Oatlands steps back in time for festival

The Heritage and Bullock Festival at Oatlands last weekend brought both new and familiar faces back into the historic town and took everyone on a trip down memory lane.

Former local police officer Lance Wilson, who grew up on nearby Whiteford property Dundee, was among them, sitting roadside with friends and family to watch Brian Fish lead his bullocks down the main street accompanied by the soaring sound of the Police Pipe Band and the Derwent Scottish Pipe Band.

Lance’s ancestors built the Presbyterian Church and Mance on top the hill at Oatlands and he was once the owner of several major buildings in the town including the White horse Inn, now a whiskey distillery.

His son owns the local caravan park and the Wilson family connection is still strong in many aspects of the town.

“I live in Winnaleah these days, but I always come back for this festival,” he said.

“It’s great for the town and there’s so much to see and plenty of people I know out and about to talk to.”

From the shearing and sheep handling competition to the stunning display of leatherwork by local artist Tania Burbury to the steam engine display by the Old Bits ‘n’ Pieces Club there was something exciting around every corner, with the event tipped to have drawn more than 10,000 visitors over the two days.