Basin Flat beside the Macalister River at Licola on the Gippsland side of the Great Dividing Range was an ideal venue for the annual Mountain Cattlemen's Get-Together. After a stinking hot Friday with the mercury heading to 43 degrees, a cool evening change led to much lower temperatures for the remainder of the weekend and pleasant camping conditions.
Unfortunately, it couldn't have been predicted that a week later, the whole locality from Heyfield to Licola and leading into the ranges would be enraged with bushfires for an untold time and reeking an inestimable amount of devastation including homes and farms turned to ashes in its wake.
A large contingent of mountain families, campers, horses and dogs assembled at the venue for the series of horse events, bush challenges, poetry and concerts - headlined by the Sunny Cowgirls, which were held all weekend. The cattlemen's bar was ever popular with a few tempers rising on the Friday with reports of biffo between some errant characters in an otherwise relaxed weekend.
The main theme for the Get-Together was Celebrating Women of the High Country and this was highlighted in a parade on the Saturday consisting of many pink riders who had ridden from Glenmaggie along old stock routes for the celebration. The Cattlemen's Cup (Bush skills race) concluded with an uphill and down course with Chris Connley being a clear winner for the second year in a row. Other feature horse events included the Mounted Whip Crack and Packhorse races both conducted for juniors, ladies and open competitors.
The next Cattlemen's Get-Together will be at Hinnomunjie near Omeo in 2014.
