Another successful Mulletfest at Kurri's Chelmsford Hotel

The fifth annual Mulletfest - which has now become a nationwide tour - was held at the Chelmsford Hotel from Friday to Saturday, with 161 proud mullet-wearers taking to the stage.

Among them was Belgium's Bavo Van Broeck, who achieved a childhood dream when he took out the rookie category on Saturday.

When Bavo was seven years old, he picked a Chance card in a family game of Monopoly and won himself $150 in a beauty contest.

Decades later and with that memory in his mind, Bavo heard about Mulletfest, the most unique beauty contest in the world.

The easy way to enter would be as an international contestant online. Bavo, however, knew he was meant for greatness.

So with a fist full of money and a cartload of dreams, he made his way to Australia. Landing in Perth, still a fair hike away, but after a 17,000km trek from Brussels at least now he was on the right continent.

With a few quick detours including opal mining White Cliffs and a quick stop at Kosciusko, he arrived in Kurri Kurri on Friday just in time for Mulletfest.

He rocked up to the event alone but quickly made friends, which may have had a lot to do with his purple silk tracksuit, his sensational sunglasses, and his vibrant personality.

With his mullet less than two years old, he entered as a rookie and won the judges over with his stage presence, his dance moves, and his brave attempt to assimilate into the Aussie culture, a shoey straight from his work boot.

Ecstatic with his win, the first thing he did was call his parents and his sister to remind them of the Monopoly game and let them know dreams really do come true.

In true adopted Aussie style he celebrated with all his new friends into the wee hours and still fronted up for media early the next morning. When asked what a mullet is called in Belgium, the reply was "neck carpet".

EARLIER REPORTS:

Founded at the Chelmsford Hotel in 2018 and now a nationwide event, Mulletfest is a celebration of the iconic '80s haircut, while raising funds for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

There was plenty of generosity on show at the Kurri Kurri event over the weekend, with about $3000 raised for the Newcastle-based brain cancer charity from raffles, auctions and a 100 Club.

Winners at the Kurri Kurri heat were Liam Arnold (everyday mullet), Shaun Webb (extreme), Mark House (grubby), Peter Saggus (vintage), Chase Abernathy (ranga), Bavo Van Broeck (rookie), Bomer Maden (0-to-3-years), Jaydan Moss (4-to-7-years), Kody Beattie (8-to-13-years) and Oliver Cramp (14-to-17-years).

Kurri Kurri was the third heat of the tour, following rounds in Canberra and Perth, and brought the total mullets so far to 287 - well on the way to the organisers' goal of 1000 nationwide.

The Mulletfest tour continues throughout the year with heats to come in Albury, Rockhampton, Glenreagh, Logan Village, Alice Springs, Murrurundi and Dookie, before returning to Kurri Kurri for the final in December.

Entries for all remaining venues are open at mulletfest.com.au.