After Quilpie, there is only one town before the turn-off to Birdsville. For most of the year it is little more than a fuel stop but on the Wednesday before the Birdsville Races, it comes to life. Taking advantage of the traffic heading west, the residents of Windorah host their annual Yabbie Races.
Caravans and four-wheel drives arrive in a steady stream all day and it doesn’t take long for the servo to grow a lengthy queue. Camping sites quickly fill and travellers are forced to drive their tent pegs into the baked bulldust of the showground when there is nowhere else to go.
The pub overflows with thirsty folk, and by the time darkness descends, they are sprawled across the lawn and into the street. The locals have blocked the road at both ends, and moved two small bleachers to either side of a painted ring in its centre.
“Righto!” A shout to no one in particular. People mill around the racing circle, bidding for the right to own a blue-claw for the event. The money they raise is for the local school. It is their one chance each year to fund-raise. And then the yabbies race.
With cheers and laughter, cash changes hands. Spirits soar and it is clear that there are no losers here.
Revellers continue well into the night, drinking cold beer and feasting on freshly made steak sandwiches. It is a typical outback event: friendly, understated and fun.
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