Country Shows

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (15:18): I rise to speak about the importance of country shows to regional communities. As those in the chamber may know, the show season is upon us. It is time for those in the country to celebrate the unique lifestyle, traditions and achievements of regional Australia.

These agricultural shows are more than just great days out. They are essential gatherings that provide the opportunity to connect, share and support one another, especially in times that feel challenging for many of us. These events remind us of our collective resilience and highlight the strength of our community bonds.

Over the past month I have had the privilege of travelling throughout my electorate attending as many of these wonderful shows as possible. From Pinnaroo to Kingston, Naracoorte to Coonalpyn, and with Penola, Millicent and Bordertown still to come, each show demonstrates the passion and dedication of volunteers and participants.

A couple of highlights that I saw on my travels were in Naracoorte. I was met by a local there who is part of a four-wheel drive club. He raised concerns with me regarding four-wheel driving between Nora Creina and Beachport. He has a strong club emphasis there around Naracoorte, but, not only that, he knows the area and they do pick up other visitors, and we see a lot of Victorians coming over into South Australia, particularly during the summer months, and we do welcome our Victorian counterparts because they actually bring money and spend money and enjoy everything that the Limestone Coast has to offer. His main concern is around the access, the tracks, the four-wheel driving and, most importantly, looking after this precious terrain that needs to be cared for.

One of the highlights around the shows recently was at Kingston where I was able to see the Kingston Speed Shear. We saw some very, very impressive shearers getting down to the mid-20 seconds to shear a sheep and take away a couple of thousand dollars' worth of money. It was well competed, well run on the day, and was very, very effective and quite a spectacle.

The other thing that I would just say about the Kingston Show was that they have a big wool presentation, a fleece-judging event there which is well supported. I think there were over 100 fleeces there—if there wasn't it was close. The proceeds have been going to either the pavilion where they are showing, but the rest—it may even be the majority—has been going towards the Kingston hospital, because the wool is donated. We saw some fleeces there getting very close to $100 in what is a really, really tough time for wool right now. We are seeing that it is really bouncing along the bottom and in real money terms it is nearly close to bottom-dwelling-type prices, with the costs and so forth.

The other show that I want to tell you about is the Pinnaroo Show. I was up there in the northern part of my electorate. This season and the last season have been very, very tough seasonally-wise, and one big operator between Pinnaroo and Lameroo said, 'Nick, I can handle the dry and we could have still got a crop with the dry but it's the frost that wiped us out.' I said, 'So what are you going to do?' and he said, 'I'm going to try a bit of hay cutting,' and he said he hasn't done that before, that he hasn't got any of the equipment, and that he is going to rely on a contractor. The contractor said he was coming on Wednesday, but failed to tell him which Wednesday he was coming on and he is still waiting, I think. It is because of the demand and it's tough out there and there are massive areas to cut for hay if people want to do that.

In particular I want to extend a huge congratulations to the Naracoorte Show and committee, who this year celebrated their 160^th annual show, a milestone that speaks volumes about the lasting significance of these events. The president, Andrew Lock, along with his wife and show secretary, Amanda Lock, worked tirelessly to ensure its success and their efforts were rewarded with a tremendous turnout, around 2,600 visitors, the highest in years. With high participation across sections like pigeons, cookery, Lego, wool and, of course, the hotly-contested men's chocolate cake—which I managed the second prize—it was truly a show to remember.

Agricultural shows like these are an integral part of regional Australia's identity. They are steeped in tradition, but they offer so much more than celebration of our agricultural heritage. They create real economic and social benefits for our communities. They support local businesses, farmers and agriculture, and artists, craftspeople and performers. The influx of visitors and attention brings economic viability to our towns, which has a lasting positive impact on local industries.

Beyond economic benefits, these shows strengthen social bonds in a world that feels increasingly digital and sometimes isolating. These events offer a much-needed opportunity to come together face-to-face. There are places where people can reconnect with neighbours, friends and family, exchanging stories, sharing in successes and offering support in challenging times. They help us remember that, no matter what we face, we are part of a community that is there to lift each other up.

The benefits extend even further. Agricultural shows have a proven impact on wellbeing. They build social capital and foster a sense of belonging, which studies show contribute to increased happiness and overall mental health. To everyone involved, volunteers, organisers, sponsors and attendees, you have created not just a fun day but an invaluable experience that uplifts our entire community. These shows represent the heart of regional Australia, a place where tradition meets resilience, where together we can grow stronger. I hope we continue to support these events and celebrate what makes communities so special.