Event Information What to Expect & FAQs

What to expect

The format for the weekend is a combination of keynote speakers, and workshops.

The weekend kicks off with a Cocktail party on the Friday night. On Saturday morning, after your choice of a variety of fitness activities, we come together for Breakfast and keynote speakers, before breaking off into workshops. We come together again for lunch, before breaking into workshops for the afternoon.

Outside of these workshops you have the opportunity to be indulged with a beauty treatment or massage, as well as health and wellness appointments. These will incur an additional cost to be paid directly to the provider. You are welcome to also browse the Market Stalls over the weekend, which feature small businesses from across Queensland.

All workshops, guest speakers and gourmet catering are included in your registration, however you may like to bring some additional cash for the beauty treatments, the bar operating in the evening, and also to purchase goodies from the stalls.

At the Noccundra Campdraft & Sporting Grounds, where the event is being held, we will be providing bathrooms including hot shower facilities. You are welcome to bring your own camping gear (caravan, camper trailer, tent etc) there is ample space provided for you to set up for the weekend at no extra cost. Alternatively, you are welcome to enjoy our tented accommodation which includes a stretcher, mattress, lined sleeping bag and pillow, and an LED lantern. These will be set up for your arrival on the Friday afternoon. Tented accommodation can be purchased when you book your event ticket online.

A little bit about Noccundra

Noccundra will be home to the Channel Country Ladies Day 2024 event in October. Noccundra township is located 142 kilometres west of Thargomindah and 1,100 kilometres west of Brisbane on the banks of the Wilson River and contained within the pastoral holding of Nockatunga Station, which is owned by the Packer family. 

The community of Noccundra boasts a Hotel, Hall, Tennis Court, Cricket Pitch, Cemetery, and Race Course and Rodeo Ground, with a magnificent Waterhole, that forms part of the Wilson River, directly across the road, and an airstrip at the back of the Hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will I be able to access a complete Program of Events?

Information on guest speakers, workshop presenters and artists will become available on our website as they are announced.  We also post details of the program offering on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Check back to the Program of Events page for all the details and schedule in the lead up to the event. You will also receive a booklet with the printed program on your arrival.

What happens at registration?

Registrations will be open on Friday afternoon from 4pm – 6pm. This will allow you to settle in, and make your bookings for your health services and beauty appointments (if you haven’t booked them prior, which we do recommend). It will also allow you time to find your tented accommodation and or set your camp up, before a complimentary drink, and the evening’s entertainment commences, from 6pm.

What sort of accommodation is available in Noccundra?

We have tented accommodation available on site. For those who have booked the tented accommodation, a camping bed, sleeping bag and pillow are provided, along with a LED light. Simply bring a towel.

For all of you camping in our tented accommodation, there are toilets and showers for your convenience. For those camping independently, there is a big flat on which you can camp. Please do not expect a powered site – we have had problems in the past with this overloading the generator. Please bring your own generator if you need power.

Please do remember to bring a torch to ensure you can see your way to the amenities after dark!

While we do recommend staying on site to be immersed in the weekend event, there may be some availability at motels or cabins in town. Please contact them directly for pricing and availability.

Dongas, Powered and Unpowered Camp Sites may also be available at the Noccundra Hotel, however may sell out quickly due to the number of people staying in town over the Channel Country Ladies Day weekend. 

What is the catering like on the weekend?

The weekend will be entirely catered for by our gourmet caterers from Etiquette 24/7, from Toowoomba. This is the ninth year Richard and his team have catered for us, and they are back by popular demand. The experience begins with canapés on Friday night and concludes with an early lunch on Sunday. Please be sure to advise us of your dietary requirements upon registration, so to allow our caterers to consider any additional needs or limitations.

What is the dress code for the weekend?

Wear whatever you feel gorgeous in! The venue is a combination of undercover and outdoor (shaded) spaces, however being quite remote and amongst the red dust, wearing white may not be so preferable! October is always starting to get hotter, especially late October with cooler evenings.

What is the theme for this year’s evening events?

Over the weekend, we have two themed events, on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Themed events are a popular part of the weekend, and feature many creative outfits, including “best dressed” awards.  You will be wined and dined with an array of cocktails to choose from at the bar, and beautiful canapés and a meal over the course of the evenings. We will dance late into the evenings with our wonderful band.

Friday and Saturday night’s themed events will be announced closer to the date! Keep an eye on socials and emails for announcements. 

What EFTPOS or ATM facilities are there in Noccundra?

In Noccundra, we will have limited EFTPOS facilities. While all catering and guest speakers are included in your registration, and most of the stalls will have EFTPOS facilities, we recommend bringing cash in case of technical issues. The cash bar will also be operating. You’ll be able to indulge in a bit of shopping from the amazing line up of stalls, and bid on auction items. It’s always better to head home with spare cash in your purse, then to run short, so we recommend getting some cash out on your way to the event.

How can I book a pamper or beauty service?

A suite of service providers who are encouraging our ladies to spend some time on themselves will be in attendance. If you are one of the many of us looking to indulge in a massage treatment, beauty or hair appointment, you will have the opportunity to make an appointment with the provider of your choice by contacting them prior to the event. All beauty provider details will be provided to you via email prior to the event so you can make an appointment before you arrive. 

As the treatments vary in length, the committee has asked contributors to take their own bookings to avoid mix-ups. All expenses are a direct exchange between yourself and the provider.

Where can I get fuel?

The Noccundra Hotel located in town offers both diesel and unleaded fuel. Please ensure you are adequately prepared, and have checked the distances you need to travel and fill up accordingly. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I be able to access a complete programme of events?

The programme will be available in the month leading up to Ladies Day. In the meantime, you will have seen and continue to see announcements about specific aspects of the program on social media and on this website. When released, the program will outline the guest speakers and workshops available over the weekend, and their scheduled times. This will allow you to pursue the workshop options and decide what you will be selecting when you come to the event. You will also receive a beautifully hand crafted booklet with this program on your arrival.

What happens at registration?

Registrations will be open on Friday afternoon from 4pm – 6pm. This will allow you to register for workshops, on a first in best-dressed basis, and make your bookings for your massage and beauty appointments, and consultations with our naturopath. It will also allow you time to find your tented accommodation and or set your camp up, before a complimentary champagne, and the evening’s entertainment commences, from 6pm.

What sort of accommodation is available at Betoota?

We have tented accommodation supplied by our friends at Rent a Tent. For those who have booked the tented accommodation, a camping bed, sleeping bag and pillow are provided, along with a LED light. Simply bring a towel. For all of you camping in our tented accommodation, there are toilets and showers for your convenience. For those camping independently, there is a big flat on which you can camp. Please do not expect a powered site – we have had problems in the past with this overloading the generator. Please bring your own generator if you need power. Please do remember to bring a torch to ensure you can see your way to the amenities after dark!

What is the catering like on the weekend?

The weekend will be entirely catered for by our gourmet caterers from Etiquette 24/7, from Toowoomba. These were our caterers at Noccundra and Eromanga, and are back by popular demand. The experience begins with canapés on Friday night and concludes with an early lunch on Sunday. Please be sure to advise us of your dietary requirements on registration, so to allow our caterers to consider any additional needs or limitations.

What is the theme for this year’s evening events?

The theme for this year’s cocktail party is yet to be announced. Please watch out on our Facebook page for an announcement in the coming months! The cocktail party will kick off at 6pm on Friday night. It is always popular, and features many delightful dress ups. It will feature our comedienne Kat Davidson, who will kick the weekend off with a bang. You will be wined and dined with an array of cocktails to choose from at the bar, and beautiful canapés throughout the evening. Our band will close out the night. Bring your dancing shoes! Our sit down dinner on the Saturday night will also have a theme – soon to be announced.

What is the dress code for the weekend?

Wear whatever you feel gorgeous in! We will be in the shed and at the racetrack amongst the red dust so whites may not be so preferable. October is always starting to get hotter, especially late October. The pink themed cocktail party on Friday night is your chance to pull out the dress and heels! The special theme for this year is yet to be announced, but it will be Saturday night will be a sit down dinner; smart casual will suffice. However we will have a theme that we will be announcing in the coming months, in time for you to find your dress ups!

Where can I get fuel?

The towns of Birdsville and Windorah offer Diesel and Unleaded Fuel. There is no fuel for sale beyond these points, so please ensure you are adequately prepared, and have checked the distances you need to travel.

What eftpos or ATM facilities are there at Betoota?

At Betoota we will be operating entirely with cash. While all catering and guest speakers are included in your registration, if you are interested to join in with an arts workshop, bid on one of the items in the auction, or enjoy a pamper appointment, a massage or beauty treatment, you will need to bring cash. The bar will also be operating, and you will be able to indulge in a bit of shopping from the amazing line up of stalls – everything from fashion to cookware. It’s always better to head home with spare cash in your purse, than to run short with the nearest Eftpos facilities 180-odd kilometres away. Cash out is available at the Birdsville Hotel and also in Windorah.

What options do I have for morning exercise?

For the last few years, we have offered a choice between yoga, bootcamp, hoola hooping and a quiet walk. Our options for this year’s morning exercise are currently being refined. We will be posting details as soon as they are available.

How can I book a pamper or beauty service?

A suite of service providers who are encouraging our Ladies to spend some time on themselves will be in attendance. If you are one of the many of us looking to indulge in a massage treatment, beauty or hair appointment, you will have the opportunity to make an appointment with the provider of your choice on Friday afternoon following Registrations, between 4pm – 6pm. As the treatments vary in length, the committee has asked contributors to take their own bookings to avoid mix-ups. All expenses are a direct exchange between yourself and the provider. We will be posting the beauty treatment list up for you as our beauty providers are announced, so you can determine what you might like to have done at Ladies Day.