THE wet weather has not stopped a new village east of Nowra from taking shape.
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Each year around this time, Owen and Thelma Ison open their Terara property to stage the popular Terara Country Music Campout.
Country music fans from all over the country converge on the property, for three days of “fair dinkum country music”.
The majority of the music lovers bring their caravans and set up camp in the couple’s paddocks – a number of them staying for around a week.
The first caravans started arriving in the middle of last week, with Ron and Ailsa Smith taking up residence at the property, affectionately tagged Owie’s World, all the way from Rockhampton in Queensland.
By Wednesday more than 80 vans had already arrived and Mr Ison expected at least 150 would be there when the festival opens on Friday.
He said despite the area having received more than 250mm of rain, the vans kept arriving.
“We have had a constant stream of music fans and their vans arriving,” Mr Ison said.
“Last year we had around 150 vans.
It does look spectacular when you look out over the paddock and it’s full of vans.
“It’s a pity the rain hadn’t waited another week, but we’ll push on regardless.
“You can’t send people who have travelled hundreds of miles to get here away – we just built more roads to accommodate them.
“Sure it’s a bit wet, but everyone is coping and the show will go on.
“The weather is holding a few off; they are waiting to see what happens before committing to the whole weekend.
“I think some of the locals, who usually bring their caravans and stay might just be day visitors instead.”
The talk around the campsites is that there has been a run on gum boots, umbrellas and raincoats in Nowra.
The Terara Country Music Campout raises money for Noah’s Shoalhaven, a centre that provides services for children with special needs and their families.
The campout will get under way from 3pm on Friday and continues through until 10pm and will be staged from 8am to 10.30pm Saturday and a breakfast on the Sunday from 7am with the weekend wrapping up about 5.30pm.
Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for the weekend.