On day two of Camperdown’s inaugural Rock the Clock Festival, organisers were declaring it a roaring success.
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The festival featured classic cars, live music, a Miss Rock the Clock contest and dancing lessons drawing on the period from the 1920s up to the 1960s.
Festival committee member Jo Williams said overwhelming support for the event had made it “brilliant”.
“It’s so wonderful to see so many locals come out, but also some familiar faces of people that have travelled to come,” she said.
“Everyone is trying to get behind it. It’s by the community for the community.”
Ms Williams said more than 70 cars had turned up for the Friday night drive-in screening of Back to the Future, and a Johnny Cash tribute show had been popular.
She said she expected the event to continue and to grow in future.
It’s so wonderful to see so many locals come out, but also some familiar faces of people that have travelled to come. It’s by the community for the community.
- Jo Williams
Late last year, the popular four-day Camperdown Cruise Rockabilly Festival came to an end after nine years.
Annemiek Nelligan – who goes by the stage name Bambi L’Amour – was crowned the Miss Rock the Clock winner for her performance, which fused rockabilly style with references to the Harry Potter novels.
Ms Nelligan, a Melbourne-based primary school teacher, said she was championing the idea of ‘geekabilly’.
“I love that the culture is so unique that you can do whatever you want,” she said.
“I loved vintage, but I found that being tall as well, it never really fit me.
“Rather than me trying to fit into their mould, I just made my own mould.”
There were six contestants all up, with jungle and tropical takes on the rockabilly theme also on display.
Ms Nelligan said she grew up in a town similar to Camperdown in country NSW.
“It’s such beautiful competition here, it’s very well-run,” she said.
“I know how important these events are, and I’ll keep coming for years.”