ANYONE looking to the east from a high vantage point in Nowra towards the floodplain will have noticed what looks like a new township.
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No, there hasn’t been a new instant suburb constructed; it is just caravans arriving for this weekend’s annual Terara Country Music Campout.
In the last week more than 200 caravans have descended on the Millbank Road property of Owen and Thelma Ison who will host the campout.
The mini township, affectionately known as Owie’s World, will be a temporary home for country music lovers from around the country.
“They bring their caravans and set up camp in our paddocks,” Mr Ison said.
“A number of them stay for up to a week.”
The music lovers have travelled from far and wide, including Queensland, Victoria and all over NSW.
“We have people here from Rockhampton in Queensland, Horsham in Victoria, as well as from NSW from places like Bega, Orange, Camden, the Highlands and Goulburn,” he said.
“We even have a group of locals who come from places like Culburra Beach and Currarong who bring their vans and stay for a few days.”
Mr Ison estimated he had around 440 people on the property already and “they are still coming”.
“It’s great to have so many people here for the campout but we would love to see a big local crown turn up as well,” he said.
“The more the merrier.”
Spectators will this year be treated to some new facilities, including a huge undercover viewing area in front of the stage
Walk-up artists will start the action at 10am Friday with the campout officially getting under way from 3pm on Friday and continuing through until 10pm. On Saturday the action will be held from 8am to 10.30pm, Sunday’s performances start at 8am with the weekend wrapping up about 5.30pm.
The poet’s breakfast, starring Garry Lowe, will kick-start both Saturday and Sunday from 7am.
A big line-up of artists will perform at the campout including Brian Letton, Stephen R. Cheney, Dwayne Elix, Ernie Constanchn and Christine Smith, Jay Podger, Peter Coad and the Coad Sisters plus Jim Hermel, Tom Maxwell, Cameron Mason, Bob Easter, Jeff Brown, George Farnham, Garry Lowe and the Illawarra Country Music Club.
The Terara Country Music Campout raises money for local charities with $17,000 having been donated to Noah’s Shoalhaven over the past few years.
Tickets are $15 per day or $25 for the weekend.