More than 200 legs of lamb and 300 kilograms of potatoes were served in the food gazebo over the 12 days the festival ran, thanks to a team of 420 volunteers from 24 organisations.

“It’s a massive event for a town the size of Guyra,” committee president Steve Mepham said.

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To mark Australia Day, a special ceremony was held at the pavilion on Saturday morning.

Organiser Julie Gittoes thanked the volunteers, particularly her “left and right arms”, Bertha and Geoff Reeves; festival patron Frank Presnell, who personally organized the legs of lamb – at the age of 99; and the people of Guyra and stallholders for making the festival such a success.

Money raised stays in the community; Mr Mepham expects figures to be available next week.

Australia Day ambassador Gordon Bray AM said it was a privilege to be in Guyra during its success as a community.

He praised the town’s cool climate wines; Australia's largest goose farm; the trout; the rose farm; one of Australia's largest glasshouses, producing tomatoes for a very wide market; potatoes, and more potatoes; and its renowned free-range egg production.

“It really is a fertile piece of Australia, and obviously the best pastureland in the whole country.”

Guyra’s new Citizen of the Year, Aileen MacDonald, and Armidale Regional Councillor Peter Bailey raised the Australian flag.

“I’ve never struck a community that had better spirit, or cared more for each other than Guyra, far more so than other regional communities in the area,” Cr Bailey said.

“The passion that people have for Guyra is something quite remarkable.”