Country Shows

Ms PRATT (Frome) (15:32): On rotation, for the last five years, I have enjoyed my unofficial role as country show ambassador for the many communities I represent and the thousands of people who flock to attend them. The season is set in September with the Royal Adelaide Show putting everyone else on notice that it is time to shine and show off country produce, country people and our country way of life.

I celebrate the positive influence of the current president of the Northern Agricultural Shows Association of SA and former state and inaugural National Rural Ambassador Peter Angus, and I want to acknowledge his passion for engaging young people to keep our country shows thriving. He continues to represent SA as a lively and youthful board member of the peak body for royal and country shows, Agricultural Shows Australia, and his influence is certainly evident in the positive relationships he continues to establish with those ambassadors—and I give a shout out to George Seppelt, Rural Ambassador for this year.

In the Mid North you can set your watch by the rhythm of our shows, and every weekend for two months there is a chance to learn more about my electorate by visiting Balaklava, Jamestown, Burra, Clare, Kapunda, Gawler and Eudunda. Late in September the Balaklava and Dalkey Agricultural Show features all the favourite exhibits that we love: livestock, cooking, floral art and more, and I am grateful that over the years I have been joined by friends such as Duncan Crawford, Mel and Craig Davis, Richard and Kay Daley, and Les Moore. I welcome the changing of the guard with my new federal colleague the member for Grey, Tom Venning, who continues to share that privilege with me by attending so many shows together.

Up in Jamestown they make an art form of the country show and turn the October long weekend into a master class of fun and frivolity, kicking it off with the races on Saturday and keeping visitors engaged for all three days. I must mention Richard Daley again for his dedication and years of service not just to this event but to his town. The Burra Show is set up on the hill and offers the best views, and from every vantage point one can see the horse eventing down on the oval, the show rides through the middle and the shearing exhibitions up in the open pavilion before you stretch your legs and stroll up towards the floral arrangements, cooking and craft section.

This year in Clare marked a very special anniversary—160 years of the Clare Show—and I was very proud to be front and centre supporting those red shirts we call the committee. The committee is ably led by Paulie Calaby and Peta Smith, but special mention to our president, Sid Nicholls, who had lots of dignitaries this year, including the Premier, visiting Clare to demonstrate the importance of our country shows and that these anniversaries do matter.

I enjoy every year working with Annabelle Homer, who has schooled me in the role of judge. She assures me it is not career limiting to advise local parents whether their sons and daughters have delivered a good speech, but we have lots of fun in the meantime. Thank you to all those people who put in entries to floral art, succulents, fresh produce and photography, including the local school students. I put myself forward for the marmalade competition this year and did not do too badly, but I am never going to compete with those CWA ladies.

I am grateful for all the emergency service officers who establish themselves at the country shows and my knowledge has increased by spending time with amazing volunteers like Fiona Hill and Jacob Hayes. Thanks to Charmaine Bowden, who continues to invite me—I am not sure why—to the Ute Muster. I have learnt a lot. I will continue to wear earplugs when we see the key banging, but it is lots of fun. They finish off with the Grand Parade and the Jack Russell competition and the fireworks make Clare a pretty special day out.

Kapunda has only just passed and that show is ably led by President Doug Hazel, with a special mention to Mrs Mandy Gerhardy, who has run the eventing for the past 26 years and is now hanging up her organising reins. I love catching up with Kirsty Glen and her chocolate honey from Kapunda Honey Co., the Light Archers and, of course, Paul Vinall every year with the sculptor and carvers' group.

I spent time this year at the Gawler fair, which always maintains that country vibe, and just this weekend past, of course, was the Eudunda Show, where people like Kip and Mary Laucke, Steph Schmidt and President Garry Schutz keep the vibrant community buzzing. I love seeing how youthful these committees are. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the country show season this year. Every show has its own personality and I cannot wait to do it all again next year.