Mad about the "Show"
1 Dec 11
The Friendly Show
17th and 18th February, 2012
I’ve always loved “the Show”.
When the kids were little there was a routine we followed every year which was steeped in excitement, nearing hysteria at times !
There was the growing sense of anticipation on Thursday night, waiting in line to register entries (now we can do most of that “online” and save ourselves a trip down to town, it makes the office staff’s job much easier too! So please take advantage of modern technology!)
Then the very early morning buzz in the pavilion, as I juggled my own entries, plus the inevitable vegetable animal, lego model and plate of pikelets made by the kids...hoping they wouldn’t notice some adjustments I made because they didn’t travel so well!
Next the race back home to wash multiple bikes and the dog, load the car and sunscreen the family, all the while trying to convince them that another few minutes at home will not mean they miss the entire weekend’s highlights.
Finally we’d arrive, check out our Pavilion scoop (or otherwise...thank goodness someone usually won something!) and then the real fun began...bike racing, pet show, talent quest and more besides.
We loved to experience all the great Show traditions..the cattle and horses, the woodchop, the poultry pavilion and the dog show.
The grand finale on Saturday night, the rodeo, interspersed with rides, if you could con a bit more money out of your parents, was the high light of the Kangaroo Valley year when our kids were little!
Nothing much has changed of course, except no one in my family cries anymore because their mandatory Show “weapon” has broken in the first five minutes after purchase or their icecream has fallen off its cone!
The Show is a wonderful way to honour the history and traditions of our community and those who worked so hard over the years to develop the farming industry here.
It’s a great opportunity to showcase all our produce and the amazing range of skills of the people of Kangaroo Valley, especially, in 2012, through an exciting new venture, “Tastes of the Valley”.
The aim of this interactive stall is to educate, entertain and inspire us about locally grown produce as well as to offer us the opportunity to enjoy delicious, nutritious Valley food whilst at the Show.
The great cooking smells will be hard to walk past!
For our dairy farmers and many others busy with agricultural and horticultural pursuits “getting ready for the Show” is a year long process, striving for, and achieving, excellence in their field of endeavour.
On that note, young people interested in the Junior Beef Cattle Judging are reminded that the Kangaroo Valley event will again be a qualifier for the Royal Easter Show, a great opportunity to compete in the big arena.
For others of us the holiday period offers a great chance to hone a skill or prepare some exhibits and to encourage our kids to get involved.
The on line schedule is now available at www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au/show
Check it out and get busy!
Don’t forget that Show membership will be available at our general stores, grocery store, post office and rural supplies store from early December and closes at 8 pm on Thursday February 16.
No membership will be available at the gates. Please ensure you also check the Schedule for the deadline dates and times for your particular entries as these are not negotiable.
My passion for the Show has definitely increased as a result of my involvement...it has helped me appreciate all that goes on behind the scenes and how important the Show is in the culture of our rural community.
If you would like to get involved there are many little parts to be played and we’d really welcome a hand!
After living here for 20 odd years being part of the Show has made me feel a little bit more of a local, which is a pretty good feeling !
Call Yvonne on 4465 2753 and be part of the magic!
Cathy Gorman – publicity officer