No flies on fashionable at Melbourne Cup of the outback
Stephanie Gardiner |
Ladies and gentlemen are expected to maintain a suitable standard at many city race meets, with sneakers, thongs, singlets and exposed midriffs strictly prohibited.
Those standards are fervently flouted at the Birdsville Races, where punters come to break all the rules.
Thousands of racegoers have trekked to the outback Queensland carnival, held on the scorching fringes of the Simpson Desert, to take in the sport of kings as ordinary subjects.
Black and green fly nets are the classic and practical look for most spectators hoping to avoid ingesting the insects, affectionately known as outback sultanas.
Michael Wood, from Logan Reserve in Brisbane, said his group of friends were styled by a kindly woman in Windorah on their way to Birdsville.
“The lady told us, ‘whatever you do, make an investment in a fly net for your head’,” he told AAP.
Mr Wood could not bring himself to wear the flowing netted accessory, instead opting for jeans, boots and a flannelette shirt.
“I got up this morning and I just couldn’t do it, myself,” he said of the fly net.
“The flies in Brisbane aren’t quite as bad as this. They’re a little more manageable.
“But I don’t think they’re too bad here – the breeze is blowing them away and we’re going pretty good.”
Brisbane dads Terry Gurr, Mal Shepherd and Simon Lee were among a group of friends wearing loud floral tuxedos, bought from an international atelier possibly called Temu.
“We were at a concert, it was pouring down rain and we were thinking, what could we do as a gag for the races?” Mr Shepherd said.
“We got online and came up with this, ordered them and here we are.”
Mr Lee said it was “surprisingly cool” wearing a suit in the Simpson.
“It’s high-quality polyester and it’s breathing well at the moment,” Mr Lee said, as the temperature soared above 30C.
Punters were also spotted wearing board shorts, chesty singlets, matching novelty shirts, gumboots, hiking shoes and – shock horror – even Crocs.
A group of mates wore matching shirts emblazoned with: “I like beer and horse racing and maybe three people.”
Jackie Burrage, from the Gold Coast, opted for a more traditional look, with a small black fascinator and elegant drop earrings, though her shiny cowboy boots put her squarely in Birdsville.
Ms Burrage said her first visit to the outback event informed her race wear.
“If it was my second time, I’d probably be more adventurous,” she said.
“I probably did stick to tradition because it was my first time and that bothers me – I’m out there and don’t care what people think.”
Race organisers are expecting their biggest event in recent years, with the $330,000 13-race carnival culminating in the Birdsville Cup on Saturday.
Birdsville Race Club vice president Gary Brook, who grew up track-side, said the colourful characters and carnival atmosphere were always a highlight of the event.
“The souvenir stalls and leather stalls that set up at Birdsville, I can always remember them coming and mum or dad would buy you a belt with your initials stamped on it,” Mr Brook told AAP.
“And because we didn’t have an annual show like every other town, those carnival stalls were always a great memory.”
This AAP article was made possible by support from the Birdsville Race Club
AAP
