Show lures thousands
Swim, swim: fishing for prizes were Evren Townsend, Baylin Townsend, Lawson Townsend, Charlotte Townsend, Molly Edwards and Jack Wilson, all of Wonthaggi.
- Open wide: Eli Zapper of Wonthaggi took on the laughing clowns to chase a prize.
- Revved up: Kate Donnellan of Tooradin won best Holden and best street ute in the South Gippsland Young Farmers’ Beaut Ute Show. She is with Young Farmers Ross Kemsley and Krystal Clark.
- Chasing ribbons: Bree Stevens of Wonthaggi entered her horse Dream Time Soda Pop in the show for the first time, contesting the open led mare classes.
- Mates, mates: Ken Jelbart of Pakenham chatted with Paul Macphail of Beloka Kelpie Stud, Wonthaggi, with Paul’s dogs Rose and Red.
- Up high: friends Tania Little of Cranbourne and Maddie Jackel of Wonthaggi, with stilt-walker Bonnie-Lee Taylor of Nova Star Productions.
- Here chooky: poultry steward Michael Jones with winners Cassie Sheen of Mirboo North and David Holden of West Creek, and poultry secretary Coral Jones. Cassie won best waterfowl and David took out best large hard feather.
THE best crowd in four years attended the Bass Coast Summer Agricultural Show at Wonthaggi on Saturday.
Equestrian events on Sunday were also hotly contested, with a record number of late entries.
While final attendance figures were not available before going to print, the Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve was overflowing with competitors and visitors.
Show secretary Rosemary Loughan attributed the solid attendances to the weather – not too hold and not too cold.
“We had to have a great show this year because we lost thousands on the last two years on the gate and our expenses have gone up,” she said.
A diverse variety of events appealed to people of all ages. Twenty teams contested the flyball dog events. The showjumping was of high quality and featured Australian Olympian Laurie Lever.
Music and entertainment pulled crowds, and the South Gippsland Young Farmers Club staged a successful ute show. A new snake handler was surrounded by on-lookers all day and the photography competition was held in a new venue. Produce and craft entries were first class.
“We had experienced horse judges who have been to just about every show in Australia and they said it was one of the best,” Mrs Loughnan said.
“It’s just a really nice family show. People expect to be entertained and expect some band for their buck.”
While many shows in other parts of Australia are not well supported by locals, the Wonthaggi show attracted a tremendous following of residents.
Mrs Loughan praised Bass Coast Shire Council for its support and acknowledged the dedication of volunteers.
“We just work year at it all year round and we seek help from some very good sponsors,” she said.
“There is something about a country show that just wraps itself in everybody. Without the shows, we would just have a lot of plastic events. Community events are really starting to struggle. What would we have in town apart from sport if we did not have a show?”
The show society supplied 700 meals for volunteers in the lead-up to the show last week and fed another 400 guests and volunteers on show day.
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