Trevor Down remembered in sheep counting comp

At 4pm, attention turned to one of the day's most anticipated events, the Trevor Down Sheep Counting Cup.

A huge crowd gathered around the oval to watch this unique competition, which combined country know-how, quick thinking and a little bit of luck.

This year's event carried special significance following the passing of Trevor Down earlier in 2026.

Trevor was a valued member of both the Dookie Show community and the town of Dookie itself.

He was the sort of person everyone knew they could turn to when something needed doing.

Ask Trevor for help with anything, and he would find a way to get it done.

His contribution to the community was greatly appreciated, and the sheep counting competition provided a fitting opportunity to remember him and celebrate his connection to the district.

Thanks to the generosity of Noel Sutherland, a stock truck carrying sheep was brought to the oval, with Leon Beard kindly taking the wheel as driver.

Getting the sheep safely from the truck to the oval required a bit of teamwork and ingenuity.

With everything in place, 20 competitors had the opportunity to test their sheep-counting skills for the chance to win a pewter mug and, just as importantly, the bragging rights that came with winning the Trevor Down Sheep Counting Cup.

The competition was organised into 10 designated areas, with two heats giving participants their chance to get as close as possible to the correct number.

It sounded straightforward enough, but counting a moving mob of sheep is certainly no easy task!

The enormous crowd added another challenge, with the sheep only willing to move from west to east.

This made for an entertaining spectacle as the competitors tried to keep track of the moving animals while spectators watched eagerly to see who would come closest.

A few competitors managed to get very close to the correct number.

In the end, just one person, Wagga stock agent Lucy Broughton, successfully counted the sheep and came up with the exact number: 179.

The sight of so many people gathered around the oval, cheering on the competitors and enjoying this uniquely Australian country event, was a reminder of what makes the Dookie Show so special.

It was also wonderful to see Trevor's family in attendance, sharing in an event that honoured his memory and the important role he played in the community.

The Trevor Down Sheep Counting Cup was more than just a competition. It was a celebration of Trevor's life, his willingness to help others and the strong community spirit that he represented so well.

The support from Elders, Noel Sutherland, Leon Beard and the many people who helped organise the event demonstrated just how much can be achieved when a community works together.

Special thanks to Emily Shields for the concept and for co-ordinating the whole event.