BANJO Patterson’s tale of Clancy of the Overflow will be brought to life in A Drover’s Life at this weekend’s Mortlake Muster arena spectacular.
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Horse co-ordinator Tim Haworth said this year’s show involves horses, cattle and sheep as well as poetry and songs by an Australian country music band.
“The storyline this year is based on Banjo Patterson’s search to find Clancy of the Overflow,” he said.
“The show is made up of things he would encounter in his travels day and night while he is searching.
“It is unique. There is no other community putting something like this on.”
Mr Haworth said the scenes in the spectacular include gold prospecting, bushrangers, horse riders and cattle droving.
“Even rabbit trappers and swaggies are built into the script. We re-enact poems and songs that relate to each scene.”
Mr Haworth’s wife Gaye wrote the script and is also directing this year’s production.
Four months of practice and preparation has seen about 80 people involved in the rehearsals on the Haworths’ Mortlake property.
“They are all local performers and it’s a totally voluntary performance, there is no pay,” Mr Haworth said.
“It is a big commitment from them as once a week we do a three-hour practice.
“There will be about 40 horses in the show, with the Australian stockhorse featuring prominently.”
The show is a fund-raiser for the Mortlake CFA and Mortlake SES.
The 2012 muster raised more than $21,000 for the community with 1200 people attending.
Tickets are available at the gate and there will be two shows at the Tea Tree Lake equestrian complex, from 8pm Saturday and Sunday night.