Lovers of the Wild West should head to Gympie this weekend to take part in the Mary Valley Rattler’s inaugural Great Gympie Gold Heist on Saturday 4 May at 10am.
Classic western fans can put themselves centre stage by hopping onboard the Rattler to witness a train robbery that transports the scene back over 100 years when gold glittered in the Gympie hills and outlaws were prepared to exchange lead in pursuit of the precious metal.
Two professional performance troupes from the Gympie region have come together to choreograph this action adventure on the Mary Valley Rattler’s heritage C17 steam engine.
In the great tradition of railway robberies, the outlaws will take on the iron horse with real horses, delivering two sets of robbers to the Rattler.
Jock the Joker (who robs and tells bad jokes) and his clumsy son Barclay (who delivers poems to those he robs) will come up against The Widow and her flirtatious sidekick Bonny as both gangs attempt to strip all of the passengers of their gold and other valuables.
Actors from the local Perseverance Street Theatre Company are swapping theatre boards for rail tracks fresh from their Queensland tour, while Rugged Cross Outcamp, home to CB Performance Horses, will bring a taste of Roy Rogers to the Gympie landscape.
The debut of the Great Gympie Heist follows the successful Troop Train collaboration with Gympie RSL to commemorate Anzac Day and recalls the action sequences filmed aboard the Rattler for INXS co-founder Andrew Farriss’ outlaw-themed video promoting his debut solo album, ‘Run Baby Run’ two years ago. Video: youtu.be/58jt8nYm9fw
The Mary Valley Rattler’s general manager, Sherry Lowe, said the combination of the Rattler’s and Gympie’s gold heritage was perfect for taking passengers on a ride back in time.
“We are very fortunate to have two regionally based organisations who are so enthusiastic about using the Rattler and the incredible Mary Valley backdrop as the stage of this pioneering experience,” said Ms Lowe.
“Developing the characters and the scenarios for this event has meant reliving Gympie’s heritage and celebrating the golden age of steam.
“This partnership also assists in providing employment for local creatives and boosting the creative and performing arts in our region. We hope that this will be the beginning of an ongoing exchange that helps attract visitors to our region and provides passengers with a unique and fun experience.”
The Gold Heist special train leaves Gympie Station at 10am, and travels through Mary Valley to the historic village of Amamoor, where passengers can disembark and view the engine being turned around on the turntable. There is time to explore Amamoor Village Green before passengers re-embark for the return journey to Gympie Station, arriving at about 1pm.
Tickets start at $70 per person. Options include VIP tickets, onboard food and drink packages, and family passes.
Further information and bookings, visit maryvalleyrattler.com.au
