Celebrating
the Ute – Australia’s modern day workhorse
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[October 12, 2016]
By Jason Reed
SYDNEY (Reuters) - In the
small rural town of Deniliquin, on the edge of
Australia's vast outback, around 20,000 "ute" lovers
gathered in the mud to champion a national treasure
deemed surplus to requirements by the big car
manufacturers.
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Part car, part pickup truck, the Australian-made utility
vehicle has become synonymous with farmers Down Under and is the
centerpiece of the annual Deni Ute Muster festival, a two-day
alcohol-fuelled celebration of all things rural Australia.
Now in its 18th year, the festival has grown to include country
music performances from Grammy award-winning artist Keith Urban,
a rodeo, whip-cracking championship and gallery of artwork
created with chainsaws.
But it's the "utes" that keep the revelers coming back, even
though a deluge of rain turned the usually dusty New South Wales
state venue, some 300 km (186 miles) north of Melbourne, into a
mud pit.
Sky Fulcher drove her black and pink Ford Falcon XR8 named
"Rumble Princess" around 3,300km (2050 miles) from Perth for
three days across the Nullabor Plain to attend the festivities,
played out at a difficult time for the vehicle in Australia.
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Ford rolled their last Australian-made Falcon "ute" off the
production line in July and Holden said they will cease making
similar vehicles in 2017 as buyers look to more fuel-efficient,
smaller cars.
Both brands trail Toyota, Mazda and Hyundai, according to
September sales data for the Federal Chamber of Automotive
Industries.
"It is extremely sad that they (Ford) are closing down
production in Australia, but we don't believe that this will
affect our festival," Anika Ahmad Bull, part of the organizing
team, told Reuters.
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Folklore says the humble "ute" was born when a farmer's wife wrote
to a car manufacturer in the 1930s asking for a vehicle that could
go to church on Sunday and carry the pigs to market on Monday.
While nationwide popularity has dropped, Bull and her not-for-profit
team have been able to buck the trend and grow the festival from a
humble vehicle 'show and shine' into a wild celebration of all
things Australian country.
A A$10,000 ($7,500) prize was up for grabs for the 'Ute of the
Year', while A$500 rewards were on offer in 13 other categories
including best 'chick's ute' and best 'refurbished ute'.
Others, though, just wanted to drink in the mood.
"It's a party that doesn't stop, it's a great atmosphere and
everyone gets on with everyone," said 27-year-old delivery driver
Darren McGarvie, who used the backtray of his "ute" as a bed for the
festival.
(Editing by Patrick Johnston and Michael Perry)
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