The 2022 Deni Ute Muster – in pictures
Revving engines, exhaust fumes and billowing clouds of dust set the scene in Deniliquin. Thousands of people from across the country visit the small New South Wales town to drive, dance, drink and enjoy cars at the muster, and ‘it’s not just for the boys’
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A chorus of engines revving and backfiring erupts from the ‘ute paddock’. The air tastes of dust, exhaust fumes, and smoke from campfires
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Welcome to the Deni Ute Muster – where thousands come together in the small town of Deniliquin in southern New South Wales to celebrate the nation’s beloved ute
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After competing in the circle work competition, Steven Banks and Jason May discuss their efforts
One of the muster’s signature events is the national circle work championships which sees suped-up utes adorned with flags, stickers, exhausts and five-poster bullbars hit the arena -
Jessie practises his whip-cracking skills
The event program includes live music, fair rides, driving competitions, rodeo, and the ute of the year award -
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Among the circle work finalists was Jemima Semler, 44, from Bordertown in South Australia. Her ford falcon XR6 may not have had the most powerful engine or loudest exhaust but stood out because of her technical skill and control
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The muster is expecting 20,000 visitors this year
It’s Semler’s second time competing in the championships and her fourth Deni Ute Muster. Her advice to other women is: ‘Take a crack, it’ll be the best thing you can do’ -
‘As one of the fellas said ... “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what’s between your legs, if you can drive, drive, and that’s exactly what it comes down to”’ – Jemima Semler
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Josh Waters competes in the circle work competition
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The ute paddock camping area
Thousands of people from all over the country head to Deniliquin for the ute muster -
Allira, Lilley, Clay and Meeks in the ute paddock camping area
After two years of pandemic closures, ticket sales are predicted to reach 20,000, according to the chair, Russell Tait -
A cowboy competes in the bull riding competition
Tait says the event wouldn’t be here without the support from the local community and volunteer board -
Tait says most of the event organisers are women who have been on the committee since the first muster in 1999
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Former National party minister and truck driver Kay Hull says she first heard of the Deni Ute Muster in 1999 and was excited to see the women running it
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‘I was like this is incredible, like utes were the big bloke thing back then but it’s not and these women recognised it’ – Hull
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Sideshow alley worked late in to the night
‘What I see is the initiative that has delivered a vision but also sustainability and prosperity for regional communities’ – Hull -
Elizabeth Doyle, Emily Barker and Chloe Dann dancing on one of the many stages around the camping site
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The Angels play on the big stage
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Visitors in the ute paddock camping area
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John Williamson sings True Blue and all hats were off in the crowd
