The races were then held in January and the account of the procedings began with a description of the drought conditions and a suggestion that it might be better to conduct the meeting in the autumn, rather than in the blazing heat of summer. Temperatures were said to have topped the 100F/38 degrees (so much for climate change).

The roads to the course from Moss Vale were dusty, and many of the shade trees had been damaged by fire.

However, the conditions failed to deter the Governor General of the quite recently unified Australia, Lord Northcliffe, significantly a member of the British aristocracy.

It would be quite a while before we had a home-grown Governor General.

However, he not only chose to grace the races but arrived by motor car, no less.

Due to the drought, many of the surrounding land owners, who normally supplied runners for the races, had other things to concern them and starters were light on the ground.

Mr Watt’s Foatpad not only “stole” the Bong Bong Cup, but also won the Federal Stakes, possibly named in honour of the Governor’s visit as well.

Schooner, perhaps an appropriate name from the day, also won two races, and Amelia beat a solitary opponent in the Grassfeed Stakes.

The names of Throsby and Badgery were prominent among the officials.

There were reportedly plenty of “bush horses”, tents and marquees, but the horses weren’t phased by the lack of shade from the damaged trees.

Nevertheless, a good time was had by all, and Bong Bong, we suppose, has had warmer days, both before and since then.

In fact, in more recent times, after the meeting was transformed to the spring, occasionally there have been drops in temperature which combined with rain might have one thinking they were approaching the arctic regions.

But these conditions have never completely spoiled the fun of a day at the Bong Bong Picnics.

Be part of history at the 2009 Bong Bong Picnic Raceson Wednesday November 11.