Locals are putting their shoulders to the wheel as they finalise preparations for the annual event, with founder Geoff Eather expecting 40 caravans to roll in as early as Monday. The event officially starts on Wednesday. 

“We’re up on last year - we’ve got 320 caravans booked in,” he said on Thursday.

“Our tours have been booked and they’re shaping up well.”

The weekend will see the committee put the “finishing touches” on Boggabri Showground.

“We’ve got the sites virtually all marked out. We’ve just got to put numbers on them.

“A few stages have got to come in now, a few of the buildings have got to be cleaned and we need to bring in portable toilets.

“Virtually, we’re pretty well on track.”

A couple from South Australia have already arrived and many more are expected from the Central Coast, Hunter region, Gold Coast, Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah and Tamworth.

“We’ve got people that come every year, and quite a lot of new ones this year,” Mr Eather said.

The campfire event involves a lot of community members and groups including the pony club and Lions club

“We’ve encouraging other community groups to come in and have a session, and we’ll give them a donation for their time,” he said. 

“It spreads the money into the community fairly quickly.”

The three-day event is without a doubt both a community and family affair, with four generations of Mr Eather’s family heavily involved. His son-in-law and committee member Richard Gillham said they aim to put on a “relaxed” event.

“People come here, stressed from work, and it’s their break,” he said.

“A lot of them come in their caravans and park them and never come down to the arena and it’s their annual catch-up [with each other].”

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Mr Gillham said there are always new people to meet and they are expecting some kids this year.

“School holidays creates a little extra for us. A lot of grandparents look after their grandkids over the school holidays and they’re looking for something to do,” he said.

“You’ve got kids from Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and it’s a good time for them to get out in the country and learn about things.”

Mr Gillham said the award-winning event is a good help to the community financially and draws big crowds.

“We double the size of Boggabri,” he said.

“On the Saturday night, I reckon it wouldn’t be uncommon for us to have 2000 there.”

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The local said it’s “hard to explain in words” the magic of the event.

“I could talk to you for half a day and still not get across the atmosphere here,” he said.

“There’s a real buzz. People have to feel the atmosphere to be part of it.”

To find out more about Boggabri Drovers’ Campfire, visit https://www.droverscampfire.com.au/​