by FilmInk Staff
In conjunction with the regional Victorian town of Kyabram’s 150th anniversary, The Australian National Town Crying Championship will take over the town on 7 November, having criers from all over the country competing for the top honour. This 35th iteration of the competition has gained the attention of a group of filmmakers, shooting a documentary at Kyabram’s 2026 festivities.
The criers will be travelling from all around Australia to Kyabram, populating the town from 5 November and staying through all of the town’s celebrations. Competitors from Toowoomba, Warwick and Stanthorpe in the Southern Downs, Qld, Parkes, Bega Valley Shire, Central Coast and Euroa, Victoria, are anticipated to attend, with some criers from Queensland, like Ken Ashford, of Maryborough, making their way through flood-waters to attend the event and give the competition their greatest sho(u)t.
President of The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers, event organiser, and town-crying champion, Judy Campbell, could not be more excited to bring town-crying to Kyabram and be part of the town’s historic celebration, saying “collaborating with the Kyabram Town Hall Writers’ Group to not only run the criers’ competition, but also showcase the relics and lost history of the town, will culminate in a creative weekend rarely witnessed on this scale before!”
This year’s competition also follows the tragic loss of Joseph McGrail-Bateup in July of this year, the Canberra crier who set the Guinness World Record for “loudest shout by an individual” mere months before his passing. The recorded shout was 122.4 dB and can be compared to the volume of a jet engine taking off.
Filmmaker, Flynn Boffo, has been drawn to the subject of Town Cryers for a number of years. “Town cries are the mascots of regional communities. I find them to be endearing folk figures in a time when sincerity can be hard to come by,” says Boffo.
In addition to the main competition, the weekend will include a lineup of community activities to celebrate the momentous anniversary including:
VOICES OF KYABRAM’S PAST (Friday, 6 November, 7:00PM)
Voices of the past discuss Kyabram’s ups and downs through 150 Years of articles and Letters to the Editor, from the trivial to the ground shaking. Guest town criers and community members will be presenting in the town hall.
THE ANCIENT AND HONOURABLE GUILD OF AUSTRALIAN TOWN CRIERS 35TH NATIONAL TOWN CRIER CHAMPIONSHIP (Saturday, 7 November)
A showcase of town criers from across Australia competing on style, tone and volume. The competition also includes a junior crier segment. Later in the evening, awards will be presented to designated winners.
KYABRAM STORIES (Sunday, 8 November)
A collection of community stories about the people, events, and changes in Kyabram and district now all compiled into a book. Includes stories from the criers. Selections from the stories will be presented orally along with music by Ryebuck and Friends
More details on the upcoming event can be found on the AHGATC website HERE.
