Big Bogan Street Festival a hit

Bogan Shire Council hosted the event, using $141,000 in grant funding from the NSW Government’s Open Streets program..

By Supplied

Acting mayor Glen Neill with the Best dressed Bogan blokes Barry Mason and Andrew Dundas. Photos by The Nyngan Weekly: Abigail McLaughlin.

Lithgow couple Barry and Mary Mason celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary by attending the Big Bogan Street Festival in Nyngan on Saturday – two of the many visitors who came to celebrate their Australianness with a day of street stalls and live music.

Mr Mason was even enticed onto the stage to contest the Best Dressed Bogan Bloke competition, competing against another visitor – Andrew Dundas from Wattle Flat – for the cash.

Neither man had dressed specifically for the competition but both sported plenty of true Bogan attire.

Mr Dundas wore a flannelette shirt (with the sleeves cut off mid bicep) over his blue singlet and stubby shorts. Mr Mason also went for the flannelette shirt-blue singlet combo but opted for a denim vest and ripped jeans. Both had a mullet hairstyle.

After much deliberation the judges awarded Mr Dundas the top prize.

Mr Mason was thrilled to be runner up on his wedding anniversary, and later donated his prizemoney to the Nyngan branch of CanAssist which had a stall near the main stage.

Bogan Shire Council hosted the event, using $141,000 in grant funding from the NSW Government’s Open Streets program.

The aim of the program was to use the local streetscape to benefit the community – and Council chose to close part of Pangee street for the day.

Market stalls and shaded seating lined the street, and stages were set up in Davidson Park and Teamsters Rest, near the Big Bogan.

The festival was opened with a Welcome to Country, and acting Mayor Glen Neill gave short speech before handing the microphone to Master of Ceremonies, Pete Hargreaves.

The Best Dressed Bogan competition was a highlight.

There was a strong showing in the under six division which was won by Alice Doughty who modelled her look on the Big Bogan himself – and even had a Blue Heeler dog on a lead.

In second place was Beau Mitchell, in a mullet wig and flannelette shirt.

Kayser Burnett and his brother Felix Fraser brought beer cans (secretly filled with Powerade) and cigarettes to the stage to win the under 16 male category; and Bridie Lane scored the win in the under 16 females.

There were three great contenders for the Best Dressed Sheila.

Deb Walsh took the win, wearing a Bundaberg Rum can costume; whilst Lisa Quinton was second in her beanie/flannie/singlet combo; and Warren visitor Faye Hoswell was third.

There was live music all day, headlined by the Wolfe Brothers and also including Jo Hyndes, Bec White, the Baker Boys Band, The Beanies; the Momentum Dance Troupe; the NLALC Dance Troupe; and Chinwag.

The Festival attracted many positive comments from those who attended or had stalls.

Angie Armstrong from The Cocky’s Wife catering said she was “run off her feet” with coffee orders.

Marnie Tuck, who was assisting with the Mary and Me clothing stall said it had been worth the effort coming to Nyngan for the afternoon and there had been plenty of sales – particularly on picnic rugs for people to use during the afternoon whilst watching the bands.

Leather craftsman Doug Smith also said it had been a good afternoon for sales and praised the organisers for the set up.