Country shows have long been the heart of communities across the state.
The promise of a social get together, amusement rides, the opportunity to show off home grown and homemade produce, a blue ribbon here and there, and all the sights and smells that go with it have enticed generations into town for the big annual event.
But with a trend of dwindling visitor numbers, Jamestown in the state’s Mid North knew it had to do something to save its annual Show, and last year took the plunge to make something old new again.
For the first time in 86 years, the Jamestown Show returned to a two-day format on the Sunday and Monday of the October long-weekend and shifted its focus back onto agriculture, and in particular ‘the sheep’s back’ that had helped it prosper in its heyday.
Jamestown Show president and local farmer David Cooper with Australian Wool Innovation ambassador and official guest of the 2017 Show, Catriona Rowntree (and some prize-winning fleece). Photo: Clive Palmer
Show president and local farmer/grazier David Cooper comes from a long family line of Jamestown Show volunteers and says it was a risk the community had decided it had to take, and it has paid off with new vibrancy surrounding the event.
“The return to a two-day format was originally suggested by local farmer and past president of the show committee John Malone,” David says.
“His timing was perfect as we had a lot of fresh faces on the committee and people wanting to be involved in the Show.
“The change came at a time when we had seen falling numbers through the gate over the past few years, partly due to an unfortunate run of bad weather and also probably because it was getting a bit stale.”
The Jamestown Show has turned full circle back to its agricultural roots. Local sheep producers Peter Lehmann and Alex Hathaway looking at fleece. Photo by Clive Palmer Photography
David says the community response to the return to a two-day event has been “fantastic”.
“The gate numbers in 2017 were the highest we’d seen since 2013.
“We had 1400 entries in the cooking, arts and craft, needlework and produce, a record 400 birds in the poultry shed and more sheep and wool entries displayed than we have seen in many years.”
“A new Sunday night speed shearing competition and fireworks display added new excitement to the program, and the Show’s strong new focus on the region’s trademark wool and sheep – this year to be known as the Jamestown Show Sheeptacular – brought it back to its agricultural roots.”
Brady Carlson with one of his prize-winning entries in the poultry shed, which attracted a record 400 birds at the Jamestown Show in 2017, coinciding with a fresh, reinvigorated two-day event. Photo: Clive Palmer Photography
“I really wanted to see a strong and vibrant show for the future of Jamestown,” David says.
“Strong communities need more than just basic services to really thrive and I see sporting clubs and events like the Jamestown Show, and the Jamestown Races which run on the Saturday of the same weekend as the show, as critical elements to a healthy community.
“As a local farmer and grazier, I think it’s really important that we maintain agricultural content in an agricultural show to ensure we are relevant to those involved in our dominant local industries.
Australian Wool Innovation ambassador Catriona Rowntree comperes the fashion parade at the 2017 Jamestown Show. Photo Clive Palmer Photography
“The move to a sheep and wool focus in 2017 really caught the attention of farmers across the northern agricultural districts and we will build on this success in 2018,” David says.
The success of last year’s Jamestown Show saw it recognised as the Northern Areas Council Community event of the Year.
The excitement of nighttime at the Jamestown Show. Photo Clive Palmer Photography.
Top: Senior Winner Matt Hagger in the 2017 Jamestown Show Shearing Competition, photo Clive Palmer.
The 2018 Jamestown Show will be held on Sunday, September 30, and Monday, October 1. Follow the event on Facebook, or www.jamestownshow.com.au, they’d love to see you there!
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