Saturday show crowds create record

Karen Beasley

WITH a backdrop of perfect weather, the 160th Kiama Show went off without a hitch.

Crowds were predictably down on Friday because of the cancelled horse program (due to Equine Influenza), but Saturday was a different matter.

The Australia Day holiday, the glorious summer heat and a full quality show program on Saturday brought the crowds out in their thousands.

Saturday proved to be another record day for gate takings at the Kiama Show. Treasurer Vic East believed the Kiama Show would have broken records on both days if the horse flu hadn’t hit NSW.

A record number of entries, particularly in the needlework, handcrafts and roses, had the pavilion brimming with colour. Numerous new exhibitors within many sections and from outside the area demonstrated the love of the Kiama Show.

The new pavilion for the 2009 show is much anticipated.

Chief Cattle Steward Michael Brennan was pleased that entries in the dairy and beef sections were up on previous years.

The feel of the crowd was happy and relaxed as they wandered the grounds following the entertainment program.

The Robinsons Family Circus tent was filled for each performance and the numbers swelled around the main ring each time the Toyota V6 HiLux Heroes roared on to the main arena and performed their exciting routine.

And there were always people milling around the woodchop area, being educated about bygone days by the Timberhills Bullock Team or getting up close and personal with the young animals in the Matilda’s Farmyard Nursery.

Participants in the rodeo just kept coming and organisers didn’t have the heart to deny anyone the ride of their life.

Record entries in the Beaut Ute Competition had organisers already planning even more attractive prizes and new classes for the 2009 show.

Old favourites such as the haystacking and the pet show were as popular as ever and the newly introduced treasure hunt and other novelty events brought a new element of fun and opportunity for patrons to get in and be a part of the show.

President Greg Chittick was thrilled with the show’s overall success.

“Kiama Show Society provided a great program for patrons once again,” he said.

“We recognised the need to spend money to have a quality family program. The whole show worked like clockwork. It was a huge team effort by the Show Society, volunteers, sponsors and the entertainment.”

Planning for the 2009 Kiama Show is already in progress.