John Lingard said he was over the moon to progress to November’s “Boot Camp”, a three-day music mentoring workshop attended by the heat winners from across Australia.

He will then perform in the semi-finals at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.

“I didn’t expect to win,” Mr Lingard said. “It’s an amazing confidence booster.”

“There must have been something in me they wanted. I guess I must have connected with the judge.”

Singer-songwriter and born-and-bred Violet Town girl Ella Hooper has hosted the heats around Australia.

The former lead singer of Killing Heidi said the level of competition at Elmore was one of the best in the country.

“It’s been pretty impressive nationwide but I think it was definitely a stand out here today,” she said.

Ms Hooper was full of praise for Bendigo’s next big thing.

“John from Bendigo is a very, very talented individual,” she said.

“We’re really looking for potential to build a career; to become someone that all of Australia knows and loves over a long period of time.”

Ms Hooper said the Telstra Road to Discovery competition was about finding someone who had “something unique to say and something different to offer as a musician”.

Ms Hooper said it was great to be back at the Elmore Field Days, being a country girl at heart. “I love the Elmore Field Days,” she said.

“I love heading around and getting a Lions Club hamburger.

“The weather’s just incredible and it’s great to be in my home territory.”