Alice Springs residents celebrate friendship at 2025 Bangtail Muster

Australia Broadcast Center

05-05-2025

Alice Springs residents have celebrated the warmth, openness and diversity of their community at the annual Bangtail Muster event.
About 1,500 spectators lined the Todd Mall today to cheer as 28 community groups danced, drove and marched in a colourful parade.
The Alice Springs Rotary Club organised the event and said this year's theme was "the magic of friendship".
These preschool kids had fun being part of the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
About 1,500 people watched the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis
)
"I've only been here two years and one of the things I love about it is how quickly you make good friends and lasting friends," Rotary member Helen Perry said.
"People have that sense that you're here, you may as well be open — what have you got to lose?"
Helen Perry dressed up as Chuckles the Clown for the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
A band of marauding pirates made a swashbuckling appearance.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
"Today you'll see there'll be 50 nationalities up the mall at least, people from all over the world, which is what Alice is amazing for," she said.
A crew of "popcorn princesses" graced the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
History of the muster
The first Bangtail Muster was held in 1959 and was originally a cattle muster that involved stock workers cutting off the hairy ends of cattle's tails so they could be counted.
Since then the event has evolved into a community-led fundraiser.
Alice Springs Rotary Club president Neil Ross said enthusiasm for the event remained strong after more than 65 years.
The crowd packed into the Todd Mall to support their community.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
Neil Ross has been attending the event since he was a youngster.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
"Anyone who's ever lived in Alice Springs for any length of time … will have participated in at least one Bangtail Muster," he said.
"I was four years old when I had my first Bangtail Muster, I was at Ida Standley kindergarten.
"I still remember that and I've been in plenty since, too.
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It's just a celebration of our community and makes us feel good about who we are and what we represent.
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People of all ages enjoy the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Victoria Ellis
)
Skateboarders carved it up during the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
Where will the money go?
The roughly $1,700 donated at this year's Bangtail Muster will go towards palliative care services in Central Australia.
Palliative care nurse Cathy Reid said the service was "a beautiful space for families to come and spend quality time when time is short".
"I get goosebumps every time I talk about it," she said.
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It gives families the chance to give time with their loved one without the burden of having to be their carer at the same time.
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Palliative care nurse Cathy Reid says friendship is "everything" in an isolated town such as Alice Springs.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
A hoard of Vikings joined the parade.
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ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin
)
Ms Reid said friendship was "everything".
"Alice Springs is such a remote area and many of us are here without extended family, so your friends become your family," she said.
"I've been in town 29 years now and I have some amazing friends who I've met here and we are family to each other.
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You wouldn't survive in Alice Springs without good friends.
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