THE SUN shone down on the High Country for the 138th edition of the Tolmie Sports Day.

It seems, that after 138 editions of the historic Tolmie event, the organisers have perfected it.

Fun and games, delicious food and cold drinks, friendly faces and larger than life characters.

The event had everything it has come to be known for, and everything you could want from a day amongst the gums at the top of the hill.

The organisers, past and present, deserve a round of heartfelt applause for preserving the iconic event which is now thriving well into its third century.

There was no better place to be than Tolmie Recreation Reserve on Saturday, to experience the High Country way of life and the community spirit our shire has come to embody.

It wasn’t all plain sailing in the lead up to the event with the Tolmie Sports Association enduring a difficult 2024.

The challenge they faced in forming a new committee had left question marks over whether the iconic event would be able to keep going.

But Tolmie and Mansfield Shire came together in getting behind the event and after a surge in community support the proud event moved forwards with its 138th edition. From the moment Dr Helen Haines opened the proceedings in the Axemen Arena, it was a day to remember.

First-time Tolmie Sports Association president Sarah McDonald was thrilled with the success of the annual sports day.

"The crowd was one of the best in years," she said.

"It was wonderful seeing all the usual people here and all the new families here for their first time.

"It was a team effort where everyone comes out to help.

"We have never known a community like Tolmie."

The crowd gathered from near and far for all of the traditional attractions and events including the hot saw, the foot races competed in by the young and the not so young, the three man challenge is back and the gumboot toss was made possible by Bata shoes and their donation of a golden gumboot.

Federal member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines was impressed by the fighting spirit and resilience that the events produces in the youth who participate, she said she was particularly struck by Bentley, a junior woodchopper who, despite coming in last, "kept chopping to the bitter end."

State member for Eildon, Cindy McLeish was thrilled to select and subsequently get the opportunity to meet the 2025 Mr and Ms Tolmie Sports, Alby Marshall and Ruby Le Cerf respectively.

"The kids are so lovely, as were their parents!" said Ms McLeish.

"Alby had already been in three events and was going to compete again.

"There was a three year old hanging out in the wood chop learning the caper."

Mary Reilly, Assistant Secretary of the Tolmie Sports Association was pleased to see the historic event receive all the support that came its way.

"Our volunteers were amazing and brilliantly supported by so many individuals and businesses from the Mansfield Shire and beyond.

"What a wonderful day they all helped to make.

"We had a very successful event (over 1500 visitors) and there were happy, cheerful people everywhere.

"Lots of fun at the foot races and novelty events.

"The Bata Shoes Golden Gumboot Toss was very popular, the horse events drew almost nearly 50 horses for a variety of horse games.

"The axemen were again a wonderful drawcard with the North East Championship being won by Laurence O’Toole Jnr; closely followed by Jarrod Williams and Jason Kirley in second and third respectively, continuing a distinguished history of those family names in the Woodchop arena of the Tolmie Sports."

The hard work complete and the event finished, the volunteers who have worked tirelessly for months to get it over the line get to take a well deserved break before they start thinking about the 139th edition of the Tolmie Sports Day.

Here is to 138 more editions of this very special day so beloved by the people of Tolmie and the Mansfield Shire community as a whole.