The Boggabri Drovers’ Campfire has become a much-anticipated event for caravanners, motorhome owners, travellers and day visitors from all over Australia.
From humble beginnings in 2006, the 2024 Drovers’ Campfire is shaping up to be another award-winning event. The club is thrilled that the event is attracting good numbers of bookings which to date are on a par to last year’s 200 site bookings.
Many of the crowd favourite entertainment options are returning to the program, as well as some new options.
Craig “Macca” McGown will be a roving emcee and announcer introducing many of the attractions though out the weekend.
“Macca” was born in Maryborough, Queensland. He was raised in a home and family with a love of camping. While growing up the family progressed through camping with swags, tents to caravans and his fondest childhood memories are of the times camping.
Post school life has been around the outdoor and outback living with careers as an infantry soldier, a member of the Australian Army Shooting team and a carpenter specialising in outback and remote construction.
Macca is keen to pass on his knowledge and experience through his television program as host of ‘What’s Up Downunder,’ however his personal appearance at Drovers will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to have a yarn with him.
Mary O’Brien, from ‘Are You Bogged Mate?’ Rural Men’s Mental Health Advocate was a hit last year and she will be returning for another session in 2024.
Are You Bogged Mate is all about helping country blokes talk about mental health and suicide while spreading awareness about depression in the bush.
Mary says depression in the bush is a lot like getting bogged in the mud. It might have been just a sticky patch of the road or paddock where the vehicle stopped moving, maybe you need low range or to winch yourself out.
But what happens when you get properly bogged? When it is down to the running boards, sitting on the chassis, you are not getting out of this one easily – that’s the kind of bogged we mean.
Country blokes are facing challenges like never before but it doesn’t mean that you need to get stuck in the mud. There are plenty of places to go to get a tow and it takes guts to admit you’re bogged. We’re making sure that you’re connected with the right hands to pull you out.
The Boggabri Lions Club and their helpers have prepared a program to keep you entertained during the weekend. Lions Club members from afar and lots of local community groups have banded together to make 2024 Drovers special and cater for the visitors’ needs.
If you want to go for an early morning walk, groups start at 6am, however if you want to sleep in there is another at 7.30am.
Live music will feature daily, along with antique machinery displays. Visitors have the option to immerse themselves in and learn about the local area, with tours planned for several local farms including Long Horn cattle, shearing shed tour, damper cooking demonstration, Wicks family whip cracking demonstration, billy boiling competition, line dancing along with the many market stalls and tours to the Boggabri Coal and Whitehaven Maules Creek mines.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter members will be manning the gate on the Saturday and Drovers will be donating the gate proceeds to them. Entry costs $5 per person or $15 per family.
On the Saturday evening, the popular Crosby Sisters will be entertaining from 6.30pm.
As the event winds down on the Sunday you can visit the fish farm and Sawn Rocks tour, bingo, and the very popular trivia night.
A long list of community groups assist Lions with running this event and receive support in return, thus sharing the benefits of the event throughout the community.
“It’s amazing that an event of this size is run solely by volunteers,” Ellen McClung, member of the organising committee said. “It’s great to be able to share where we live in this way, and that is only possible with the support of so many local volunteers and sponsors. We especially thank our major sponsor Idemitsu Boggabri Coal and some valuable sponsorship received from Whitehaven Coal and Narrabri Shire Council.”
