Queensland is set to swelter today with the mercury tipped to soar. Some of the hottest temperatures are predicted for the central, north and south-east of the state. It comes as thousands have gathered in the state's central west for the bi-annual Winton Outback Festival.
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00:00 I reckon if it casts a shadow at the moment, people are staying underneath it.
00:05 I'm sitting pretty narrow underneath my wide-brimmed hat here, but I'm looking just across the
00:10 street at one of the pubs and you can see another one of the pubs on the other side.
00:14 The watering holes at the moment are fairly well patronised.
00:18 People in there having a drink, staying cool.
00:21 We've got the local girl Jessica White performing just over on the stage to my left here, and
00:26 the crowds are in the marquees under that.
00:28 I'd say right now where I'm standing is probably the worst part of town.
00:32 So Dan, tell us exactly what the Outback Festival is.
00:36 Who's taking part in it?
00:40 Well it's people from all over the place.
00:42 Winston's actually quite a hub for people travelling from the north-west, the east coast.
00:47 Townsville is a very popular one here, and as well as up from the central west, which
00:51 is where I've come from as well.
00:53 People from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, they're sweltering a bit at the moment, experiencing
00:56 these 37, 38 degree temperatures.
01:00 It's really just a celebration of Outback culture and all things Western Queensland.
01:05 Very family friendly, lots of events happening all throughout the day.
01:08 There was the little Swaggies hat toss, people throwing hats, and the kids were swinging
01:13 billies today and running up and down the street.
01:16 Just about half an hour ago, in the beating heat of the sun, the Outback Iron event was
01:20 on which is basically men and women running up and down the street, jumping hay bales,
01:24 carrying fencing equipment.
01:26 It's super quirky, it's really wacky.
01:29 Everyone's having a great time.
01:30 The street was lined.
01:32 Again, everyone was in the shade where they could.
01:34 I caught up with some of the competitors actually right after they finished, so they might be
01:37 a bit out of breath, but here's what they had to say.
01:41 It's a five day festival.
01:42 There's events every day for the Ironmen and Ironwomen.
01:45 They call it gruelling, it really is.
01:47 I just finished and I'm surprised I'm speaking right now.
01:51 But yeah, it's been a pretty full on so far with three events.
01:55 It's cooked.
01:56 It's so good.
01:57 I think we're all from Queensland so we're pretty used to the heat, but this is something
02:00 else.
02:01 And the sun is just outrageous, so plenty of beers and plenty of water and I think we're
02:05 doing well.
02:06 So, handling the heat pretty well, all things considered.
02:09 People from Townsville have come down and they're like, "Oh, this is fine, it's quite
02:12 temperate."
02:13 But yeah, locals as well managing fine.
02:15 But a lot of fun and plenty more to come over the next few days.
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