On the show this week we meet Deano at his trout farm in the central tablelands of NSW.

Once again we came across this place on Wiki Camps. I have listed below some of the facilities. Deano as he is known is a great guy and Phill has a chat to him about the camping and also what else he provides. There is a shop to purchase his famous dip ( which I can say is just delicious). Great level sites with power, and of course you can fish for trout , and also he does tours of the trout ponds. Nice new amenities block and of course pets welcome. Its just a short drive of the New England Hwy and not far from Guyra. https://deanossmokedtrout.com.au

• new office and tackle shop.
• Smoked trout and dip are available for purchase.
• A new camp kitchen has been built with two BBQ, and plenty of shade and seating right along side the recreational dam.
• Dump available
• New toilets and showers
• BBQ camp kitchen
• Open fire pits allowed (off ground)
• Purchase firewood
• Dogs allowed

On the show this week, we are going to talk about Tamworth and some things there, a little bit about the history and the Country Music Festival.

130 years ago Tamworth was at the forefront of technological change. Tamworth is better known as the Country Music Capital, the city, or municipality as it was known in 1888 was at the forefront of global technological change, all while boasting a population of just 3000.

Just 11 years after 16 Jablockoff electric candles (arc) lights illuminated the Avenue de l’Opera in Paris to mark the world’s first electric street lighting, and just eight years after Thomas Edison patented his light bulb, the then mayoress of Tamworth, Elizabeth Piper, flicked the switch in Tamworth, the first town in the southern hemisphere to bask in the warm glow of electrons.

So the other claim to fame for Tamworth is the Country Music Festival where people flock from all over the country to the 2nd biggest festival after Nashville in the states. Its held for 10 days in January with music, buskers, concerts to name a few.

The Country Music Golden Guitar Awards of Australia are held each January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival with The Golden Guitar Awards building the foundation of the Festival. The Awards have been a core event for over 40 years and they represent the pinnacle in Australian Country Music.

 
It all started in January 1973, radio station 2TM launched the Australasian Country Music Awards. Joy McKean received the first Golden Guitar for “Lights on the Hill”, the song that was made popular by her husband Slim Dusty. To date, over 500 Golden Guitar trophies have been handed out to deserving Country Music artists. Slim Dusty has won a whopping 37 trophies!
 
The Golden Guitar trophy stands 24cm high and weighs 1.5 kilograms, however it weighs heavily on the hearts of country music artists who have the privilege of winning this award.

tcmf.com.au

Phill now chats with Len Crampton at the Tara Camel and Cultural Festival, Len is still travelling at the great age of 89. Len built the van and decked it out himself. took him about 2 and half months. It cost him all up at $49000 and suited to his needs.

Len talks us through some of his trips, and his past trips he did back with his late wife.

Len has travelled around Australia and has more travels ahead. He tells some stories of past singers he has met on the road including Slim Dusty, Len is a real character and is full of life and keep on travelling.

Phill meets another fellow traveller this time is Jim, at the Tara Camel and Cultural Festival at Tara in QLD. Jim is from Dalby and talks us through his 5th Wheeler. Now this 5th Wheeler is very impressive, Its a 2013 Rockwood Signature Light. It was imported from America and was $25,000 US$, but had to be converted to Australian specs which cost $5000, all up costing $50,00-. Jim spent 2 years researching the internet and it had to have a bunk room for the grandkids. Jim’s rig actually has 2 toilets.

The rig is pulled with an F350 which had also been imported from the US. Jim and his wife bought second hand. Automatic 7lt turbo. Around town its a bit heavy on fuel but on the road uses less fuel than his Nissan Patrol. Its carries 250lt of fuel on board.

Jim and his wife decided to buy a 5th wheeler after seeing someone else with a similar rig, The have plenty of room with 10foot ceilings, solar set up, and the storage underneath is amazing. There are plenty of cupboards complete with gas stove, lounge suite and also a dining suite. The slide out in the bedroom has a slide out wardrobe. Storage under the bed. They also have ducted air conditioning and gas ducted heating. A great setup for time on the road. Since being retired they don’t know how they managed to work.