The Deepwater Scarecrow and Wool Festival, from November 3 to 11, took over the village for the third year running, with scarecrows lining the New England Highway that runs through the village.

Fifty-seven scarecrow entries were received. The eventual winners were Sharyn Rhodes and Rick McCowen with their “Rambo’s Revenge” creations.

There was even a bus tour to check out all the scarecrows, local garage sales and the area’s open gardens.

Another festival feature was the Dubbin @ Deepwater VW Show and Shine and Swap Meet which attracted vehicles from around the region and the Gold Coast and Sydney with the awards presented by Eyvonne Rizzo, a veteran competitor of car rallies through the 1960s in her own “beetle”, including the 1964 Round Australia Ampol Trial.

First place went to Laurie and Gwen Murray from Sydney, second were Dave and Pam Mason from Inverell and third John and Judi Rosberg, also from Inverell.

The Little Bit Sheepish display featured the fine wool of the region, including a champion local fleece from John Chappell, of Dundee, and Jody and the Animals hit the stage with Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves, a tribute to a period from the 1930s to the 1950s when gypsy travellers were frequent visitors to Deepwater.

The community’s military contribution wasn’t forgotten either, one of the festival’s organisers, Julie Watt, using her family history expertise to create a display, “Don’t Forget Me Cobber”, for Remembrance Day.

And what’s a festival without games, giveaways, market stalls, face painting, a quilt display courtesy of the Deepwater Sewing Group and for a quick snack, scarecrow and sheep biscuits from the Deepwater Bakery.

Mrs Watt couldn’t have been happier with the event.

“It all went so well,” she said.

“The village of Deepwater is often forgotten and it is a great place to live.

“The festival’s success is testimony to that.”