It may have been hot over the weekend but at least it wasn’t raining!
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That was Owen Ison’s recount of the seventh annual Terara Country Music Campout at the weekend, which attracted huge crowds.
“It was our biggest and best campout yet,” Mr Ison said, whose 21 acre property at Terera transforms into an instant town for the week leading up to the event.
Along with his wife Thelma, the property, affectionately referred to as “Owie’s World”, becomes its own village as country music fans from along the eastern seaboard converge.
Read more: 2018 Terara Country Music Campout – photos
Although he fell short of his hoped 400 caravans for this year, he said the event went off smoothly.
“I think we had around 350 vans in,” he said “we didn't quite crack the 400 mark but we will - maybe next year.”
He said he couldn't estimate how many people were at the campout for the feature Saturday night performance.
“I hate to think how many people we had in,” he said.
“It was massive.”
While the main campout was on Saturday and Sunday, campers started arriving early last week, with “walk up events” starting from Tuesday.
We didn't quite crack the 400 [caravan] mark but we will - maybe next year.
- Terara Country Music Campout organiser Owen Ison
The event featured a number of different artists and a number of poets over the weekend, and again raised money for a number of local organisations including Noah’s Inclusion Services (formerly Noah’s Ark), Terara Public School, Life Without Barriers and the Starlight Foundation.
“At this stage we don’t know how much we have actually made,” Mr Ison said “we will tally up our takings - gate takings were certainly up which is great, as it allows us to support the many charities we raise money for.
“It was just a great event. I think everyone had a good time and we had a huge crowd over the weekend, considering the weather, which was pretty hot.
“Mind you that’s better than rain.
“Despite the heat people just kept coming on Sunday - it was that hot at one stage the sound system cracked up and we had to give it a break.
“Someone said they recorded the temperature at 39.
“Our artists were fantastic, comedian Rodney Vincent was excellent, he kept everyone entertained and in stitches.
“Our groups catering, raising money for charity ran out of food - it was huge.”
And planning is already underway for next year’s event.
“There’s no rest, we have started working on the program and artists for next year,” he said.
He again thanked the local community for its support.
“We have had the backing of great, loyal local band of businesses. We have never asked for sponsorship but people have been willing to help us. No one I have gone to locally has ever said no and that is something we are very appreciative of,” he said.
Come Monday afternoon, as quickly as “Owie’s World” was established, it was gone - only a handful of caravans remained.