The keepers of the local hall threw the doors open on Saturday 13 April, giving a couple of hundred people an entertaining excuse to have an outing at Come by Chance on a beautiful autumn afternoon.

Perched on the deep black soils just a sorghum paddock away from the Baradine Creek on the track between Walgett and Pilliga, the village of Come by Chance is an elusive destination for many.

"We appreciate that you all made the effort to travel here on whichever road you came along," said organiser Cathie Colless in her official welcome. "Let's face it, none of them are great.

"But we love having you here and hopefully you're enjoying the day."

Part of the enticement was an art exhibition and competition featuring a high quality line-up of local and other Come-by-Chance-connected artists, along with market stalls and a rolling menu of delicious entrees and noodle boxes served wherever you were standing or sitting with Katrina White and her Relish Catering crew working out of the hall's recently updated supper room.

The event was organised by Come by Chance Ladies - Bree Keir, Elsie Buchanan and Cathie Colless.

Long-serving shire councillor and Hall treasurer of forty years Jane Keir was called to help open the proceedings.

"We've all got great confidence that our hall will go on and on and on," Mrs Keir said. "This hall as we're looking at it now, was built in 1895 by Arthur Colless.

"As you look at it today the walls and the structure are still as it was when it was built. The windows, stage and front entrance have changed but otherwise it is as it was."

Jane Keir shares a potted history of the Come by Chance Hall.

There are plausible rumours that Banjo Patterson spent time at Come by Chance when he was working in the area - he certainly penned a poem of that name which was published in the year the hall was built.

The Come by Chance Hall sits on private land and the far-thinking founders established a community trust to care for and manage it.

"It's the only hall in the shire that is completely managed and looked after by the community and it is the oldest community hall in the shire, so it's a very special place."

"That's why we have fundraisers like these to keep the hall going because we the community do it," Jane said.

"I feel very confident that the younger generation having organised this great day today, that the hall will be in good hands for many years to come and I'd just like to congratulate them again."

Nothing on the day was done in half measure.

Sponsors and judges were invited to join in, and the crowd invited to cast their vote for the People's Choice prizes across three categories of painting, photography and metal art/sculpture.

The painting section was judged by visiting artist Kim Simmons who describes herself as "a really whacky artist" who loves to paint 'un plein air' (outdoors) and has set up her camp for a while at Come by Chance to connect with the country where one of her (Colless) ancestors once lived.

"When you've got only one category it really makes it hard to judge," she said. "There's some really great contemporary art, still lifes, there's landscapes and animals, it's not an easy thing to do."

Mardi Remond presents Miri Borowski with her prize with Cathie Colless (right) and Kim Simmons (rear) watching on.

Well known photographer Mardi Remond, who has spent much of her life around the Walgett and Coonamble areas, was also challenged to separate the photographs that ranged wildly in subject, style and composition.

Walgett-based Joey Fleming from Evolve Engineering was both sponsor and judge of the metal sculptures which delighted young and old with their wit and clever construction of works from a shiny pumpkin to a fire extinguisher toilet roll holder and some ants.

Between the hall and the fancy modern playground where around sixty children climbed, crawled and swung, the market stalls were also in the vein of celebrating and supporting local and regional talent.

It took the whole afternoon to chat your way around to discover useful and delightful items to take home from Linwood Trees, Top Wire Photography, Beach and Winnie, Gilgooma, Pearls for Girls, Outback Arts, Alan English Art, Annie Murray Art, Fuchsia Cards, Cox’s Crown Wine, Good Sunday, Lisa Wheeler Art, Molly Mackay Metalwork, Molly Deans Art, Phil’s Stockwhips & Belts and Robo’s Grease Monkey Art.

The crowd gathers indoors to hear the results of the art competition.

People crowded into the hall for the announcement of the winners. [results below]

By the time the cars dispersed the custodians of the Come by Chance Hall were around $5000 richer for their efforts and the visitors on the day richer for having gathered together to socialise and celebrate the small community's spirit.

Packing Room Prize sponsored by Jane and Jim O’Brien

• Coral Marshall - Narrabri

People’s Choice: sponsored by Annie and Michael O’Brien

• Painting: Julia Borowski – Coonamble.
• Photography: Annie O’Brien - Walgett
• Metal Art: Molly McKay – Coonamble

Girls admire Julia Borowski's Come by Chance painting which won the People's Choice award on the day.

Painting: sponsored by Come By Chance Picnic Race Club

Judge: Kim Simmons – Toowoomba

• First Prize:  Annie Murray – Walgett
• Highly Commended: Jennifer Colless – Walgett
• Highly Commended: Ana Robson - Coonamble

Photography: sponsored by Come By Chance Campdraft

Judge: Mardi Remond - Dubbo

• First Prize: Emily Fahey – Narrabri
• Highly Commended: Annie O’Brien – Walgett
• Highly Commended: Miri Borowski – Coonamble.

Jennifer Colless (Walgett) with Terry Francis and Philip Marshal of Narrabri.

Metal Art/Sculpture: sponsored and judged by Joey Fleming, Evolve Engineering, Walgett

• First Prize: Alastair Marshall
• Highly Commended: Alastair Marshall
• Highly Commended – Rambo Lawrence

Jane Keir with Come by Chance store owner Annie Gorman.