Country Shows

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:16): I rise to report to the house the recent conclusion of the three key show events held during this spring, which started off with the Meadows Country Fair. As members will well know—because I come back frequently to report on progress—the Meadows Country Fair is famous for the milking competition, known as 'the udder tug'. That happens around lunchtime, and it starts with the experts on show—and there are some serious experts who know their thing when it comes to the udder tug. That is followed by the skulduggery that is the 'celebrity udder tug'. I was back in the frame for 2024 with a title to defend.

I look back now at the recent history of the celebrity udder tug at the Meadows Country Fair with some pride, and look to share the title around each year—not every year, but I go back and give it a red hot go. This year I am pleased to report that I did not get kicked and I did not have the milk tipped over and, with a bit of advice along the way, managed to come in an honourable second in circumstances where the winners were a team from 5MU—I think the less said about that the better, but there is probably an ongoing inquiry into the bona fides of that outcome.

In all seriousness, the Meadows Country Fair is a famous event for Meadows and its surrounds, and it has been for a very long time for the reason that it reflects the spirit and commitment of the local community, the Meadows Community Association, and so many people in the area who keep fronting up year-on-year as volunteers to make sure that the show is brought on in Meadows. I salute them.

This year I want to single some out—and I hope I can do so with a maximum level of embarrassment to them—because with all the risks in modern life there is always a question: 'The insurance might be complicated,' 'Getting the cows to the show will be a bit hard,' 'Maybe we'll just have to move on to some sort of modern era.' It was actually hard to source the milking cows.

Glen and Belinda Schutz answered the call. Glen and Belinda met at the Meadows Country Fair years ago. They now have a dairy at Two Wells. They drove cows down from the Two Wells Bellview Jersey Stud. They provided those cows, which meant the udder tug could go on. You will never find more wonderful people. So we had another great day at the Meadows Country Fair, thanks in no small measure to them.

That was followed by the famous Uraidla Show. The Uraidla Show is an occasion that runs literally from dawn until midnight with all manner of local events going on, including of course lots of apple products, from juice to the real deal. They host a very good lunch in the middle of that. They are going from strength to strength at the Uraidla Show. That was tremendous and very well attended.

To round out the trifecta in Heysen, it is a salute to the Stirling Rotary folks, who this year ran for the second time the Hills Small Acreage Field Days at Echunga over two days, Saturday and Sunday of last weekend. After the first of the field days that was run two years ago, it is bigger and better this year and now aided by another six Rotary clubs from around the district, who all got together and helped to volunteer to make sure that everything ran smoothly. I have a special point of recognition for Greg Russell, as all of the Stirling Rotary people are quick to do.

The field days were characterised by seminars from experts, such as Emeritus Professor David Paton, about the need to make sure we know how to control kangaroos through the Hills, all the way through to the sort of machinery you might need if you have a small acreage, garden support and advice. We were there and very glad to see everyone from near and far coming along to the field days. So it has been a great spring in Heysen for the shows, and thanks to all who make them come to life each and every year.

The SPEAKER: Congratulations on your second place at the Meadows show in the milking competition. 5MU: Five Milking Udders, really. That is where it got its name. I reckon you would have come first if you had milked the cow like you milk the clock in here with some of those speeches that you do at night. Are we done with the dairy gags now? Well done, member for Heysen.