Another Canowindra Show has come and gone in a frenzy of wool, wheat and preserves. The Agricultural Show is a tradition held in just about every country town in Australia, no matter how small the population. The Royal Easter Show in Sydney is a huge event every April, but its regional equivalent is played out across thousands of rural communities every year.
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| I wasn't allowed into the Preserves and Home Mades pavilion with my camera while judging was taking place. I'm not sure what they thought I might do with the images. |
The Canowindra Show is traditionally held over a two day period taking in the 4th Saturday in September when the spring countryside is at its most glorious. The 100 page Show program is published about a month before, ensuring ample time to co-ordinate entries and exhibits. For the farmers, competition sections include Stud Beef Cattle, Merino Stud Sheep, Dairy Goats, Wool, and Working Dogs. For the "Ladies", competition sections include Dairy, Fruit and Garden Produce, Home Mades, Preserves, Needlework, Decorative Flowers and Craft Work. And then there is the hotly contested "Rich Fruit Cake Competition" - the winner of which must be prepared to bake a second cake for the state semi-finals and may go on to the Royal Easter Show in Sydney! This section includes a time-honoured recipe which must be followed to the letter. The following hint is included in the program;
"To insure uniformity, and depending on size, it is suggested the raisins be snipped into 2 or 3 pieces, cherries 4-6 pieces, and almonds cross ways to 3 or 4 pieces."
The Preserves section includes 32 categories from Peach Jam to Cucumber Relish. Entry fee is 30c (capped at $3) and first prize $2.
Every year my children enter works in the Junior Art section - usually Lego creations and drawings. They also like the "Animal made from vegetables or fruit" category - although I am pretty sure last year's winning eggplant penguin was not made by three year old Geoffry!
Friday night is feral night - the night we have to tackle the side show. The kids love it - the lights, the noise, the Dagwood Dogs and undercooked hot chips with chicken salt. The plastic toy guns and jewelery worth 5c that cost us a dirty $5 ball throw. The "colourful" carnies selling Elvis clocks and whirlie-gigs. At 8pm, after the polo cross and harness racing, fireworks light up the night sky.
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| Wool ready for judging |
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| Bringing in the sheep |
At 9am on Saturday the ring events begin. Cattle and sheep are judged, working dogs are put through their tricks and the vintage tractor pull wows the gathered crowd. Ironically, the "Official Opening of Show" is held at 2pm on Saturday, just before it ends. But the best is saved till last - the Sashing of the Showgirl, the Grand Parade and the Stockman's Challenge.
By 3.30pm on the fourth Saturday in September the Canowindra Show is over for another year - exhibits are collected, the carnies fold up their monster machines and the good people of Canowindra go back to their simple, normal lives where fruit cakes can be made with whole fruit pieces and eggs are misshapen and speckled.
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