Big Bogan vision for NSW town

WE’VE already got the big banana but a big bogan? This Aussie town wants to welcome visitors with a Stubbie shorts-wearing, mullet haircut bogan.

IN THE grand tradition of Australia’s fondness for Big Things, the NSW town of Nyngan wants to erect a Big Bogan on the Bogan River.

Ask any Australian what a bogan is and the interpretations will vary.

For the tiny Nyngan community, in the Bogan Shire, it’s a Stubbie shorts-wearing, fishing enthusiast type of bloke with a mullet haircut and an Esky.

The council wants to build the 3.6-metre, rusted-iron bogan near the bridge over the river to welcome visitors into Nyngan.

The town of Nyngan want their share of Australia’s famous “big” icons.

If built, it will join notable NSW landmarks such as the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, the Big Prawn in Ballina and the Big Merino in Goulburn.

Bogan Shire mayor Ray Donald says community members had tried to distance themselves from the label in the past but now they have decided to embrace it.

“(Bogan) has got in the Oxford dictionary now,” he told AAP. There has been a suggestion to put snakes at the statue’s thong-wearing feet, but Mr Donald thinks that might be overkill. “I personally don’t think we should go silly about too many more things there — like stubbie holders and cigarettes and a few snakes around his feet,” he said.

We’ve already got the big banana and now we could have a big bogan.

“The main thing is just to promote the fact that we are a good little town and it would be worthwhile for people to stop.” Local Anglican minister Graham McLeod came up with the idea as a way to promote the Bogan River and shire tourism, Mr Donald said. The statue is expected to cost about $8000.

The council will weigh up the response from the community before making a final decision.