For Ned Winter and his family, making damper comes as naturally as breathing and for Australia it was no ordinary damper indeed. In an interview he gave in 2008, Ned said, "The damper will be 55 inches or one and a half metres wide with 45 kilos of flour, 32 litres of water and I might add, just a little bit of know-how."
Mr Winter and his family are seasoned camp-oven cooks. Starting life in south-west Queensland and becoming a drover in his earlier life, Ned says that back then camp-oven cooking was the way of life. After a friendly campfire competition in 1999 between Ned Winter and Gary Foggarty, the Australian Camp Oven Festival was born. It is now one of Queensland’s flagship tourism event.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the region last year as the event had be cancelled due to gathering restrictions. After facing both drought and bushfires, western Queensland did not need another economic hit. However, given the festival is a celebration of true Australian spirit, they are determined not to let this little bump in the road hold them back. The festival has been rescheduled for October 1st-3rd 2021 and we cannot wait!
Mel had the pleasure of meeting Mr Winter this Australia Day in Cecil Plains and was able to bear witness to the incredible and almost unbelievably large damper! Melissa thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with the Cecil Plains community and commemorating and reflecting on the history of our country. She wishes to pay her respects to the traditional owners of the land and their history while acknowledging their struggle with Australia Day. Melissa wishes to be an advocate for all members of our region and is excited and ready to stand with those who feel unheard.
