Warmed up but still Chilled Out 

There might not have been much chill in the air but the warmth of a slightly premature spring day was enjoyed by the crowds who gathered to enjoy this year’s Chill Out festival in Gloucester on Saturday. The chips were flying amongst the woodchoppers and owners accompanied by over 50 dogs converged on the corner of Denison and Church Street to vie for one of nine titles. Children descended on Billabong Park to enjoy the giant slide and jumping castles and adults belatedly discovered it takes one tablespoon of sugar to make an average sized fairy floss stick. Taree Brass Band showed of its talents entertaining those gathered. The heritage Tin Hare train brought southern visitors with it for its annual pilgrimage and round trips to Gloucester and Bundook and the Headwarmer’s challenge was hotly contested with 45 entries filling the CWA rooms. Car Torque lined the pavements alongside over 70 market stalls complementing Gloucester’s retail shops. 

“With such a transient crowd moving from area to area visitor numbers are always hard to gauge but would have been upwards of at least 3000,” Gloucester Business Chamber and Chill Out organising committee member Mandy Latimore said.

“I think it was an enjoyable day for all the families and that’s what it designed to be. We put it on to bring everyone to town to enjoy it so hopefully they will come back again,” she said with a smile.

Chill Out’s competitive edge

Car Torque winners: Chambers Choice - John Hughes from the Manning Valley Cruisers with a 1957 Corvette; Shannon's Choice - Don Phillips from the Taree Historic Motor Club with a 1937 MG; People's Choice - Graham Holt from Manning Valley Cruisers with a 1958 Ford Customline

Headwarmer Challenge winners: Most Imaginative - 1st Adele Compton    2nd Bev Ridgeway; Depicting the Land - 1st Beverley Murray, 2nd Christine Bolton; Best Overall Hand Knitted - 1st Beverley Murray, 2nd Adele Compton; Best overall fabric or Other Material – 1st Leanne Wilkinson, 2nd Adele Compton; People's Choice – 1st Leanne Wilkinson, 2nd D Jacobs (Knitting Nannas).

CHAMBER RAFFLE winners:

1st Prize - N Raimeo 150pce Socket Set - Valley Motors

2nd Prize - Robert Tully - $100 Helloworld Voucher

3rd Prize - Paul Hedditch - Pamper Pack - TLC

4th Prize - Marie Germon - $60 Voucher Bucketts Way Motel

5th Prize - Effie Crawley - Model Car - GMO

6th Prize - Nola Lyle - $50 Gift Voucher Gloucester Variety Store

7th Prize - Marie Germon - Suzuki Backpack - GMO

8th Prize - T E Tilikah - Picnic Rug/Cooler Bag - Gloucester Town & Country

9th Prize - L Yates $40 Meal Voucher - Myrtle Cottage Cafe