Thousands flock to Elmore Field Days

Construction work on the jet boat waterway is expected to start this month.

Elmore Field Days president John Giffin said the event will be another activity to fill the site calendar for the year and would most likely run the same weekend as the annual tractor pull.

Mr Giffin said this year’s field days was very successful, enjoyed clear weather and attracted a strong crowd estimated to be around 30,000.

The expanded Health Hub — sponsored by Fosterville gold mine company, Agnico Eagle Mines — was popular, with queues of people seeking free health checks, and the shearing shed was joined by the charity, Shearing for Kids with Cancer.

“We’ll look at doing something bigger with the Wanalta-based charity in the future,” Mr Giffin said.

Checking in with the machinery exhibitors, Mr Giffin said while there was steady inquiries, interest may have been affected by the toughening seasonal conditions.

He thanked the volunteers who were the backbone of the event, and who numbered more than 500.

Volunteers nominate their club or charity to receive a share of the proceeds raised at the field days.

Executive officer Derek Shotton said the jet boat racing would be held on two separate dates in 2026.

The creation of the waterway, near the tractor pull site, would require only about 2ML of water which they expected to find through their current entitlement.

Mr Shotton said the pondage was reasonably shallow and the water would be recycled for irrigation.

“The addition of jet boat racing will create a weekend of motor sport for the site,” he said.