General News
18 October, 2024
Thousands flock to Australian Camp Oven Festival
Millmerran celebrated its biggest day on the events calendar when it welcomed thousands of visitors from across the eastern seaboard to the Australian Camp Oven Festival (ACOF), held at the district’s Showgrounds.
From small beginnings in 1999, ACOF is now regarded as Australia’s most iconic camp oven festival.
The Festival was the brainchild of outback icons Gary Fogarty and Ned Winter.
Entries were slightly down in the main cooking categories, but significantly up in the billy-boiling
where Ethan Hain from Bringalily took home the main prize.
The highlight of the weekend was the Saturday where over 5,000 people visited the Showgrounds, including many civic dignitaries.
Event organiser Katrina Grundon paid credit to her team, which included one volunteers from North Queensland.
"I'd like to thank all the volunteers," she said.
"Everyone plays a part, especially the Committee.
"From the merch organisers to the entertainment co-ordinators.
"Some of the guys have been here for two weeks.”
Millmerran was abuzz with activity for the weekend.
"It brings so much to the town," Katrina said.
"I was up in the helicopter and it was nice to get up and see the event."
Competitors cooked across a variety of categories including the DA Hall & Co Championship competition run over the full two days, where all menu items must be cooked, the intermediate competition and the The Beginner competition.
Other categories included the Drovers’ Apprentices competition for youth, the One Shot Damper Cooking, the Billy Boiling, a Damper Throwing, Best Decorated Billy and a Photography Competition.
