THERE was action everywhere in Jugiong on Saturday from bushrangers to stage coaches to pipe bands, market stalls and more as the village hosted a celebration befitting of a local legend of the constabulary Sergeant Edmund Parry.
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The legend begins that the deadly combination of Johnny Gilbert, Ben Hall and John Dunn held up a mail coach five kilometres out of Jugiong guarded by Sergeant Parry and Inspector O’Neil.
In the ensuing melee 32-year-old Sergeant Parry was shot and killed but not before bravely firing his own weapon a number of times. O’Neil survived after running out of bullets and surrendering.
It is a story which is part of Jugiong’s folklore and what better reason for a celebration than this being 150 years since the dramatic gun battle with the Hall gang.
Disappointingly crowd numbers were down on that of the previous re-enactment day in 2012, however those who did attend, including a strong crowd of Jugiong locals, were treated to a great day.
Jugiong police officer Steve Magnone estimates around 500 people attended across the course of the day, down on the 1500 or so from 2012.
All the action kicked off around 10am with a street parade featuring both the NSW Police Band and the ACT Pipe Band as well as the horses and horsemen of the Goldtrails Re-enactment Group and students from Jugiong Public School. They made their way from the Police Station down the main street of Jugiong which was looking it’s stunning best for the occasion.
From there, parade participants and the gathered crowd made their way across to hear a service delivered by senior police from the Cootamundra Local Area Command including commander Peter Wanczura.
A re-enactment to behold followed with members of the Goldtrails Group showcasing impressive horsemanship as they re-enacted the gun battle.
With a market area full of stalls, a vintage car display, bush poetry reading and VRA and SES rescue demonstration there was something for everyone.
That evening a black tie ball was hosted by the Jugiong Public School P and C at the property Garangula in Jugiong.
Not deterred by a lack of numbers, Senior Constable Magnone says organisers will continue to celebrate the Sergeant Parry tradition in another couple of years, this time concentrating on revamping it to attract a new audience.
“It is an important story for our village and a good way to attract visitors,” Senior Constable Magnone said.
Beneficiaries of the day and evening activities were the Jugiong Advancement Group for the improvement of community facilities, the Jugiong P and C for the local public school and NSW Police Legacy to support the families of those officers killed in the line of duty.
