An old mate from the Mallee rang up to tell me about a sheep race with fake jockeys to be run out in the bush to promote an up coming festival.
I pitched the idea to the Herald Sun picture editor, they were very keen.
I organised to go up the following day, the only problem was the 'jockeys' were still being made in Melbourne.
They wouldn't be ready till early the next day..
Living along the journey to Patchewollock, I wasn't keen on driving all the way back to Melbourne then re trace my steps. Instead of a 3.5 hour journey it would have turned into a 7 hours marathon.
I rang the office to get them to deliver them to me via taxi, but they baulked at the cost.
I was forced to do the unthinkable and drive an hour and half back to Melbourne and then 5 hours to the job.
I rang ahead to get the locals out of the pub and be ready for the photos to begin, the sun was setting as I arrived. The locals pre warned had stubbies in hand waiting for me, we threw the jackets and the 'jockeys' on the back of the sheep and shot for 20min till it got dark.
The shots went well, everyone was happy and I was shouted beer for the night, after they heard of the efforts it took to get these jackets on sheep back.
The funny thing is the milage claim I put in, was more than it would have cost them to get them me me in a cab!!