HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Subject Index
Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-09-25 Daily Xml
Contents
Xml

Motions

Gawler Show Society

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (21:45): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Gawler Agricultural, Horticultural and Floricultural Society, also fondly known as the Gawler Show Society, on achieving its remarkable milestone of 170th anniversary in 2024;

2. Recognises that the Gawler Show Society was first established in 1854 to provide a meeting place for the people of the agricultural district to trade and celebrate the crop, sheep and pastoral strengths of the region and today incorporates educational elements to ensure the history and integrity of agricultural shows is maintained and embraced by future generations;

3. Notes that the Gawler Show is Gawler's key tourism event, attracting more than 30,000 people each year and remains the largest regional show in South Australia;

4. Acknowledges that the Gawler Show Society is an active not-for-profit community-based organisation which reinvested over $75,000 into the local community over the last five years; and

5. Commends the president, management committee, society staff, patrons, life members and hundreds of volunteers for their hard work and dedicated efforts in providing outstanding services and hosting a world-class agriculture and entertainment show each year.

It is a great honour to move this motion to congratulate the Gawler Agricultural, Horticultural and Floricultural Society on achieving the remarkable milestone of its 170th anniversary in 2024. Fondly known as the Gawler Show Society, the society was first established in 1854 to provide a meeting place for the people of the agricultural district to trade and celebrate the crop, sheep and pastoral strengths of the region. Today, the Gawler Show is South Australia's largest regional show, attracting more than 30,000 people each year and it remains Gawler's key tourism event.

The Gawler Show is traditionally held annually on the last weekend in August—this year being 24 to 25 August—boasting a full weekend of fun, entertainment and education at the Gawler Showgrounds on Nixon Terrace. It provides a unique family-friendly atmosphere whilst showcasing the best of Gawler's community and the region, incorporating many educational elements to ensure that the history and integrity of agricultural shows is maintained and embraced by future generations.

As my esteemed parliamentary colleague the Hon. Centofanti highlighted in her important motion on country shows last year, one of the most unique and valuable aspects of country shows is the hands-on learning experience that they provide. Like all country shows, the Gawler Show Society is a volunteer not-for-profit organisation that relies on the generosity, passion and dedication of hundreds of volunteers from across the district who contribute their valuable time, knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to assist in hosting our state's largest country show.

Leadership is crucial to every successful organisation. The success and popularity of the show would not be possible without the hard work of the president (Isaiah Tesselaar), the management committee, society staff, patrons, life members and volunteers, whose longstanding dedication is the key driving force for the outstanding reputation that the Gawler Show now enjoys. I would also like to thank past presidents Patricia Dent OAM and Claire Forgie, whose efforts have helped the show grow from strength to strength and saw it continue as one of the few major regional events held successfully during the COVID period in November 2021.

Honourable members, please also allow me to highlight the patrons of the Gawler Show, John and Yvonne Chamberlain, who have been strong supporters of the Gawler Show Society over many years. When I visited Gawler a few months ago, it was Mr John Chamberlain who brought to my attention the 170th milestone anniversary of the Gawler Show. I recall sighting the letter given to John as the patron, which said:

The role of the Patron is to support the Society by lending your name as a reputable, high profile Gawler identity to add credibility and integrity to our known brand, the Gawler Show. To this end, we believe you can assist us with increasing our positive public image and community engagement by lending your time, effort, contacts, influence, ideas and inspiration.

For those who have the pleasure to know and work with John Chamberlain, he certainly has all the qualities and influence of a great patron. Both John and his wife, Yvonne, are well-respected and certainly high-profile Gawler identities and have contributed a lifetime of generous contributions to the credibility and integrity of the Gawler Show as well as the whole community. I want to also thank John for helping my office gather all the most valuable insights and information in order for me to move this motion today.

The Gawler Show has a longstanding history of philanthropic endeavours and supporting local community organisations. For instance, during World War II it ran patriotic days and donated 90 per cent of its income to comfort funds for those in need. Over the years the Gawler Show has developed strong relationships with local Rotary, Lions, Apex and men's shed clubs as well as many surrounding sports and community groups. Over $75,000 has been reinvested into the local community over the last five years, thanks to the wonderful volunteers who support running the gates and car parking efforts and assist in setting up the show.

The Gawler Show has had a very strong educational role from the very beginning. Local historian Helen Hennessy researched the show extensively ahead of its 170th anniversary and highlighted that in the beginning the show 'was more of a gathering to show people and educate, an exchange of ideas with people who had emigrated from the northern hemisphere who had no idea how to farm here'. Over time, the show became a way of sharing improvements and inventions that the local farming community was adopting, and part of the competition was to show off examples of machinery and techniques that had been developed and patented by local people.

Today, agriculture is still deeply embedded in the Gawler Show, with the Agricultural Learning Centre providing a key focus for showcasing the region's agriculture in a new and exciting format. I was delighted to learn that the Ag Learning Centre is mostly coordinated by local students who volunteer their time, and the students' involvement has been integral in the successful growth of this section of the Gawler Show. With interactive exhibits and activities, children and adults alike can engage with the world of agriculture and touch, smell, taste and experience the farm-to-table journey.

With a range of fun and interesting things to explore, such as Bugs n Slugs, goat milking demonstrations and wool displays, visitors of all ages were engaged and educated about the origin of their food and fibre. Baby animals are always a huge hit, and the Nixon's Animal Adventures trail encouraged show goers to get up close and personal and visit all the animals while completing the activity sheet to go into the draw to win a family pass to the following year's show.

The blacksmiths displays and competitions are another highlight, featured in the Rural Ag Zone, with the Artist Blacksmiths Association South Australia conducting demonstrations throughout the weekend and creating small models and toys to share with kids. For the 170th anniversary, the Blacksmiths Association designed and manufactured a commemorative plaque which was completed over the course of the weekend to recognise the special milestone.

Shearing and sheepdog demonstrations showcase how working dogs round up the sheep and provide an engaging and interactive way for farmers to pass on knowledge and tips on how to look after sheep and manage farm properties. Another of the many free family activities available at the Gawler Show is the ever-popular Touch-a-Truck area, with its eye-catching display of prime mover trucks, drag cars, vintage machinery and SES and CFS trucks along with an army truck and tank.

After its successful inauguration in 2023, the Farm Fresh section was back again this year, with a big focus on homegrown products and produce, providing traders with an opportunity to show off their fresh local products. I am particularly excited to share with honourable members this evening about the Young Farmer Challenge, which gives teams of young people the chance to showcase their knowledge and technical skills in a series of on-farm challenges.

The Young Farmer Challenge is a national competition to recognise future leaders in agriculture organised by the Agricultural Shows of Australia national emerging leaders working group, with teams competing at a local level with a chance to compete regionally and then battle it out for the title of Australian Young Farmer Challenge champions.

The Gawler Show Society also participated in the Agricultural Society's Council of SA Rural Ambassador Program, which highlights the importance of young people's engagement in agriculture shows and helps them to develop closer links with primary industries in South Australia. There are two categories within the program: the Young Rural Ambassador category for those between 16 and 20 years old and the Rural Ambassador category for those between 20 and 30 years old.

I would like to extend my warmest, heartfelt congratulations to Braden Turner, who represented the Gawler Show as a state finalist at the 2024 Rural Ambassador Awards. Braden is a key member of the Gawler Show team as the junior vice-president and the grounds coordinator.

I offer congratulations also to the 2024 Rural Ambassador of the Year, Kayla Starkey, who represented the Mount Pleasant Show and was named the winner at the Rural Ambassador Awards dinner at the Royal Adelaide Show. I particularly wish to highlight the wonderful work of the Gawler Show Youth Team, which was formed in 2012 to support young people in the community bringing fresh ideas to the show.

Today, it is such a great honour to move this motion to congratulate, once again, the Gawler Show on their incredible achievements and on their contribution to South Australia over 170 years. I want to place on the record my deep appreciation for their excellent work, as well as for everybody who has participated and contributed greatly in building the profile of the Gawler Show. With those words, I commend the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT