A special group were celebrating their 33rd year at TCMF this year
Nestled in between the romping Diggers club, the riverside campground, and ground zero of the festival action is the Jubilee Cafe, a local christian initiative spearheaded by Scripture Union NSW.
Howard Barnes of St Pauls and organiser cast his mind back to where it all began:
“33 years ago, a bunch of local ministers were catching a drink over the festival and said, “why aren’t we out there? Where is the church in all of this?” So the dream started to develop.”
“We got our hands on a tarp, a corner of no. 1 oval, some generous donations including a grant from the council and away we went.”
Fast forward to now, the tarp has grown into the famous tent next to the Hands of Fame catering a free cafe, kids club, live music, and a place for people to cool their jets and have a yarn.
According to Barnes, the tent attracts anywhere from one to two thousand people over the length of the festival.
“It’s a moderately quiet, cool, relaxing spot, and the big thing is that it doesn’t cost anything. You can have your kids looked after. You’ve got lovely home baked things, you’ve got a free cup of coffee.”
The entire event is run by volunteers – from the cooks baking the cakes, the muscle moving the gear, the musicians on stage, the crew running the kids club and a host of friendly faces roaming around for anyone who needs a listening ear.
“So particularly if you’ve got a family, a lot of people come here and they stay for hours. They just absorb the music, let it wash over them. And very often, people come with a story or a burden, and they’re really glad that there’s someone there to listen to them.”
Quizzed on why the group continues to run an event that turns over zero money, Barnes says it’s a chance to show they care and they’re not crazy.
“Christians in Tamworth are aware that we want people to experience the good life that there is in Jesus, and we’re not very good at doing that, sharing it, and so often we’re tied up in our buildings, and people don’t get to us.”
“And this is a chance for us to gently and sensitively let people know that we’re not crazy.”
“We haven’t got two heads. We have fun, but more than that: Jesus in our life actually brings fulfillment and purpose and meaning to everything. And people are discovering that.”
Mission Director, Paul Briscoe of C3 Church, agreed.
“It’s never been about the money. This is a safe space where people can come as they are, and the christian community can show that we care about the outsider. And people have clued into that – they keep coming back every year.
“I think the thing that really attracts people to that first contact is the music. It’s genuine country music – covers, originals, soloists and bands. People get that authentic festival experience.”
“But often once they’re here, they stay for more.”
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