It’s a spectacle like no other in the Manning Valley and a tradition thought lost for good.
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But on Sunday nine hundred head of cattle will leave Cooplacurripa Station, in the upper Nowendoc Valley, on foot for an approximately 80km journey into Wingham.
Their destination will be the Wingham Showgrounds for the Wingham Campdraft Club’s annual campdraft being held over three days from August 10-12.
Related: Campdraft Action in Wingham
All up 1000 head of cattle are expected and more than 250 competitors will compete in the main arena.
“It’s pretty spectacular seeing that many cattle coming into town,” said Wingham Campdraft Club secretary Jacqueline Byrnes.
The last time the cattle drive was held was in 2015 for the November Campdraft hosted by the Wingham Show Society.
A change of management at Cooplacurripa Station saw the tradition halted in 2016 and the November Campdraft cancelled that year.
The cattle drive started when a group of local property owners decided the next generation were not experiencing the thrill of droving cattle over a long period of time.
Now the third generation of some families take part in the drove.
They travel the original stock reserves and the cattle get their feed and water along the way.
Four main drovers will lead the cattle assisted by around 20 volunteers.
After the five day trek to get to Wingham and once all the action of the campdraft is complete, the cattle, horses, riders and dogs will make their way back to Cooplacurripa Station.
It will take them the better part of a week to get there.
Chance to see the cattle
The cattle drive will be coming into Wingham on Thursday afternoon via Bulga Road, Murray Road and into Boundary Road to the stock reserve closest to the Wingham Showground.
It is estimated they will arrive after 4pm.