At tiny Gumlu in north Queensland, toilets have been used to raise money for the nine-pupil bush school.

The dunny races are the highlight of the annual Capsicum Festival, held in June in 2002. The festival had many other fun events, including an iron man and iron lady contest and, of course, a capsicum eating contest.

Entrants for the races must have a vehicle (a dunny) that has a throne (toilet seat) and a jockey plus two pullers and two pushers. Heats are run up and down the rugby league football oval at the school and there are finals in four categories - junior, high school, ladies and seniors.

In the action-packed final of the seniors' event, three jockeys fell from their thrones, and just two loos made a successful turnaround at the end of the footy field to head back to the finish line. After hasty repairs, a re-run was held for the minor placings.

In the "iron" contests, competitors had to push a tractor tyre around an obstacle course, carry heavy bags of fertilizer, run carrying full water bottles and push a wheelbarrow around.

The $6000 raised during the 2002 Capsicum Festival will go toward needed items like computers and air conditioning for the school.