General News
7 January, 2025
Quay’s carnival ways
Among the constants of the Highland Gathering are bagpipes, kilts, the iconic grandstand and one family asking if you’d like to win a prize for at least three generations — the Quay’s and their carnival games.
Between calling out for kids to play a round James Quay could point to nearly any game and name a family member or friend.
“I’m third generation. I’m 33 years old so my parents have been coming here longer than me and my grandparents used to come here,” he said.
Right by him at a stall with ducks bobbing along in a trough of water was his mum, Tracey Quay. In the summer sun she’d scoop up the water in her hands and run it along her arms to cool down as she tried to grab peoples’ attention.
“Catch a duck to have a win,” she said.
When the Quay family go to an event James described themselves as “a moving town”. One that has been coming to the Highland Gathering since his grandparents and their illussion show.
The pair had 15 kids. The youngest of whom, Perry Quay, was a few games down by a trough of floating dogs. Beside him a great great nephew, Dylan Fraser, who found it easier to get people to come play when he was younger.
“Back then it was easier. You could just call out and, being a kid, they like seeing a kid working. It’s a bit cute, they come and have a look,” he said.
But age isn’t the only thing that’s changed as the year’s have gone on. According to James, before the pandemic there were “plenty of people doing insurance” but the pandemic threw “a lot of people out of the market” which has left few options for them.
“Since COVID started our insurance has just stupidly gone up and the problem is though, if there’s only one or two people on the market you do need it so you’re going to pay for it,” he said.
Perry told The Advertiser that over the last 12 months his insurance had gone up 100 percent.
But for James money isn’t the reason he got into the amusement game business, nor why he stays.
“I’m not in it to make millions of dollars, but some people are. I’m happy to go on a week to week type of thing. I’ve got my truck and caravan, that’s my home. As long as there’s food in the cupboard, I’ve got a roof over my head, I’m right,” he said.
By the evening James was predictably sunburned, but still at his stall like the rest of his family. They were ready for the busier evening and night before having to pack down ending another year at the Highland Gathering.