Ute of the Year winner Bruce Sutton with his ute, and the miniature version, and his grandchildren. In the back of the ute are (from left) Meila Harrison, Harrison Lindner and Kaley and Lucas Harrison, and in front is Mackenzie Lindner.
The Deni Ute Muster once again delighted the crowds at Deniliquin on October 4-5 as it evolved further towards a family-friendly event.
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Fans bring more of their friends and family along each year, and those who have gone on to start their own families want their own children to also love the event.
Artists Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont brought their son and daughter along for this year’s adventure, staying at the Ute Muster both days and enjoying some of the entertainment on hand.
Daughter Tiggy joined her parents on stage on Friday night, playing piano on the song Star of the Show which she co-wrote with them and family friend Dan Biederman.
The song won a Golden Guitar in Tamworth last year.
Bruce Sutton won Ute Of The Year at the Show ‘n’ Shine arena with his 1977 Holden H7.
His car’s bright orange paintwork — a custom colour chosen by Mr Sutton — made it stand out in a sea of well-cared-for utes of all shapes and colours.
The miniature replica of his ute that he created for his grandchildren and placed beside his own drew in the crowds, working very much in his favour.
His miniature ute claimed the Muster Mobeel prize on the day.
From Corop in Victoria, Mr Sutton rescued his now-prize-winning ute from wasting away in a farm shed in 2005.
“I bought it off a farmer,” Mr Sutton said.
“It was just sitting in the shed.
“I brought it here soon after, and it seemed to get a lot of interest.
Mr Sutton rebuilt the ute from the ground up and first entered the Show ‘n’ Shine last year.
He has restored many of the ute’s original features, adding only a few updates and customisations to suit his style.
“It’s mostly original, but I re-did the interior and added SAAS racing seats.
“The colour is custom, and I added the bug catcher in the front just to change the look a little.
“When it came to the paint colour, everyone liked the orange, so it was the way to go.”
Runner-up went to Moama’s Shaun Trotter with a 1983 Holden WB.
The prize for most flags (37) went to Sam Dewick from Quirindi, NSW, and farthest travelled entrant was awarded to Shaun White, who brought his Holden VZ 3261km from Ballajura in Western Australia to be part of the action.
Australia’s iconic singer-songwriter John Williamson drew people into the festival arena with his storytelling charm on the Friday night.
Backstage, McPherson Media Group had a brief one-on-one audience with the writer of True Blue when Williamson offered journalist Zoe McMaugh his dinner ticket.
Tyler Hubbard belts out one of his hits at the Deni Ute Muster show.
US performer Tyler Hubbard told McPherson Media Groupthat his first impressions of the Deni Ute Muster were ‘pretty awesome’, as he took the time before his performance to take in the event, after a 35-hour flight followed by a four-hour drive.
“I got to check it out in time for sunset,” Hubbard said.
“And it was, yeah, this place is great,” he said.
He admitted to not knowing much about the muster when he was first approached to be one of its main acts, but said he had been learning a lot since.
“I've done a couple of interviews and talked to a few people, enough to get the idea that it's going to be a good time for people.
“So, I'm excited and me and the boys are ready to party and put on a good show.”
The standing room in front of the main stage during Hubbard’s performance was crammed with music lovers, and behind them a crowd of fans in seats and on picnic blankets flowed back beyond the sound desk.
Deni was the first stop on Hubbard’s Strong tour, which will also see him perform in other states before leaving Australia mid-month.
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