Delungra families are looking forward to adventuring with Mowgli and his animal friends on Saturday night, as the Inverell Shire Council hosts a free outdoor Jungle Book screening at the Delungra Rec Ground. 

“The response has been really fantastic. There’s been lots of residents really excited about it. There’s been mums and dads that are excited that they can take their children along to a family-friendly movie in their village,” manager of integrated planning Fiona Adams said.

An entirely new event, the Cinema Under the Stars will also run in Yetman and Ashford, and many community groups are joining in. 

“They’ll be doing things like having stalls, information displays, you know, so it’s pulling together the community in that sense as well, which is a big positive,” Fiona said. 

Movie-lovers will also have the chance to test their strength on the rock climbing wall and try out the jumping castle. The event will run from 2.30pm-8pm, with the movie screening from sunset.

Held on September 17 at the Yetman Memorial Hall, the free outdoor screening of Eddie the Eagle will also help raise funds for preschool-aged twin boys Bradley and Teddy Moffitt, who have been unwell.

“It’s providing benefits on so many levels, so it’s fantastic to see,” Fiona said.

“When you think of Yetman being more than 100km from Inverell, it’s not easy to come into town and have an outdoor cinema experience or a recreational experience. It’s costly, it’s long distance, it takes a long time away from the farm; so it’s nice that we can do these events close to these sorts of neighbourhoods.”

The date of the Ashford event is yet to be determined. All three movie screenings are funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, which seeks to strengthen rural areas.