A pop-up tent city and steady stream of caravans and motorhomes is transforming the Millmerran Showgrounds ahead of this weekend’s (October 4 and 5) ninth biennial Australian Camp Oven Festival. The site is a flurry of activity with wood piles being stacked in anticipation of one of the country’s leading bush cooking competitions.
Apart from the serious camp oven cooking competition categories, patrons can try their hand at damper throwing and billy boiling competitions. Australia’s Living History will be on show with displays highlighting rope making, a foot-powered pole lathe, tractor pulling, mini pig racing and cow milking. See collections of axes, egg beaters, hand shears, dog and rabbit traps and a working blacksmith and wheelwright. Vintage tractors will be on show along with a chainsaw carving artist.
Ranger Nick and the Cast Iron Boys (Saturday only) will host cooking demonstrations on Stage Two. My Kitchen Rules contestants Paul and Blair will appear in a cook off at 12.30pm on Sunday. Pavilion market stalls operate on both days. Fashion parades and children’s shows also feature on the program.
A packed entertainment program opens with the Poets’ Breakfast (featuring Gary Fogarty, Jack Drake and Bill Kearns) followed by the official opening at 10am. The music line-up offers a treat for country music fans with performances by Graham Rodger, Jeff Brown, Keith Jamieson and Alisha Smith, Whiskey Road, Neil Duddy, Chris Pritchard, Alan Luscombe, Billy Peterson and CC & the Crusade among others.
League fans can enjoy the NRL grand final on Sunday evening. Further information and program from http://acof.com.au/
Submitted by:
Angus Moffatt
Media Relations Officer
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
Toowoomba Regional Council
