![A packed grandstand watched the running of the Tambo Cup, won by the Blackall trained horse Joe Blow. A packed grandstand watched the running of the Tambo Cup, won by the Blackall trained horse Joe Blow.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/2029909.jpg/r0_0_465_310_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
MORE than 1000 people laughed, cried and sang along with Graeme Connors as he and a community cast of 50 celebrated the 150th anniversary of the central western township of Tambo last week.
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The musical theatre production – Heart of an Open Country – told the story of the first town on the Barcoo River through the mouths of the people who have lived here since June 1863.
Memories of the mighty Tambo Eagles rugby league team, cuddling under a blanket on the town claypan, and going to the Rivoli Theatre, were melded with James Morrison’s jazz trumpet and Graeme Connors’ guitar for a memorable night out at the Queensland Music Festival production.
Earlier in the day, Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley opened the celebrations, saying it was the resilience of the people that was being celebrated.
She followed a cameo appearance by Major Mitchell, reciting the famous lines from his journal that described his first view of the area that inspired pioneers to settle the country. The week-long celebration was packed with sporting fun, morse code demonstrations, trivia competitions, a school roll call and street parade, and finished with a race meeting and gala ball.
About 1000 people packed the racecourse on Saturday afternoon, and committee chair Jan Ross said the whole week had exceeded her wildest expectations.
Heather and Peter Wehl travelled all the way from Boonah to revisit old haunts at Tambo. Click on the photo to see a gallery from the event.