Tucker Tent fires up ahead of Golden Plains Festival

THE meat and eggs have been ordered, and Golden Plains Festival’s famous Tucker Tent is ready to raise funds for Meredith community groups.

It comes with little more than a month to go before the 2026 edition of the major music festival.

Martin Peters, chair of the Meredith Community Tucker Tent, said last year’s festival allowed the tent to donate $10,000 each to seven community groups.

Those groups include the town’s kindergarten, primary school and memorial hall, along with the local cricket, golf, football and tennis clubs.

He said the goal was to raise similar amounts again next month and highlighted the tent’s importance to the Meredith community.

“Raising money for sporting clubs, the kinder and the primary school is always difficult in a small town,” he said. “Any fundraising events tend to be asking the same people for help every time.

“What is great about the Tucker Tent is that it brings in an outside source of money.”

Mr Peters said the tent was ready ahead of the festival.

“Meat, eggs and bread have been ordered,” he said. “Volunteer slots are filling fast. We are just keeping an eye on the weather forecast.”

Volunteers make up the facility’s management committee, shift managers and service people.

Across the festival, the tent is expected to cook and sell more than 1.25 tonnes of meat, more than 7000 eggs, and about 1000 veggie burgers.

It will also sell bags of ice from two locations and provide a phone-charging service.

“At this stage we are all set,” Mr Peters said.

“We have made no changes to our facilities or menu since December, so we should be ready to go in March.

“We are always looking at what we can do better, and making sure our facilities are safe, ergonomic and compliant.

“In recent years we have installed misting fans, stainless steel worktops and commercial hotplates.”

The Golden Plains Festival will be held from 7-9 March, with Basement Jaxx as the headlining act.

For more information, head to goldenplains.com.au