Eyre Peninsula Spring Shows

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:24): I also want to rise in this place and acknowledge the spring show season on Eyre Peninsula. It is drawing to a close, and if you have been following my social media you would have seen the full array. Every weekend—and sometimes multiple events in a week—there are events that are put on by volunteers throughout our community and across Eyre Peninsula. It started on 11 August at Port Lincoln. The president of the Port Lincoln Show, Semi Skoljarev and his whole team of volunteers produced a fantastic day. It always is the way that the Port Lincoln Show starts the spring season for us. There was a great display of dog obedience training and Sophie Thomson came over. As has already been mentioned, the amount of effort that goes into putting these community events on is so special, and it is so special for each one of these communities.

Following on from the Port Lincoln Show was the 98^th annual Wudinna show on 14 September. I congratulate the president, Kylie Bartley, and her whole team on what was a really special day. These shows put on something for everyone. There are activities for young and old. There was a great car show on display at the Wudinna Show. The shearing is always very hotly contested in what really is a central point for wool growing, especially merino wool growing, on Eyre Peninsula. The show at Wudinna was a special day. For me, the horse riding is always a great attraction.

The following weekend we followed it up by going on the 21 September to the 96^th annual Kimba Show. I congratulate the president, Terry Lidis, on a special event on the town oval. The Kimba Show is always well known for the art presentation and competition. This year, the show was opened by the soon retiring member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, who could wax lyrical about not just the shows that he had been to at Kimba but all around our community.

On 7 October, we went on to the 109^th Yallunda Flat Show, a tradition for the Monday of the long weekend. The president, Damian Redden, put on an incredible show. It is the show that is closest to me geographically, so I have been going there for my entire life. It was such a pleasure to be able to be there and present the life membership to Liz Mickan and Steve and Val Briese, three people who have put so much effort into that Yallunda Flat Show throughout the years.

It was also a pleasure to be able to present a certificate of appreciation to Mr Brian Smith. Those of you who have been to any Eyre Peninsula show would know Brian as the voice of EP shows. He is the man who is on the microphone, tucked away in his car in the middle of the arena usually, but his dulcet tones are well recognised. We showed appreciation for decades and decades of not just Brian but his father as well for such a generational contribution to the community.

We followed that up the next Saturday with the 113^th Cummins Show with the president, Michael Traeger. The Traeger name is a name that is well known within horse circles in particular. His grandparents Keith and Helen, and father Gavin, have been contributors and volunteers to their community, especially at shows, for such a long time. The Cummins Show is well renowned for the Ray Fauser pigeon and poultry shed. It is always high-quality competition at the Cummins Show.

The following weekend on 19 October was the 115^th Cleve Annual Show. Once again, it was a pleasure to be able to be there with Mr Brian Smith, who originally came from Cleve. He reflected on a few of the stories of shows not just at Cleve but from around the Eyre Peninsula. President Lyndon Crosby, along with his volunteers, put on a very special day, and he received his life membership that day.

At these shows there are activities, there are horses, there is shearing and there are pavilions, which are totally based on the efforts of volunteers within our community. In amongst all of that was the Oysterfest at Ceduna on 5 and 6 October, which is something that every South Australian should go to. Well done to Jo Skinner and her group of volunteers. There are hundreds and hundreds of dozens of oysters consumed, and I did my bit as a contributor to that effort.

In amongst all of that as well was the Eyre Peninsula Field Days, a three-day agricultural event. President Rex Crosby and his group of volunteers put on a very special day. Another event was the Streaky Bay Rodeo by the Sea. These are all events within our community that are put on by volunteers who contribute so much in each one of our small communities, and I wanted to take the time today to recognise that effort.

The SPEAKER: I would like to give a shout-out to the Kingscote Show, which is on Saturday. I will be there, but my dog, Dusty, and I are not entering the show this year. A few years ago he won the blue ribbon for the dog most like his owner. We were both drinking beers—Dusty Draughts of course, but we are not entering the competition this year. We will give someone else a crack.