DAME Edna, Steve Irwin, Kamal and Mary Poppins - or versions of them - will be on hand to celebrate the dedication of Warialda doctors Clem Gordon and Di Coote this weekend.
The husband and wife team - the town's only doctors - have clocked up 25 years of service, so the community has organised a barbecue and afternoon of live entertainment.
The couple settled in Warialda in 1989 and raised their four children Robert, Elizabeth, Andrew, Katie in the small community.
By that stage they'd worked all over Queensland at Townsville, Brisbane, Chinchilla and Blackwater, and Dr Gordon had spent time working in England, obtaining is diploma in anaesthetics to add to surgery and radiology qualifications.
After a suggestion from a good friend at Texas, on the Queensland border, Dr Gordon started at Warialda in July and Dr Coote joined him later in the year.
"When we came here the community was very welcoming," Dr Coote said.
"We had four small children who did lots of sport. We got involved in the community, made our friends and we've stayed."
Having about 5000 patients on their books hasn't stopped the pair getting to know all the patients.
"You get close to people and form a bond," Dr Coote said.
"We hardly take a weekend off because we feel guilty if we go away and something happens to someone we know."
The doctors are some of last to still bulk bill for all patients.
"We bulk bill because in these small country towns people will go to the hospital after hours and you're still called up there anyway."
Both doctors are constantly on call, meaning they're the go-to team for local emergencies.
"You have to keep your skills up and we try to go to as many of those teaching days as we can," Dr Coote said.
"We often both go to emergency situations so we've got two of us looking at the problem and sorting it out."
Having qualifications in a range of backgrounds has been the big advantage of the duo.
They've even inspired two of their own children to study medicine. Elizabeth works at Tamworth and Katie is a resident at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital.
"Clem did surgery for two years, radiology for three years and then anaesthetics and my background is in psychiatry and general medicine so in lots of ways we've complemented each other over the years," Dr Coote said.
The couple's work will be celebrated at the Warialda Showground on Saturday, September 6.
The event will be open from noon, with a barbecue lunch followed by a series of skits where some of the more theatrical locals will show their talent and humour.
Celebration committee member Ted Stubbins said a feature would be a talk by local councillor Stuart Dick, who has seen Dr Gordon attend emergencies.
"One of Clem's great strengths is that he's very good in accidents and emergencies, so we're lucky to have Clem and Di in Warialda," Mr Stubbins said.
"They're really well-suited to rural medicine and enjoy the widespread respect from local people.
"It's great to have these fine people stay here for 25 years and build a very successful practice in the town."
Tickets need to be purchased before the event and are available at Roger Moore and the Warialda Pharmacy.
