Tilba Easter Festival committee president Erica Dibden said all the hard work of the festival volunteers paid off when the crowds arrived on Saturday morning.

“Everyone is happy as it went off without a hitch and the weather was perfect,” Mrs Dibden said.

“The people visiting were happy, the shopkeepers were happy, so what else could you ask for.”

While the gate takings were down around 20 per cent on last year, she said it was still one of the better-attended Tilba festivals and perhaps the fact that school holidays had not started in NSW had some impact.

The crew from the River Cottage Australia television production at Central Tilba filmed throughout the day.

Host Paul West starting the day by helping out at the Quaama-based Barrabarroo Farm Fresh Meats stall and then also had fun participating in the traditional events such as the “Bushy’s Boot Toss”.

Paul West and Erica Dibden also caught up on the day and were filmed having a go at the cheese roll and then caught up on plans for River Cottage to get a dairy cow and also document some cheese making.

It was also a chance for Paul to catch up with the Gulaga Dancers, several of whose members a couple of weeks ago helped him catch octopus in Wallaga Lake and also took him up Gulaga Mountain.

Dance troop leader Warren Foster said it was a great experience to participate in the filming of the television show based on the British version he had watched.

River Cottage Australia will air on The LifeStyle Channel later this year and filming continues on the property at Central Tilba.

Tilba festival entertainment organiser Bev Long said this year’s festival was blessed with great weather and she was impressed with all the musical performers, all of whom were local.

“We have such an array of musos in the area that it was easy to keep it local,” she said.

“I heard through the grapevine that a lot of people were impressed with the quality and variety of performances. It was just a great day.”

This was the third year of performing for local young magician Rhys Davies, who despite only being 14 drew huge crowds as he took to his unicycle juggling knives and apples.

Also drawing attention was Tracie Madden and her 3-month-old Illawarra-cross calf Boof, who were raising awareness of the plight of male dairy calves.

She said up to 100 male poddy calves were sold at the Bega market every Tuesday to be slaughtered despite being only days or weeks old, as only female calves were required for the dairy industry.

The only real solution to this “waste product” was to modify the genetics or manipulate the reproduction process, she said.

Tracie and her partner Mitchell Fahey were collecting money to help them create a “calf paradise” on their property were some of these male calves could be saved.

She already had five calves and had plans to break them in for riding, claiming they were easier to break-in than horses.

“Growing up on a beef property, I just thought I had to do something,” she said.

Voxpop:

The Narooma News asked what people enjoyed about this year’s Tilba Easter Festival…

“I just love the friendliness and ease of it. The variety of music has been great and I have enjoyed meeting lots of friends.”

Patricia Delany, Narooma

“The food is pretty good. I like the people and the atmosphere. It’s just a good day out.”

Olivia McCabe, Bermagui

“All the stalls are good and I enjoyed dancing in the parade with the Gulaga Dancers.”

Jordan Parsons, Wallaga Lake

“My daughter Brigit Murane is playing her music here, so I enjoyed that and also the weather and friends.”

Lisa Murane, Tilba

“The atmosphere. It’s really lovely and there was heaps of entertainment and lots for the kids.”

Andrea Bedggood and Imogen, Canberra