Ballarat's Most Shonky Boots. A Father's Day Photo Competition

Author: Rishan Cooray  Date Posted:19 August 2026 


Think Dad has kept the shonkiest pair of work boots in Ballarat? Show us.

Ahead of Father's Day 2026, Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ballarat is searching for the local pair showing the greatest visible wear and damage.

One winning dad will receive a prize package valued at $449:

  • A $200 Hip Pocket Ballarat credit towards one new pair of premium safety boots.
  • A RedBalloon V8 Front Seat Hot Laps Ride at Sandown Raceway, including two passenger laps with a professional racing driver, valued at $249.

No purchase is required. Work boots from any brand are welcome and do not need to have been purchased from Hip Pocket.

 

How to enter

  1. Find the original Ballarat's Most Shonky Boots competition post on the Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ballarat Facebook page.
  2. Add one clear photo of your shonky work boots, or the shonky boots of a dad or father figure in your life, as a comment on that post.
  3. Include Dad's first name in the comment.
  4. Keep the exact boots shown in the photo until the winner has been verified.

Only photos posted in the comments of the original Facebook competition post will count. Photos posted on shared copies, Instagram, private messages or other posts will not count.

Entry is limited to one photo per person and one entry per pair of boots. Entries close at 10:00 am AEST on Friday, 04 September 2026.

 

What the judges will look for

This is a judged competition. It is not a random draw.

Eligible photos will be scored on:

  • Overall visible wear and damage
  • The extent of wear across the boots, including the soles, uppers, stitching, fasteners and lining

Likes, reactions, replies and shares will not influence judging.

The highest-scoring entry will become the provisional winner. The entrant must bring the exact boots shown in the photo to either Hip Pocket Ballarat store within seven days of being contacted. The winner will be announced after the boots and entry have been verified.

Retired boots are welcome. Do not deliberately damage boots or keep wearing unsafe footwear to enter.

 

Questions and answers

Do the boots need to be from Hip Pocket?

No. Boots from any brand are eligible and do not need to have been purchased from Hip Pocket.

Do I need to buy anything?

No. Entry is free and no purchase is required. Shopping in either Hip Pocket Ballarat store does not provide an entry or improve an entry's score.

Can a dad enter his own boots?

Yes. A dad or father figure may enter his own boots. Another person may also nominate a dad or father figure with his permission.

Do the boots need to be completely unusable?

No. The judges will compare the visible wear and damage shown in each eligible photo. Retired boots are accepted. Entrants should not continue wearing boots that are unsafe.

Can I enter more than once?

No. Entry is limited to one photo per person and one entry per pair of boots. If the same pair appears more than once, only the first eligible entry will be judged.

Can I enter through Instagram or private message?

No. The photo must appear as a comment on the original Facebook competition post. This keeps every entry in one place and gives the judging panel one complete entry list.

Will the entry with the most likes win?

No. Likes, reactions and replies do not form part of the judging. The appointed judging panel will score each eligible entry against the published criteria.

Why does the provisional winner need to bring in the boots?

The team will compare the boots with the submitted photo to confirm that the entry is genuine. The sole pattern, damage, stitching, markings and other visible details must match.

What happens if the boots do not match the photo?

The entry will be disqualified. The next-highest-scoring eligible entrant will then become the provisional winner.

What does the $200 boot credit cover?

The credit goes towards one new pair of work or safety boots at either Hip Pocket Ballarat store. The winner pays any amount above $200. No cash or unused balance will be provided if the selected pair costs less than $200. Stock and sizing remain subject to availability.

What is included in the V8 experience?

The prize includes one RedBalloon V8 Front Seat Hot Laps Ride at Sandown Raceway for one participant. It includes two passenger laps with a professional racing driver, a safety briefing, race suit and open-face helmet.

The participant must meet the experience supplier's booking, health and safety requirements. Current requirements include a height of 135 cm to 194 cm, a maximum weight of 130 kg and signing a participation waiver. The experience is not suitable during pregnancy. Travel, accommodation, meals, photos, video recordings and other personal costs are not included.

View the current RedBalloon V8 Front Seat Hot Laps Ride.

How will the provisional winner be contacted?

Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ballarat will reply to the winning entry from its official Facebook page and send a private message where available. We will never request payment, card details or banking passwords to claim the prize.

Extended terms and conditions

1. Promoter

  1. The promoter is Fifteen Needles Group Pty Ltd trading as Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ballarat, ABN 67 732 108 242, of 1265–1267 Howitt Street, Wendouree VIC 3355 (Promoter).

  2. Questions about the competition should be directed to Rishan Cooray or 03 5339 5446.

2. Competition period

  1. The Ballarat's Most Shonky Boots Father's Day Competition opens at 9am Wednesday, 19 August 2026 and closes at 10:00am AEST on Friday, 4 September 2026 (Competition Period).
  2. The timestamp displayed on the original Facebook comment will determine when an entry was received. Entries received outside the Competition Period are not eligible.

3. Eligibility

  1. Entry is open to Victorian residents aged 18 years or older who are able to present the entered boots at either Hip Pocket Ballarat store for verification.
  2. An entrant may enter his own boots if he is a dad or father figure. An entrant may nominate another dad or father figure with that person's permission.
  3. The nominated dad or father figure must be aged 18 years or older and must agree to receive the prize if the entry wins.
  4. In these terms, Dad includes a father, stepfather, grandfather, guardian or father figure.
  5. Owners, directors, employees and contractors of the Promoter, their immediate families, and anyone directly involved in conducting the Competition are not eligible to enter.

4. Entry requirements

  1. To enter, an eligible person must complete all the following during the Competition Period:
    • Locate the original Competition post published by the Promoter on Facebook. [LINK TO FACEBOOK POST HERE]
    • Comment on that original post with one clear photo showing one pair of Dad's work boots.
    • Include Dad's first name in the comment.
  2. Entry is free. No purchase is required. A purchase from the Promoter does not create an entry or provide any judging advantage.
  3. Entry is limited to one photo per person and one entry per pair of boots. If the same person or pair is entered more than once, the first eligible entry received will be judged.
  4. Comments on shared copies of the post and entries submitted through Instagram, direct message, email, in-store or any other method are not accepted.
  5. Boots from any brand are accepted and do not need to have been purchased from the Promoter.
  6. The photo must clearly show the boots and their visible condition. The Promoter may reject an image that is too dark, obscured, incomplete or unclear to judge.
  7. The entrant must have taken the photo or have permission from the photographer to submit it. The entrant must also have Dad's permission to submit the boots and first name where the entrant is nominating another person.
  8. AI-generated, copied, composited, or materially altered images are not accepted. Basic cropping or light correction is accepted when it does not misrepresent the boots or their condition.
  9. Entries must not contain offensive, unlawful, defamatory, or unsafe material, or infringe another person's rights. Entrants should photograph the boots only and avoid including identifiable people or private information.
  10. Entrants must keep the exact boots shown until the winner has been confirmed. Entrants must not deliberately damage boots or continue wearing unsafe footwear for the purpose of entering.

5. Judging

  1. Chance plays no part in selecting the winner.
  2. All eligible entries will be assessed by a panel of representatives appointed by the Promoter at 2.00 pm AEST on Friday, 4 September 2026 at 1265–1267 Howitt Street, Wendouree VIC 3355.
  3. Entries will be scored using the following criteria:
    • Overall visible wear and damage
    • The extent of wear across the soles, uppers, stitching, fasteners, lining and other areas:
  4. Likes, reactions, replies, shares and other public engagement will not affect an entry's score.
  5. The highest-scoring eligible entry will become the provisional winner.
  6. If two or more entries receive the same total score, the entry with the higher score for overall visible wear and damage will rank higher. If the entries remain tied, the judging panel will compare the severity and extent of the visible damage and select the stronger entry. No random tie-break will be used.
  7. The judging panel's decision is final, subject to any rights that cannot be excluded by law.

6. Provisional winner and verification

  1. The Promoter will attempt to contact the provisional winner within two business days by replying to the entry from the official Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ballarat Facebook page and by private message where available.
  2. The provisional winner must respond within 48 hours of contact and bring the exact boots shown in the entry to either participating store within seven days of being contacted:
    • 1265–1267 Howitt Street, Wendouree VIC 3355.
    • Delacombe Town Centre, Shop T26/315 Glenelg Highway, Smythes Creek VIC 3351.
  3. The Promoter may request reasonable proof of the entrant's identity, age and Victorian residence. If another Dad was nominated, the Promoter may also request his consent and confirmation of eligibility.
  4. The Promoter will compare the physical boots with the submitted image, including the sole pattern, damage, stitching, fasteners, markings and other visible details.
  5. An entry will be disqualified if the provisional winner does not respond on time, does not present the boots within seven days, presents boots that do not match, fails the eligibility requirements or cannot reasonably verify the entry.
  6. If an entry is disqualified, the next-highest-scoring eligible entrant will become the provisional winner and complete the same verification process. This is not a redraw.
  7. The winner will be confirmed and announced on the Promoter's Facebook page after verification.

7. Prize

  1. There is one winner and one combined prize package valued at $449 including GST as at 17 August 2026.
  2. The prize consists of:
    • One $200 credit towards one new pair of work or safety boots from either Hip Pocket Ballarat store.
    • One RedBalloon V8 Front Seat Hot Laps Ride, Melbourne, for one participant at Sandown Raceway. The experience includes two front-passenger laps with a professional racing driver and is valued at $249.
  3. The $200 boot credit:
    • Must be used towards one pair of work or safety boots.
    • Must be redeemed within three months of the winner being confirmed.
    • Is subject to stock and size availability.
    • Requires the winner to pay any price above $200.
    • Does not provide cash or an unused balance when the selected boots cost less than $200.
    • Is not redeemable for cash.
  4. The V8 experience is supplied and administered by RedBalloon and its experience provider. Their current terms, booking dates, availability, health requirements, safety rules and waiver apply.
  5. Current participant requirements published for the V8 experience include a minimum height of 135 cm, maximum height of 194 cm and maximum weight of 130 kg. The participant must sign a waiver. The experience is not suitable during pregnancy, and a participant affected by drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to take part.
  6. The RedBalloon voucher expiry date will appear on the issued voucher. RedBalloon currently states that its experience vouchers remain valid for 60 months from purchase. The winner remains responsible for booking and using the voucher before its expiry.
  7. Travel, accommodation, meals, insurance, photos, recordings, and any other costs connected with attending or using the prizes are not included.
  8. The prizes are not redeemable for cash. If a prize becomes unavailable for reasons outside the Promoter's reasonable control, the Promoter will provide a replacement prize of equal or greater value where permitted by law.
  9. The Promoter is not responsible if the winner or nominated participant fails to meet the experience provider's requirements or does not book or attend the experience within the applicable period.

8. Entry photos and publicity

  1. Entrants retain ownership of their entry photos.
  2. By entering, each entrant gives the Promoter a non-exclusive, royalty-free permission to reproduce and share the entry photo and first name on the Promoter's website and social media for the purpose of administering, promoting and reporting on this Competition.
  3. The Promoter will seek separate permission before using an entry photo for unrelated advertising or asking a winner to take part in interviews, filming or promotional content beyond the Competition.

9. Privacy

  1. The Competition uses public Facebook comments. Entrants should not publish phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses or other private information in their entry.
  2. The Promoter will use information received through Facebook or during winner verification only to administer the Competition, verify entries, contact the winner, deliver the prize and meet legal obligations.
  3. Marketing consent is not a condition of entry. The Promoter will not add entrants to a marketing list because they entered.
  4. Personal information will be handled under the Promoter's privacy policy at https://ballarat.hippocketworkwear.com.au/customer-service/#privacy-and-security and Facebook's own terms and privacy settings.

10. Facebook disclaimer

  1. This Competition is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook or Meta.
  2. By entering, each entrant releases Facebook and Meta from claims connected with the Competition to the extent permitted by law.

11. General conditions

  1. The Promoter may reject or disqualify an entry that is incomplete, duplicated, fraudulent, misleading, technically manipulated or inconsistent with these terms.
  2. The Promoter is not responsible for entries that Facebook hides, removes, delays or fails to display due to platform settings, outages or moderation. The Promoter will act reasonably when reviewing any evidence of an entry submitted within the Competition Period.
  3. If events outside the Promoter's reasonable control prevent the Competition from operating as planned, the Promoter may suspend, modify or cancel it to the extent reasonably necessary and permitted by law. The Promoter will communicate any material change through its Facebook page.
  4. Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.

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