Drovers Campfire is over for another year, and organisers and local business holders have again been left happy with the Boggabri-boosting event.
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Organiser Geoff Eather said the numbers were up a little on last year, at 385 visiting vehicles over the four-day event.
“We can handle that kind of crowd, and everything ran pretty smoothly,” he said.
“The weather was reasonably kind to us – although we had quite a southerly breeze cooling us down at night.”
Mr Eather said the action at the Boggabri Showground hit its peak on the Saturday night, with the ever-popular skits from local performers, and music from Keith Jamieson and Alisha Smith.
But the action wasn’t only happening at the showground; Boggabri businesses were also pleased with the spin-off benefits to them.
Hassab’s Fashions & Giftware owner Wadette Shaw, who ran a stall at the event, said there was also a little extra trade at her shop in town.
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“It is certainly more than I would normally get on a weekend,” she said.
“It creates a lot of activity in the town and I think it’s an awesome event.
“Kudos to all those people that organise it …
“It’s great for the town and anything that brings people into the town, no matter how little or how much they spend, is a great event.”
Boggabri IGA manager Pat Crawford said simply: “Yes, it has helped the town and yes, we love having it.”
Anything that brings people into the town, no matter how little or how much they spend, is a great event.
- Wadette Shaw
Tourism tally
Boggabri Drovers Campfire has won multiple awards in recent years, including being named the best community festival or event in the Inland Tourism Awards in 2015 and 2016, as well as gaining a silver in 2014.
Mr Eather said there were high hopes to keep adding to that tally.
“Regional Tourism Awards applications have to be in at the end of this month, and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t someone here from the awards at the weekend having a look around,” he said.
“We’re in the process of organising our application.”
Mr Eather said the feedback from guests had been positive.
“I think generally it went pretty well: people kept coming up and saying it was a well-run event, great atmosphere, friendly,” he said.
“Overall, the whole thing went very well.”
Carolyn Millet
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
