00:00Ferret racing is not exactly a beloved Australia Day tradition, but here at the Henley-on-Mersey,
00:09these animals are serious business.
00:11And of course, the winning ferret will get $400.
00:14Not all ferrets have the competitive instinct, but their owners love them anyway.
00:19They're just so cuddly and fluffy, and yeah, they're just really long.
00:24What you may not know is that many of these ferrets are actually working animals in their daily lives,
00:29employed in pest management to run feral rabbits out from their warrants.
00:33But today, they're just here to be admired, and to raise.
00:37The one to mine, working in pet ferrets.
00:40So one day they're rabbiting with me, and the next day they're pets with me granddaughter.
00:45But the Henley-on-Mersey is not just a ferret festival, with other attractions including whip cracking,
00:51live music, and professional wood chopping.
00:54It's a significant event for us here today, being Australia Day,
00:58and there's nothing more Australian than wood chopping, is there?
01:01And although it is not an official Australia Day event, the organising committee welcomes any celebration.
01:07People could come down to the event and celebrate Australia Day however they want.
01:13Whatever culture they're from, but we're all still Australians.
01:18So they can celebrate Australia in their own way.
01:21For the town's mayor, the celebration brings out the best in his community.
01:26Inclusion, welcome, kindness, and a real desire to be together.
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