IF THERE'S one thing punters take home with them from the Meredith Music Festival, it's the communal vibe.And 20 years on, things haven't changed.The event isn't just about 12,000 people snuggling away in the natural countryside and enjoying some of the best music Australia has to offer.This year, there were many elements that made the 20th Meredith a true home away from home for everyone.One of these was The Tucker Tent, still standing strong and attracting the masses to its doors for an inexpensive, hearty meal.Chef supervisor Julie Cameron said the tent was run by volunteers and aimed to raise funds to put right back into the community.A member of the Meredith Tennis Club, she said many community organisations had benefited greatly from money raised through the project."It has allowed the tennis club to get lights, to resurface the courts, pay for an elite coach and get uniforms," she said.Shane Blacklock, 21, has volunteered at the tent for more than 10 years.He said meeting people was the main reason he kept going back for more."It's good for all the community to help out with sports equipment and running different organisations," Blacklock said."And I can meet new people and listen to all the music."But the feel-good vibes doesn't stop at the tucker tent.Learmonth's John Basham , camping at the aptly-named Sebastopol site alongside other Ballarat campers, said the friendships formed at the festival stayed forever."You meet old friends, new friends, best friends and they're all cool friends," he said.Ballarat's Tiffany Pilcher agreed, saying there was no other festival like Meredith."It's such a unique event," Pilcher said."You can do what you want and the organisers want you to."It's easily the best festival."And after the weekend was over, it was clear that Meredith residents were not about to do anything to ruin the party.Bannockburn Police sergeant Tim Bolitho congratulated the organisers for running such a trouble-free festival."We haven't had any issues with behaviour reported to us," he said."It's been a very well run event, as is usually the case."