THE Old Time Wood Days are well and truly back.

That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn after the Milltown event returned for the first time in three years at the weekend.

Those in attendance got to see a full range of things from the old days of wood, including post and rail fencing demonstrations, the popular log snigging with horses, sawbenching and wood cutting with old time dragsaws.

Organisers Andrew and Christine Duyvestyn were delighted with the way the event went, as well as the turnout.

And even more so with the amount raised for the Cancer in Kids@ RCH charity.

“We haven’t finally tallied it up but we’re looking at around $20,000,” Mr Duyvestyn said.

“It was a terrific weekend and we had a lot of help, people came and joined in and helped.

“We were extremely lucky with the weather. We got showers as it finished both days and a fair bit of rain overnight (Sunday/Monday) so it’s a bit of a mess now, but we got through it.”

Mr Duyvestyn said about 400 people attended on the Saturday and close to 300 on Sunday.

They also came from far and wide – including the Clare and Waikerie regions near Adelaide, a couple from Queensland and even two families from Western Australia.

Those who held displays were also pleased with how things went.

“We also had a few others who hadn’t come before who are keen to come next year,” Mr Duyvestyn said.

“We’ll start getting ready for next year now.”

Mr Duyvestyn said the Wood Days, which began on the Henty Hwy bush block in 1995, had now raised about $495,000 for Cancer in Kids@RCH, which the Duyvestyns chose after RCH saved the life of their then two-year-old son Dean in 1976 – he is now a chef who has a big hand in the Wood Days.