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"Here in Kurri, we believe that we actually created the mullet,"
said Laura Johnson, who runs the Chelmsford Hotel, a
vintage-style pub in Kurri Kurri in New South Wales and came up
with the idea of the festival.
"We thought we would give our locals a chance to strut their
stuff."
The festival, held in the pub's beer garden on Saturday, drew
mullets of all stripes and colors, their owners dancing and
drinking despite temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius
(95°F).
"I've had mine since 1972, so most of the guys I'm competing
with probably weren't even born then," said Laurie Manuele, one
of the contestants.
A winner was declared in each of five categories, ranging from
everyday and grubby, to red-haired, women's and juniors.
The highly coveted award for the 'best mullet of all' went to
Shane 'Shag' Hanrahan, who began growing his mane in 1986.
"I don't know what to say, I've got stage fright," said
Hanrahan, whose hairstyle seemed to be his preferred mode of
self-expression.
The festival is expected to return next year, as the Hunter
Valley town of 4,000 people is dependent on the tourist dollar
after losing its largest employer, an aluminum smelter, in 2012.
(Reporting by James Redmayne; Writing by Swati PandeyEditing by
Clarence Fernandez)
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