Tenterfield swathed itself in brilliant sunshine to be promoted nationwide on Wednesday when Nine's Today Show came to town, with weather presenter Tim Davies doing live crosses to the show's Sydney studio throughout the morning.
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Locals were a little thin-on-the-ground at the first cross from Bruxner Park at 5.45am. Numbers had built up steadily, however, for a good crowd by the time of the last cross when Davies sashayed up Rouse Street (in Peter Allen's shoes) towards his next show in Goondiwindi.
Mayor Peter Petty and council chief executive Terry Dodds fully-embraced the opportunity to cast off any town water supply concerns, sporting shirts embroidered with 'We found water' and 'Open for business' to encourage viewers to town.
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Council's senior economic development officer Harry Bolton felt the crosses captured a good cross-section of the community, with Make It Tenterfield's Bale Out fundraiser, the local CWA and Rotary branches all getting a plug. Davies did his utmost to encourage viewers to visit and provide a business boost.
"It went really well, and the school kids had fun," Bolton said.
The mayor even got to recite some water-themed poetry, and Carlton United Brewery donated canned water.
Cr Petty said being on national television was a good PR exercise to promote Tenterfield and spread the word that the town's water shortage had been addressed, although said for those not on town water there's still a long way to go.
He said it was good to see a green tinge to the place after recent falls.
"It's brightened people's attitude."
The Today Show is touring drought-ravaged communities to support Great Northern's Let It Pour fundraiser, with proceeds from donated kegs of beer consumed this weekend going to the Rotary Clubs of Australia Drought Relief Appeal.
Drinkers can support the appeal by downing Great Northern at the Telegraph Hotel or Tenterfield Golf Club. The Commercial Boutique Hotel is doing its own fundraiser on Sunday from 1.30-5.30pm for BlazeAid and Rural Aid with Gig in the Garden, also donating half of the accommodation costs for those who'd like a big night out.