Event organiser Shane Dolton said the event was off to a flying start, raising over $8000 over the two days. 

“The golf day on was really good, we had 78 golfers on a very hot Sunday afternoon,” Mr Dolton said.

“That was won by the Narromine boys, then followed by the pigeon Calcutta where we raised close to $3000”.

The highest paid bird of the evening was pigeon Mel McLaughlin, named after the channel 7 sports commentator. 

While she is believed to be a favourite purchased at $480 from a Narromine syndicate, Mr Dolton said it’s going to be a close race. 

“Mel McLaughlin was the dearest price and the prettiest bird of course, but I don’t know whether she can win,” Mr Dolton said. 

“She’ll be up there with them but it will be a pretty even race.” 

“I’d love to see Glenn McGrath win but he hasn’t won in the last nine years so I don’t get my hopes up,” he said.  

Generosity continued to flow at Monday’s pink sheep auction, which raised $5060 for seven prized pink lambs donated by Tony Ferrari, Scott Purseglove, Paul Bartlett and the Flynn family. 

Auctioneer Peter Cruikshank paid tribute to the heart and generosity of country people, whose donations go toward providing Dubbo with another McGrath Breast Care Nurse. 

“It was a good effort to raise $5060 for the pen of seven sheep especially the way the season is going,” Mr Cruikshank said. 

“We have been doing this for nine years and every year our local graziers kindly donate some sheep towards what is a terrific cause.” 

“The money goes directly to the McGrath Foundation, not a cent gets taken out of it for administration or anything else,” he said. 

The Festival committee now prepare for the major event, the Pink Pigeon race day, which coincides with Sydney’s Pink Cricket Test match on January 5.

The event hosts a community day in Narromine at Dundas park when the pigeons are released and fly back to Mr Dolton’s home in Trangie. 

The race day is then followed by a twilight bowls evening at the Trangie Bowls Club from 7pm. 

Mr Dolton thanked everyone involved in the Pink Pigeon Festival and is looking forward to the next two events. 

“I’d like to thank everyone that’s been involved,” Mr Dolton said. 

“It’s not only me there’s a lot of other people involved that have helped me especially the farmers that have donated the sheep,” he said.  

Got a story to tell? contact journalist Zack Marlan at the Narromine News by calling 0455 066 740.