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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
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Motions

Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (11:30): I move:

That this house recognises the 175th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA and applauds its significant contribution to our state.

Just a couple of weeks ago on Saturday 26 July I, along with a number of other members of this chamber, attended a dinner held at the Adelaide Showground at Wayville within the Goyder Pavilion, a huge room. It was attended by no less than 1,460 people from metropolitan Adelaide and also right across regional South Australia, people who had sometimes been involved with the Royal Adelaide Show for generations, and those generations were represented at that dinner. It was a wonderful event, ably hosted by our own Keith Conlon and Jane Doyle, who did a wonderful job. There was live music, fantastic food and a lot of conversations.

I would like to pay tribute to the current chief executive Mr John Rothwell, the current President of the Show Society Mr Richard Fewster, the chairman of the council, who is currently Mr Robert Hart, and Ms Kerstin Freund, who is the personal assistant of the chief executive. I can only imagine the extraordinary amount of work those people and their various subcommittees put into organising this particular event, as well, of course, as the upcoming Royal Adelaide Show, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary. There have actually been more shows than that, because there was a time in the early days when there were both autumn and spring shows.

With reference to the Show Society website, I would like to take members of the house through some of the history and key dates of this wonderful organisation. It was way back in 1836, of course, that the colony of South Australia was first settled. By October 1839 the South Australian Agricultural Society was formed 'for the advancement of agricultural and pastoral knowledge, and to promote the development of the natural resources of our noble Colony'. Of course, we can only imagine the hardship that the settlers undertook in those very first days, but I do know that agriculture played a very important role, a key role, initially in feeding the settlers and ultimately in feeding much of the rest of the nation.

In 1840, just four years after settlement, the first produce show was held in December in Grenfell Street. The exhibits were vegetables, cereals, cheese, wool and leather. The next show was programmed to be in March 1841, so we already had a spring and autumn show coming into play. In 1843 the first livestock show was held in Hindley Street. Can you imagine sheep and cattle in Hindley Street? The first ploughing match was held on Dr Mayo's block at Thebarton. One of the ploughs was locally made, so our blacksmiths were already turning their hand to what the settlement required.

I have never actually seen a ploughing match, but I would love to be able to see a ploughing match one day. In those early days there were teams of horses, there were mouldboard ploughs, and the art was to plough straight and at a consistent depth over the furlong, a furrow length. It is a lost art, of course; in fact, very rarely do we use a mouldboard plough at all in South Australian agriculture.

It went on through the 1840s, and in 1845 South Australian wine was exhibited for the first time. In 1851 samples of South Australian wheat were sent to compete in the great Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, and one sample grown at Mount Barker won first prize against the rest of the world. That was quite a coup for a fledgling colony; we grew the best wheat in, I was going to say the world, but it was probably the Empire.

An honourable member: A wonderful achievement.

Mr TRELOAR: It is still a wonderful achievement. I might digress from my notes briefly because I know for a fact that a farmer in my home town of Cummins, in 1951, 100 years later, exhibited wheat grown in our district and won the grand prize for hard wheat—glyas I think the variety was, but there have been lots of varieties come and go.

In 1860, the society had the use of the colony's first exhibition building. The building was completed at the end of 1859 at a cost of £2,000. Significantly, in 1867, Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited this colony and opened the Show. Prince Alfred accepted the role of patron of the society, and from then on the Show was able to use the title 'Royal' and, of course, it has been the Royal Agricultural Show ever since. Prince Alfred's name is on many other institutions around this state and this country from that particular visit.

In the 1890s, electricity came to South Australia and transformed the Showground. The oval and trotting track were floodlit and the night shows became very popular. We could stay out late from then on; electricity had arrived. The first annual pruning match was staged at the vineyard at Underdale, and there were 23 competitors.

Passing into the 20th century, in 1901 the society past the 2,000 membership mark, the first society in Australia to do so. So, we were leading the nation in our progress in our showing. In 1923, the autumn show combined with the spring show, leaving this as the annual exhibition of South Australia's endeavours. Of course, coming up this year again, as has been the tradition, in the second week of September we will be conducting our annual Show.

In 1925, the Royal Adelaide Show moved to the current site at Wayville. In 1926, just a year later, it is thought that this was the first year that sample bags (otherwise known as 'show bags') were given away—in those days they were given away. Deputy Speaker, you may remember when show bags were free. They no longer—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I beg your pardon!

Mr TRELOAR: 'You may remember,' I said. Some of us are old enough to remember that.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I can remember three shillings.

Mr TRELOAR: Three shillings—so you have stretched beyond my memory, Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Oh, dig it in a bit further! I think your time is up.

Mr TRELOAR: Nine minutes to go. Three shillings for a show bag, probably pretty good buying.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Not threepence: three shillings.

Mr TRELOAR: Of course, the Show Society continued on, but in 1939 through to 1946 the world was beset by war. The Showground at Wayville was at that time occupied by the armed forces for the whole duration of the war as the mobilisation, training and subsequent demobilisation centre. The member for Finniss is nodding his head in acknowledgement, so he may well remember that and he may well remember when show bags were cheaper than three shillings.

In 1964, the Heavy Horse Memorial Club opened. In 1967, the College of Arms granted the society its armorial bearings, that is, ensigns, arms, crest supporter and motto. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth confirmed the society's entitlement to the 'Royal' prefix. So, what Prince Alfred had established, our current Queen Elizabeth confirmed.

In 1974, the Showground facilities and staff were used to assist the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the government to handle the aftermath of Darwin's Cyclone Tracy disaster—and I do remember that, Deputy Speaker. In 1980, the new Wayville Pavilion was built, and in 1986 speedway motorcycling was reintroduced after an absence of 53 years. I do remember that, particularly through the 1970s and 1980s, speedway bike riding was particularly popular.

In 1995, the Ridley Convention and Exhibition Centre opened and, of course, that was in commemoration of the incredible contribution John Ridley made not just to South Australian agriculture but to world agriculture with his development, here in this very state, of the Ridley stripper. It was just one simple invention, but it transformed the world, honestly it did, and it happened here in South Australia. In 1995, the Royal Adelaide Show was awarded a tourism award for the most significant festival.

We go on. In 2006 the Royal Adelaide Show received the Australia Day Award for Best Community Event in the Unley Council Area, so put that in your pipe and smoke it. In 2008 the Goyder Pavilion was officially opened, and that was the venue for the great dinner the other night—very enjoyable. In 2014 the society celebrates 175 years of being in the forefront of South Australia’s agricultural and horticultural interests and will stage its 239th Show, which is believed to be a world record. This is significant because it is extended unbroken since that first meeting in 1839. It is believed to be a world record surpassing even the Royal Bath and West of England Society, which was formed in 1777. Our society is not as old as that, but we have undertaken more Shows.

The Charter of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia is to contribute to the promotion and success of South Australia’s primary industries through the staging of events and awarding of excellence. From the humble beginnings in 1839 to the event we see today which attracts hundreds of thousands of people, we have also seen show societies form right across country and regional South Australia, and many of them are still growing. The spring show season is much looked forward to by producers right around the state, and many are still very popular with exhibits of produce, craft and handiwork and also showing of livestock: sheep, cattle and horses, of course, which have become show horses—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Dogs. I have shown dogs.

Mr TRELOAR: Dogs.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Chooks.

Mr TRELOAR: Chooks.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Pigeons, chooks.

Mr TRELOAR: Pigeons. The poultry section is of particular interest to me. In fact, my wife’s great-uncle was invited to judge poultry at one of the local shows a few years ago—Yallunda Flat, I think. He did not know a lot about poultry but agreed to judge because you know a good-looking chook when you see one. Anyway, the story goes that he awarded all the ribbons and everyone got a blue ticket, a red ticket or a green ticket—first, second or third, whatever it may be. The poultry section was pretty full that year; there was a lot of interest. He had just completed the judging, had fitted all the ribbons and certificates and a big whirlwind came through the poultry pavilion and blew all the tickets off, so they had to be re-judged. The funny thing was that apparently different chooks won the next time around.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Same judge.

Mr TRELOAR: Same judge, different winners—so lots of great choice. Sheaf tossing also has made a comeback in recent years. I know that our local show in Cummins celebrates and commemorates the work in those early days when farmers and those involved with the grain harvest would stook the cut grain or the cut stalk and throw it with a pitchfork to the top of the wagon.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan interjecting:

Mr TRELOAR: Dog jumping is coming back. I remember going to the Jamestown Show way back in the 1970s. That was the biggest show I had ever seen at that time, and probably still is, member for Stuart—just wonderful memories. I congratulate the Show Society on achieving this fine celebration and also on the role they have played in the development of agricultural practice and produce in this state over 175 years.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing) (11:43): I rise briefly to acknowledge the 175th anniversary of the Show Society and to thank all those who have gone before and those who are currently running the Show Society; they do a terrific job. In the past few years we have seen them moving from what has been their core business for 170-odd years to seeing themselves playing a different role within the City of Adelaide and the state of South Australia. I love the way they have reached out. We now have basketball and all sorts of other activities that happen on that site.

So, instead of having an area at Wayville that was used predominantly for two weeks of the year, they are really out trying to utilise what is a fantastic site so close to the city. We have a new train line and a station there now and they really want to utilise that as many days of the year as possible. So I think we must commend the people who are running the society at the moment because what they are doing is fantastic.

The member for Flinders has spoken in depth about the history of the society and also about his attendances at shows growing up, and I had the same thing. In Glencoe we even had a show, it used to be on the October long weekend and that was always good fun, more so to catch up with the rellies and things like that but then you would go to Mount Gambier and I remember my mum and my grandmother sitting up in the grandstand at the show and saying, 'Look at that little boy on the top of that Brahman bull over there. Who would put their young kid on that bull?' Well, my dad had put me up there, so I was five years old and riding this bull through the grand parade.

Then, when we came to Adelaide to go to the Show, we would hang out in the dairy pavilion. Dad would have the mobile milker there and it was always great to catch up with cattle people from right around the state, who were obviously very dear friends of mum and dad. I think that is one thing the Show does particularly well, people will come from all parts of the state and they gather there and it is a time to be in competition with each other, to see who has the best of whatever commodity it is that they are into, but it is also an opportunity to catch up and share stories and a lot of lifetime friendships have been made at Wayville over the years at the Show.

One hundred and seventy five years, there are not many things in this state that go back that far. It is tremendous that although times have changed things have stuck together. They are obviously not at the same location they were when things first started, they were down at Botanic Park, but they have done a tremendous job. As I said at the outset, the Show Society and the site that they have in Wayville is in very good hands and I commend everyone who is involved at the moment and wish them all the very best for the future.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:46): I also rise to support the motion of the member for Flinders. It is significant and important that this parliament recognises the 175th birthday of the Royal Adelaide Show. It is a once-a-year event, for country people particularly when they migrate to the city. I think the only other time a lot of them migrate is for the test cricket, which we appear to have lost as well. The Royal Adelaide Show goes well back in my memory, particularly during my years as a Rural Youth member. There are not a lot of members in this place now who would have been a member of Rural Youth. In our day, it was a great organisation but for the former Rural Youth organisation it was a highlight of the year to come down and participate in the Royal Show events, the sheep judging and cattle judging. We used to have our own competitions and be involved. I made a lot of friendships; people from the bush made a lot of friendships that are still in place.

The Show Society is a bit like an old grandfather clock, it just sits there ticking away and every year comes up with the goods, quite frankly. I pay particular tribute to the people who are involved in the Show year after year. I would like to note particularly the late Mr Charles Thomas from Point Morrison on Kangaroo Island. He was a sheep steward in the sheep judging for years and years, I cannot recall how long, it might have been 30 or 40 years, but he made a regular pilgrimage to the Show and spent two weeks there while everything else was put on hold. People like that are the backbone of show societies and there would be a long list, I am sure, of people.

The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society is a highly professional organisation. It does everything particularly well. As members in this place know, each year we are given tickets to the Show, which I try to use every year. I enjoy going. Usually about a day does me out, quite frankly, but I think it is a privilege, as a member of parliament, to go down there and do the rounds and enjoy the hospitality of the Show Society. They are always pleased to see you and it is good to be able to talk to a lot of the older generation who have been there for many years. It is certainly a one-off event. It is a huge contributor to the economy of South Australia and it is a huge contributor to, more particularly, the city of Adelaide for that week or so that the Show is on.

Unfortunately, I could not attend the recent dinner. It just did not slot in, but I know that a number of colleagues on this side of the house went, and apparently a disappointing number from the government side went.

Members interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: That has come to me from members of the Show Society, not from here, okay? That has come from there: people who have been involved with the Show from many years. They may have had reasons why they could not go; I could not go and that is by the by. However, I look forward to the Show in September. It is very much—

Mrs Vlahos interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: I am getting quite a bit of assistance, Madam Deputy Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think you are being provocative, too, but I do ask members to listen in silence and perhaps comment in their own time.

Mr PENGILLY: During the year, we go down there for various things. I know the SADA dinner every year is a highlight, which is held down there, but the new pavilion financed by the former Howard government is absolutely fantastic and is a credit to the society and the way they run that. Those of us attend various functions down there over the year, the Caravan and Camping Show and different things that we are able to go to, so it is a big event. In 25 years, some that are here may be able to go to the 200th one, and they may still be in this place, but not too many, I would think. Not too many might be—the member for Bright may have Australianised his accent and he may well be there in another 25 years.

I congratulate the member for Flinders for bringing this motion to the house. I think it is an excellent motion. I have no doubt that the government will support it. Well, I hope they do. The indication was from the primary industries minister that they would, anyway. So, thank you, and I wish them well for the Show this year.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (11:52): I also congratulate the member for Flinders for bringing this very important milestone to this house and I certainly do commend him for doing that. The 175th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society is a significant milestone, not only for the society but also for our agriculture industries and also for the state of South Australia. As has been mentioned before, the society was formed just three years after South Australia was founded, so that it is a significant opportunity there and a significant milestone.

The society was formed to advance agricultural and pastoral knowledge and to promote the development of the colony's natural resources. Our natural resources and our agriculture society are a great thing and provide great opportunities out there for our farming community. The society became a very progressive and influential body, also turning its attention to research and communicating news and information to farmers and agricultural businesses, which is very important.

It is interesting that the first Show was held in 1840 and there was at least one Show, sometimes two, during the early years of the society. Also, in 1845, wine was exhibited for the very first time at the Show. In 1851, the society sent samples of locally-grown wheat to compete in the great exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London. I must mention that one of those won a prize there, so even in 1851 South Australia had world-renowned and great wheat, so congratulations there. Since the first Show in 1840, the society has played a very central role in helping all South Australians to better understand the agriculture industry and to help drive our state going forward.

About 40 per cent of all South Australians attend the Royal Adelaide Show each year, and as the member for Finniss said, I have not got a ticket at this stage, but I am looking forward to attending the Show this year. Whether they attend to ride the Mad Mouse or to show off their prize bull, everyone leaves the Show with a better understanding of agriculture, and, as the minister for regions, I think that is a very good thing. The people in Adelaide sometimes do not understand the importance of the agriculture society to the wellbeing of our communities.

This year's Royal Show is the 239th, and it will continue the tradition of connecting city and country communities. It connects primary producers with city farmers who rely on their products and also connects the farmers to show their showcases to the city people in Adelaide. In 1888, the central bureau of agriculture was created to advise the minister and to encourage better practices by farmers. The South Australian Department of Agriculture was formed in 1902 with a charter of conducting research, drafting legislation and having a regulatory role to protect the state's agriculture industries.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Plenty of time—eight more minutes.

Mr Whetstone: Speed it up!

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Do you want to have a shot?

Mr Whetstone: No. Speed it up!

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Since those days, the society and the government of the day, no matter which side is in government, have worked closely for the betterment of all state farmers. At this year's Royal Show, which is less than one month away, the state government will partner with the society to deliver the Premium Food and Wine Trail, and the member for Chaffey may interject but certainly we are all united with what the society does and we would hope that they keep going for another 25 to 100 years.

I know there are other speakers who want to speak here today. In closing, I congratulate the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia on its 175th anniversary and its ongoing role in developing and growing our state. Again, I thank the member for Flinders for bringing this great issue to the parliament.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (11:56): It is my very genuine pleasure to support the member for Flinders in this fantastic motion that this house recognises the 175th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia and applauds its significant contribution to our state. I know that when the member for Flinders penned those words 'applauds the contribution to our state', he did genuinely mean regions and the city. He meant Adelaide and the rest of South Australia as well because while, obviously, the traditions of the Show are steeped in our primary industries, our rural and our regional culture, that culture has made a very significant contribution to our capital city over 175 years.

I think it is very important that we have such a large, thriving Show in the city which allows rural people to come and contribute and participate, but also shows off to metropolitan people, who may unfortunately not get out to regions very often, exactly what we have to offer. I think that it really is a very valuable two-way street that the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society contributes to our entire state, as the member for Flinders has said.

The member for Flinders went through a great deal of history, both very important factual, structured history and also some very interesting personal, family history and involvement and I think that was absolutely outstanding. I do not plan to go over all that again. I would actually like to talk about the links between the Adelaide Show and all the other country shows around South Australia, which are absolutely vital to those communities.

In my electorate, I am exceptionally proud that we have a show at Kapunda, Burra, Eudunda, Jamestown, Melrose and Wilmington all within the electorate of Stuart and there are many more across the state. At Jamestown, we actually have the largest show in rural South Australia. They do an absolutely outstanding job at Jamestown, as do all the other committees and agricultural and horticultural societies which run shows large and small across our entire state.

One of the things that has been so important not just to the Adelaide Show but also to all the shows across rural South Australia is the fact that they have had to walk a delicate, careful and important balance between retaining showing off some of the most important traditional talents and capacities and abilities from primarily farming areas of the state and also working into newer and interesting areas that keep a more modern show-goer interested and entertained.

Of course, the very obvious stuff is the sideshow alley which has been around for 100 years which I have to say is not really my favourite part at all. In fact, it is not anywhere close to my favourite part. However, it is incredibly important because you think of all those teenage kids who go and they love it—fantastic, because it is meant to be a great, fun day out.

All of these show societies are thinking every year, 'What will we present so that we can retain our traditions and also add new, modern and innovative stalls, events, activities and competitions for people as well.' I applaud all the people who put time and effort into keeping shows relevant by retaining those traditional, very important primary industry bases that started them, but also a wide range of very modern pursuits as well. I think that is one of the foundations of the success of the Royal Adelaide Show for 175 years—let us hope there are another 175 years to go—and all of those shows across the state, particularly, as far as I am concerned of course, those in Stuart, some of which have been going for 150 or 160-plus years, which I think is absolutely outstanding success for those small places.

I would also like to point out the very important contribution that shows make to rural education. Public schools and private schools, but primarily public because that is what we have in rural South Australia, run very important agriculture programs for their students, and the shows give them places to actively participate, to show off what they can do and to compete. They give them events and give them times to work towards.

I have to say my favourite part of the shows is going and seeing the school groups that have entered competitions in the shows, particularly in Adelaide where you get groups from all over the state. They come in with livestock, horticultural produce and a whole range of things. You see these school kids, their teachers, their families and other people who support the school putting in an enormous amount of effort into a really healthy, constructive, productive effort to compete at these shows. I think that opportunity to participate is wonderful.

It is wonderful for so many reasons. At one end, you have a valuable educational program where you have targets. If you know you have a footy match every week, and know you have finals at the end, it gives you something to work towards. There is teamwork and discipline that comes into that, and the shows provide that.

They are also very important in another way because what these kids are learning, what the shows give them the opportunity to compete in, is actually real world for many of those kids. It is actually where their future lies. If you get a young person going to a show as part of a school team, whether they are involved in shearing, horticulture, grains, cattle, sheep, wool or meat it does not matter, it is very likely that that is actually their working future. I think the shows offer an incredibly valuable opportunity for them as well. Let me just conclude by giving the member for Chaffey a little bit of credit because I understand he actually enters every year. He enters the jam-making competition.

Mr Whetstone: Don't give away any secrets.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hang on, that is tipping off the judges.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Yes, as he says—don't worry, Deputy Speaker—I will not share the recipe. I will not share the recipe, but the member for Chaffey participates. I actually have, on the pin board in my office behind my desk, a pennant that says 'Best Exhibit Wilmington Show', but I have to confess it has nothing to do with me. It is one that my wife actually won for a vegetable contribution she made at the Wilmington Show.

On this side, we actively contribute at whatever level we possibly can in shows. I am sure that people on the opposite side would love to do it, and I encourage them to do that if they possibly can. If it is the Adelaide Show, whip up a jam like the member for Chaffey does. If it is a country show, Minister for Police, I am sure you have the opportunity at Gawler to do that from time to time. It is a really fun opportunity, and I really encourage everybody—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I must admit, I thought Gawler was right up there, but we have been told—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! We have been told that Jamestown is the biggest, so I am leaving that to you to follow up—

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! You will have your opportunity shortly. Member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I very deliberately kept that sort of parochial competition out of my contribution because every single one of us should stick up for our local shows in our local area. That is what we should all be doing and I recognise and appreciate that wholeheartedly.

Finally, I would like to share some information that the member for Flinders shared with me and I encourage all members to take a look at this. There has been a book written by Mr Robert Linn and launched in March by our state Governor titled 175 Years of Influence and Vision Sharing the Good Earth. I encourage all members here to take a look at that book which directly relates to the fantastic motion that the member for Flinders has brought to this house.

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (12:05): I should start my contribution on the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society by echoing the member for Stuart to stick up for the shows in our own local area. As people would know, I am very pleased that the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of South Australia is in Ashford and also in the federal seat of Adelaide. I know that the federal member for Adelaide, Kate Ellis, and I are very proud to have the honour of having the Show in our area.

I have a number of connections as a local member with that place and I am very pleased to say that I have always found both the staff and the representatives of the Show to be fabulously supportive and innovative in their approach to the future of the Show. I was particularly pleased to have meetings with John Rothwell, the CEO of the Royal Show, where his vision—and I am sure the vision of the executive of the Show—is to make sure that that space is utilised in the best-possible way.

While we have the fabulous Show that we have been talking about in the chamber today, there is also a commitment to make sure that that space is used as well as it can be. With some of the renovations that have happened I—and I am sure other members in this chamber—have been to a number of different functions that are now held in what I would consider to be a very modernised showground.

The other thing that I am really proud of is that in the redevelopment there was a real commitment to having a green space, and I have been on the roof and had a look at the photovoltaic solar provisions that are there and also inspected the water recycling. Up until fairly recently we had the biggest effort both in the area of voltaic power and water recycling in the Southern Hemisphere. It is pretty good for Adelaide to have that record.

In a previous life as a union official, which was fairly difficult, I worked as the industrial officer for the United Trades and Labor Council and I had the honour to be involved in negotiating the site agreement for each year's Show. That included making sure that industrial relations facilities and negotiations were put in place with regard to the workers who were at the Royal Show. That included the amusement area—I know more about the amusement area than I have ever wanted to know other than having to go on there with young people—and also the stalls and the souvenirs and the different people who make the Show the success that it is.

The behind-the-scenes work is fantastic and that professionalism, I understand, has continued. With all the good things that we see, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, particularly with the groups that show their animals and their products, and the way it works like clockwork is really impressive.

The other thing that I am really pleased to be able to say is that for this Show we should be able to access the new Adelaide Showgrounds station. I see that as a real coup as far as our infrastructure in the state is concerned. There was a lot of heartache for the residents and businesses around that space, but we have come through. I hope members have had the opportunity to look at that station, because one of the things I think is really impressive is not only the architecture but the fact that we acknowledge the effort that has been put in by our different armed services over the years. There is particular artwork that commemorates our veterans. It is a really good story for South Australia, it is a very elegant station and it even looks very good at night with all the lighting that is there.

The next stage of things happening around that space is that there will be an underpass for pedestrians and cyclists. One of the big problems with the great moves that have been happening over a number of years with regard to bike and pedestrian paths along that area is that, once you get to Greenhill Road, then it is a real problem, particularly on the corner of Anzac Highway and Greenhill Road, to actually go further on your bike without big delays.

There have also been complaints over the years from people in wheelchairs and gophers, that it is a very difficult cross road to pass. That work is happening at the moment. I do not think it will be ready for the next Royal Show, but it is aimed to be finished in November, I think, so let us hope that stays on time and that we have that particular facility.

The other area in which I have worked with the showground people is my community arts project, which is shared by a number of local people, including the Goodwood traders, the Unley council and the member for Unley, which is to improve the appearance of the Millswood underpass on Goodwood Road. The dream is to turn that underpass into an arts space. A lot of people are quite excited about the idea, and I really want to acknowledge the support I have had from the Royal Show, because they can see that as being, perhaps at Show time, something they can use to emphasise and advertise the different work the Show does. They are really part of our community and part of the discussions we have, because of course Ashford is the best electorate in the state and we are just going to go on and make sure we keep that position.

The other dealings I have had, which may surprise some members here, is my interest and commitment to the Roller Derby women. The good thing about Roller Derby at the Adelaide Show is that not only do you get to see the Roller Derby, which can be a bit rough at times, but that particular group is committed to having live music at the Roller Derby. So, there is an opportunity to showcase some of our fabulous talent with regard to South Australian music. Anybody who is into blue grass music, or blues music in particular, will enjoy the music, even if they do not enjoy the Roller Derby, although I challenge you not to enjoy it.

A number of shows happen around the Royal Show, and I have been really pleased to be part of those different celebrations. One of the areas in which I am really interested is the growing of native plants. I usually see the member for Fisher at those shows, where you get very cheap and varied both Indigenous native plants and also native plants from South Australia and around Australia. It is a really good opportunity to encourage people to think about growing not just exotic plants but also Indigenous plants as well.

In conclusion, I congratulate the great success of 175 years by the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society. There are lots of stories. The member for Flinders told some of his. I am always very amused by the stories I get on this side of the house. A former minister and member for Adelaide Jane Lomax-Smith has been a member, as am I. I have been a member of the Royal Adelaide Show for a number of years—a very proud one.

She has been given the opportunity by the Country Women's Association—another really important organisation associated with our Show and other country events—to weigh the scone mix, and this is a very important job she has been given. The member for Taylor tells me that she has been given some responsibility in regard to the tea room as well, and I congratulate her. This is a very positive motion and I congratulate the member for Flinders on bringing it to our attention.

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (12:15): Here we are on another Thursday morning, the greatest time on the parliamentary calendar. I question whether or not the member for Colton is auditioning for some sort of TV show. We were lamenting before that if he brings a basketball into this place, spikes it up and calls it Wilson then we will know what is going on.

Members interjecting:

Mr KNOLL: Sorry, Deputy Speaker for bringing this house into disorder. I wanted to focus a little bit differently from the contributions that have been made this morning in regard to the 175th anniversary of the Show and the society and talk about the local shows in my area and about some of the issues and difficulties local shows in my area have been having.

I am lucky enough to get along to almost all of my shows, depending on whether or not it is an election year, and I will get to that in a second. I was fortunate enough to go to the Mannum Show this year, the Tanunda Show, the Angaston Show and the Mount Pleasant Show, which this year was held on 15 March. I have a request from Nick Seager, the President of the Mount Pleasant Show, that the date of the state election be moved in order not to conflict with the more important Mount Pleasant Show once every four years. I suggested that the AEC have a booth at the Mount Pleasant Show; it could have possibly been the busiest booth on the day in my electorate but, alas, that did not happen.

Shows provide a great way for communities to come together and connect. I want to talk in particular about the Tanunda Show AGM at which I was fortunate enough to be a guest speaker last week. I congratulate Luke Willis, the president, on his work keeping the show going, and the show has just had its 101st year. Highlights include the Bienenstich competition, eating a North German dessert called Rote Grütze, which is sweetened sago with wine. There is also a battle every year between the Lone Pine and Rowland Flat Agricultural Bureaus as to who has the best agricultural display. As the local member, can I say they are both equally as good.

On Wednesday, I talked to the Show Society about the difficult topic of youth engagement in the community and youth engagement in organised structures within the community. I would hazard to say that along with the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, the RSLs and town committees, there are so many organisations I see that suffer from the same issues: primarily, an ageing membership, a declining membership and, in some cases, a real struggle to secure the future of the organisation in general.

It was quite pertinent because I was sitting with about 30 members of the Tanunda Show society; I would hazard to say that 80 per cent of them were over 65 and this was a topic quite close to their heart. I gave the perspective of someone who is younger but someone who does indeed join things. I did not seek to apologise for my generation but instead to help create some understanding so that we can find some ways to make sure that our communities remain as strong as they are and try to strengthen them.

In relation to that, I would like to raise a couple of points now. The first is that for my part I have been very welcome to join the organisations that I have, whether it be industry organisations, sporting clubs, or different branches and subsets within the Liberal Party. I have always been encouraged to join, not on my terms but on the terms that currently exist within the structures that currently exist.

My generation has a very different way of engaging. We are not apathetic and we are not adverse to community involvement. Indeed, the new generation of MPs who have come into this place—and I am looking at the member for Kaurna and the member for Bright and the member for Reynell quite specifically. There is a new generation and we are symptomatic of a generation that wants to engage, but we do so very differently.

Modern technology is one of the biggest impacts and one of the biggest changes. When I am talking about modern technology I actually take a broader time frame. When I look back 50 or 60 years, before the advent of modern communications, in order to get out and interact with the community you had to leave your home, you had to join organisations (of which there were fewer than there are today), and you became involved. That is the way you made friends and that is the way you figured out what was going on.

Indeed, a lot of what I see in the Liberal Party is information dissemination from members of parliament down to branches and from branch presidents through to members. That is all based around a traditional model of information dissemination. However, the truth is that modern technology means that any lay member of a political party, any member of an organisation, can be just as informed and involved sitting at home as they used to be by having to leave the house.

The second thing that my generation has is so much more choice about becoming involved informally and formally with so many different things, from sporting organisations to pursuits where one can get involved over the internet, being able to interact and communicate with friends without ever having to leave the house. That has certainly been to the detriment of structured, traditional organisations.

Another thing I talked about was the fact that the traditional meeting and agenda structure that so many organisations follow does seem more and more pointless to my generation. The idea of going through a structured meeting process—where we recount what we did last time, where we tick off everybody's name, where we listen to reports from a couple of members of the organisation—then afterwards finally get on to discuss something seems quite a laborious way of going through a meeting process.

Again, it comes back to the fact that we have so much information at our fingertips. That means that we prefer more informal ways to engage: open forums where everybody gets to participate equally, as opposed to a couple of people sitting at the front of a room dictating to the people sitting in chairs facing them.

Another thing I found quite interesting about my generation is that because of the amount of choice we have we tend not to commit to functions too far in advance. Many times, when organising a function where I believe 100 people will turn up, seven days before I will have 30 names on the RSVP list and try to deal with caterers on that basis, but in the end we get to that 100 figure. Because of the amount of choice this generation has, people do not want to commit too far in advance in case something better comes up.

Another thing I have noted about my generation is that we are far less willing to donate our time but more willing to donate our money. I looked at this morning's Twitter feed and the campaign by Young Labor—and, indeed, the Young Liberal Movement has taken up the same campaign for the Hutt Street Centre's Walk a Mile campaign—and I noted that the member for Hartley donated $106.01 and was outdone by the member for Lee, who donated $212, although he does get paid more than the member for Hartley, so we can forgive him that.

Those sorts of campaigns, where we are willing to donate money, work quite well; we are more willing to do that than donate our time, so we end up with more professional organisations so that our charities, instead of being community groups run by volunteers, are professional organisations with paid people. As somebody who is stalk called by about a dozen different organisations for money, I know how professional they have become.

In the last minute and 45 seconds I have left, I would like to talk about the intergenerational gap. So many times I have seen organisations built around a friendship group based on a similar generational age, and somebody young coming into that group finds it quite difficult to engage and relate to a generation that is not their own. I think it is there that the answer lies: if we are to engage this next generation, we have to be willing to let them do it on their own terms, with their own formats and their own styles, but with their friends.

It is only by bringing along people and friends with them that they engage fully. I have brought people to Liberal Party branch meetings and, if I bring along a 30-year-old friend who sits around with people in their 50s, 60s and 70s, it is quite hard for them to engage and I have seen them become reluctant to engage. I do think we need to put these things on the record, otherwise we are going to lose that sense of community spirit and volunteerism that has made our community so great over our history.

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (12:25): I, too, wish to speak on this particular subject and, in opening my remarks, I congratulate the member for Flinders on bringing this very important motion to recognise the 175th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia. It is true that it makes a significant contribution to our state. I think every South Australian has some affinity with what is a revered institution here in South Australia, that is, the Royal Show. The importance of the Royal Show changes as you get older as well. When I was young and the first time that I was allowed to attend—

Mr Pengilly: You're still young, aren't you, Paul?

The Hon. P. CAICA: Compared to you, yes. When I was first allowed to go to the Show by myself, it was a great experience. Of course, most of that time would have been spent in the sideshows and having fun down there but, as you attend more shows, you realise that there is much more to it. Of course, it was not long before I became interested in the bonsais or the chooks or the puffed pigeons—of the feathered variety, of course—wood chopping and a whole lot of things. It is often, for people who live in metropolitan Adelaide, their first engagement with things that are associated with and extremely important to South Australia, that is, our agricultural and primary production sector.

Contrary to the views that are often held by those opposite that we do not support rural South Australia, the fact is we do. The fact is we understand the absolute importance of primary production to this state's economic welfare and wellbeing. The Royal Show each year provides an opportunity to educate those people from metropolitan Adelaide and our areas around the city of Adelaide to get a greater understanding of the work that is undertaken by people in primary production but also to get an understanding of its importance to our state.

I was lucky enough, for a short period of time, to be the state's agricultural minister and, of course, I enjoyed that role very much. Part and parcel of our job as members of parliament, not just those who have rural electorates but also metropolitan electorates, is to give people a greater understanding of what is a fundamental plank in this state's economy, and that is primary production. It is incumbent upon all of us to do that and support our agricultural and primary production sector as best we can.

Like my good friend the member for Ashford, I have looked with interest at the transformation of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society over a period of time, and I congratulate the successive executives who have transformed that society into one that is actually adding relevance to the role that it plays around South Australia.

Its core responsibility will always be the promotion, welfare and advancement of primary industry in this state, and that is as it should be; but, by expanding its influence into a variety of other areas, it has created the opportunity for what was a two-week event every year to be events that occur across the entire year. Some people might remember, I am sure—some people in this room, even—having been to see the Beatles at Centennial Hall.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I was going to say that.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Sorry. Then, I will withdraw that and say that some people may have even seen the two concerts that were performed by the Rolling Stones at Centennial Hall or even gone to see Suzi Quatro or, in the case of others, it may have been to the Sexpo where they have their—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Is it Sexpo? I have never been there, but I am just saying that some people may have, or the farmers' markets that occur on Sunday mornings. I do notice the member for Goyder covering his face, for whatever reason that might be. What I am saying is that it has become a venue that is becoming more relevant to the people of South Australia because of the variety of initiatives that have been undertaken by the society, which in turn lends itself to promoting and continuing to promote that core responsibility of the society.

Unlike the member for Chaffey who has won prizes for jam or the member for Stuart whose wife did something extraordinary with vegetables and won a prize at the Wilmington Show, I have a beautiful ribbon that is very long and says 'First Prize at the Royal Adelaide Show'. I can see people in anticipation saying, 'How on earth would Caica have got that?' and I can tell you.

Anyone who wants to go through the Rose Terrace gates can go there and see a little plaque. I know the former premier was very disappointed when I told him. He got me to open the gates there and he was very upset when he saw the size of the brass plaque, but it is there with my name and that I opened it at that particular time, and as a result of that, in pulling what was a big ribbon, it was the first prize blue ribbon, and I've got that pride of place.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: You didn't actually win anything?

The Hon. P. CAICA: No, I took it. It was a gift from Mr Charlie Downer and John Rothwell. I said, 'Can I have that?' and they said, 'Yes, you can, minister.' As a member of parliament over a variety of years you get a lot of stuff. Some might say that some stuff is not as good as some other stuff, but this one holds pride of place in my office in the outstanding seat of Colton, down at my Henley Beach office.

I am going to prove to people that you do not have to speak for the entire time. I am going to wind up now, but what I want to do is congratulate executive officer John Rothwell; Richard Fewster, for the work he does; and the executive that does an outstanding job in transforming the Show in such a way that they are making it relevant to more and more South Australians. It is an outstanding institution.

It is an event that hundreds of thousands of South Australians on a yearly basis continue to enjoy. Its very purpose is to underpin awareness, education, and the benefits of primary production in this state. I congratulate everyone involved with it and I also hope, although I certainly will not be here, that in 170 years' time this parliament is celebrating the ongoing role that the Show and the Royal Horticultural Society of South Australia plays in South Australia. Congratulations again to the member for Flinders on moving this motion.

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