Community
18 October, 2024
Show day success
CAMPERDOWN Pastoral and Agricultural Society (P and A Society) members are reflecting on another successful Camperdown Show, with over 4000 people going through the gates last Saturday.
P and A Society secretary Cheryl McMahon said the turnout for this year’s show was an “excellent” result for the society.
“We’re getting really good feedback from people who attended the show, saying it was a really fun, family-friendly show,” she said.
“The weather was with us this year, which was really nice seeing our weather last year was very poor.
“The weather brought people out, and there was a lot of family-oriented activities that were free over the day.
“The P and A Society would like to thank all our sponsors, competitors, volunteers and the community for getting behind our local show and making it a great success.”
Families enjoyed a variety of free activities throughout the day, including the rock wall challenge, a butterfly enclosure, and a fancy-dress photo booth provided by Camperdown business Jokers Fancy Dress.
“The roving children’s entertainment and the Real Dinosaurs performance was a highlight of the day,” Ms McMahon said.
“The milking demo done by committee member Philippa Fleming created interest and the guess the amount of milk competition was won by Zane Andrews and Charlie Wood - they took home packs supplied by Bulla.
“The mystery show bags are always a hit and the 150 buckets where sold out by 10.45am.
“The winner of the bike, donated by Benallack’s Sports, was bucket 59 Riley Beasley from Camperdown.”
Mainstays of the show were also quite popular on the day, with many people buying show bags, browsing the local trade stalls and watching the full draw of showjumping and dressage in the centre arena throughout the day.
“On show day, the dressage competition had a full draw and show jumping had over 190 first rounds,” Ms McMahon said.
“The Homecrafts Pavilion was full of exhibits with the people’s choice going to Michelle Barake for an amazing paper dress and Lyn Roycrofts Quilt coming a close second.
“Winners for floral display was Sue Cole Snr, VAS rich fruit cake Robyn Chandler and VAS carrot cake Layla Blomfield.
“Poultry entries were up this year with 175 birds, Champion Bird of Show being a beautiful RIR male bred by Kevin Gass.”
Other show highlights included the return of the State Jersey Show, a blacksmith demonstration and shearing demonstrations.
Ms McMahon said the turnout for this year’s show highlighted the importance of country shows for rural communities.
“Agricultural shows are much more than rides and show bags - they bring rural communities together when seasonal conditions are challenging, and financial times are tough,” she said.
“Country shows need an injection of young people for them to continue into the future.
“The Camperdown P and A Society are very fortunate to have young enthusiastic committee members and would welcome more.
“Remember if you think a red shirt might suit you, we love to see new faces at the showgrounds.”
The P and A Society is also seeking new members with skills in technology to help promote and improve the show into the future.
Ms McMahon said ideas have already started forming for next year’s show, with a cropping element to be added to celebrate the cropping season during which the show occurs.
“The Camperdown P and A Society would like to say thank you for supporting the 2024 Cobden Camperdown Community Bank Camperdown Show, and we hope you had a wonderful time,” she said.
“Bring on the 2025 Camperdown Show.”
