"IT'S a big win for the Junee community."
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That's how Junee Rhythm 'n' Rail Festival committee president Neil Smith described the results of the NSW Inland Tourism Awards.
Announced in Griffith, the festival claimed top prize in the community festivals division, beating Wagga's Regenerate Youth Festival and the Boggabri Drivers Campfire.
Mr Smith said the win gave the event extra credibility.
"It's not just our (the committee's) word, but an objective judgment," he said.
The 2014 edition of the event, the fourth since it's reincarnation, is also the first to be posting a healthy and profitable result.
"Not only do local businesses benefit from it, it benefits the community itself and how we see ourselves," Mr Smith said.
He said the support of the community was instrumental in delivering the award the festival received.
Mr Smith said being part of the festival's committee was a way for locals to promote Junee.
"We are proud of our town and we want to shout it out to the world," he said.
In addition to the support of the community, the festival received considerable support from large corporate organisations such as the GEO Group, Qube and ARTC.
Festival treasurer Martin Holmes said the award would assist the committee in securing funding for the 2015 event.
"The Destination NSW funding isn't guaranteed ... we've got to prove we're doing the right thing," Mr Holmes said.
"(And) without our corporate plus local business supporters, the festival wouldn't have been possible."
Apart from the contribution of community and businesses to the event, Mr Smith said it was the professional expertise of Tilma Group that had guided efforts by volunteers.
The Tilma Group completed the work required by the Inland Tourism Awards' judges.
"The volunteer committee are busy enough and with their help, it makes it so much easier," Mr Holmes said.
Mayor Lola Cummins congratulated the festival committee.
"A central organising committee can't do it all, they need support from the community to pull it all together particularly from volunteers," she said.
"It shows what great community spirit Junee has."
