Beth Downes is a stalwart on the local agricultural show scene.
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For more than 40 years she has been exhibiting and judging pavilion classes on the South Coast and Southern Highlands.
“I started before I was married and I found it was a great interest,” she said. “Mum and dad were busy because my mother was into the horse side of things and dad was into the cattle side.
“I was also involved in junior farmers when I was a teenager which I suppose is similar to rural youth these days. I’ve always liked the shows, I’ve always been in the cookery section and I like judging.
“It was like a challenge. It was something people did in the rural areas, to show you were doing something for the show society.”
Mrs Downes, who grew up on a dairy farm before marrying a farmer said cooking was a big part of day-to-day life.
“Your parents did it all, so you learnt in the kitchen,” she said.
“They had big families then, my mother had seven sisters and the women never stopped cooking. That was our lifestyle.”
This year Mrs Downes will be at Nowra and Moss Vale Shows presiding over the cakes, jams and jellies.
This year, despite a small hiccup in the kitchen, she still managed to win a major prize at Albion Park Show.
“I would say my favourite thing to cook is sponges, all my sisters could cook and we all made sponges,” she said.
“I won champion exhibit with my sponge even though the thermostat in my oven has been playing up.”
Mrs Downes’ great-nieces Jahmalia, 7 and Isla, 5 are continuing the family tradition of exhibiting in the Kiama Show.
“I’m putting in flowers, a picture and I’m putting a rabbit in the pet show,” Jahmalia said. “I like seeing my things on display and going on rides.”
“I’m entering the cooking and the art,” Isla said. “I’m making little cupcakes. I like going on the rides, I don’t all the rides but I do know some. I like the tea cup ride.”
They had big families then, my mother had seven sisters and the women never stopped cooking. That was our lifestyle.
- Beth Downes