurdles to overcome but we are proud to announce the 2022 event program:"
The festival will start Friday April 22 with a rodeo and live music.
Then on Saturday April 23 there will be a new event called an "Adventure Run" which will be followed by the Artesian Express Races at McIntyre Park and then another rodeo with live music on the Saturday night.
The Dirt N Dust website said the adventure run would consist of 5, 10 and 15km runs.
There will also be 13 country-style obstacles on each loop which will be optional on the 5k but compulsory on the 10 and 15 km runs.
The committee said the rodeo would incorporate bulls, broncos, bullocks and mini bulls.
"We will announce our live music acts very soon," they said.
The idea was born to start Australia's first outback triathlon in 1994 - that year saw 15 people tackle the race and 27 years later the little town of Julia Creek was to attract 3000 people for a full weekend of events.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
