Page 16 - The Outdoor Showman April - June 2025

Celebrating Celebrating 180 180 Years Years
•
Their daughter, Mrs Julie
Gay, is also a current director
on both the society &
show sub-committees,
•
And Geoff’s wife, Mrs
Cheryl Payne, now leads
the Home Cooking section,
continuing Suzanne’s legacy
with pride and heart.
These generational ties are what
make the Penrith Show more
than just an event – they make
it a living tradition, passed from
hand to hand, heart to heart.
While our surroundings, technology
and entertainment have grown
and modernised, the spirit of the
Penrith Show has always remained
true to its roots. In the mid-1800s,
displays would have included
farm machinery, blacksmithing
demonstrations, strongman feats,
and travelling entertainers like
clowns and acrobats – reflecting
the lifestyle and ingenuity of rural
Australia at the time. Today, while
we’ve expanded to include freestyle
motocross, dazzling firework
displays, trick riding and even drone
light shows, many core attractions
have not only remained but grown
grander with each passing year.
The woodchop competition still
thrills crowds, our horse events are
more competitive than ever, and
animal & reptile nurseries continue
to charm families of all ages. The
ever popular sideshow alley, with its
showbags, rides, yummy food and
carnival games, remains a nostalgic
highlight for every generation.
What has truly evolved is our
commitment to engaging youth
14 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN
14 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN