Stanthorpe Show

I grew up through the Stanthorpe show – my parents have been exhibiting there since before I went to primary school. The sheep and wool pavilion our place of refuge over the four days of the show. I have vivid memories of bunking down in a sheep pen beside rams and watching the mulitidues of people traipsing past.

Going to the show again after not being for five years was a bit of a shock. It is a good indication of the economic downturn in the district and the decline in the rural sector. I was part of the hey day of the show – where the pavilions were busting with exhibits, thousands of people would file in and out of the sheds and the place heaved with activity. Our society had a lamburger stand out the front and with this we made thousands of dollars for improvement to the stands and pavilion. Our show days were filled with long hours serving behind the counter, punctuated only by assisting leading sheep for judging, or being in the grand parade, and later on competing in the horse related events. granddad competed in the horse events and set up his camp at the horse stalls, staying in there for a day either side of the show – so we always had somewhere to pop in no matter where we were in the grounds.

It was long hours, full of laughter and hard work – and we loved it as kids. The introduction of the fashion parades revitalized a tiered show and for several years as teenagers we were even models Bonus years included the times we collected aluminum cans – our only pocket money – we used to stake out the bar areas and comb the grounds in a tag team effort. Someone got cranky and the show society banned all collection of cans by individuals – instead choosing for the public to throw them on the ground and for them to be swept up and put into the bin and taken to the general rubbish dump.

We never had a walk around show side alley with our parents – they were always too busy. I don’t recall having much if any money in any case to go on any rides – but we always watched. Grandad did take us once and decided the dodgem cars were too rough – so we got to go on the boats which floated serenely around a little pond.

Anyway – enough recollections – yesterday I took the kids to the show. We helped out a bit in the morning on the prime lambs as a steward and then went exploring the sideshow and the exhibits. It was pleasing to see handicrafts and the cookery section were still u to the entries I remembered. However the livestock numbers were very poor. I recall the sheep sections bulging from the seams, more cattle and horses than you could poke a stick at. Empty stalls and a few sad examples of yesteryear was all that were represented. A true reflection of how the rural industry is – depressed and aged. No new exhibitors have turned up in years and many of the old hands simply do not have the time to spare away for the mountainous jobs they must complete in order to scrape a living on the land.

I know I spoilt the kids with the things we did during the day – but was a bit horrified at how much things cost. I went in with $80 and came home with $2.10 in my pocket. We took food and drink with us – so only bought junk – the necessary fairy floss and dagwood dog and a show bag each. The kids went on a jumping castle and the dogems as well as had on turn at a duck hunt game ( where we came out the proud winners of junky stuffed toys) Apart from a long specialty liquorice rope – that was all we did .. $80 thanks very much … wow.

Morgan got to drive with the dodgems , he only just made it as min height – he was so delighted – the grin on his face is still there. We spent a great deal of time at the childrens min I farm watching the puppies and the ducklings and got their faces painted by some passing fairies.

We had such an exhausting day it was not surprising that by 7.30, the kids were beyond themselves and curled up beside m on the grandstand with a doona and pillow and fell asleep. The fireworks didn’t come on till around 9 and as loud and amazing and spectacular as they were, and despite all the shaking and pulling blankets off them, the kids refused to be woken to watch them. The firework display truly was a spectacular even – and one of the best I had seen.

I have made a promise to the kids that we will come to the Stanthorpe show every year now. Perhaps even enter in some art work ( all of us) and I might even put some photos in.