Page 8 - The Outdoor Showman January-March 2024

participants and this year we are also welcoming for the first time an Antique Bottle and Collectibles Fair.
The showground assisted local residents during the 2019 Gosper Mountain bushfires and functioned as a large animal evacuation facility for livestock. We hosted one family, unable to gain access to their
home for 2 weeks, who arrived with horses, dogs, cats, reptiles and a heavily pregnant goat who gave birth during her stay.
During the significant floods in 2022, 4 local football clubs
used the grounds and carpark for team training as the local council sports fields suffered flood damage and were out of actions for several months.
The Show
Hawkesbury Show has always run a three-day event and
since 1977 has run on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the weeks after the “Royal’ (Sydney Easter Show). In 2020 the Association was forced to cancel the show just 6 weeks out
due to COVID lockdowns. The
invited 15 local butchers to
enter. The classes of Classic
thin beef sausage and Gourmet thin sausage (any flavor) were cooked by chefs from a local 5-star wedding venue and judged by officials from the Australian Meat Industry Council. The
title of Champion Hawkesbury Butcher is now a much sort after title with butchers developing some interesting flavor combinations for the gourmet section. Sausages are judged
on their appearance uncooked, then cooked, and their taste
subsequent 2021 show drew the biggest crowd ever seen in the Hawkesbury with over 70,000
and afterwards, spectators are invited to sample the goods.
The show hosts a Sponsors
patrons in attendance. The Showmens Guild members were happy as 12 months of no events had certainly taken their toll.
The show continues to grow and thrive and the Association is always looking to introduce new and exciting features, whilst remaining true to the core agricultural events. With strong competition in horse, cattle, poultry and alpacas
(150 exhibits at the 2023 show) the show also attracts sheep, goats, donkeys and a pet sheep and goat section. In 2024, rabbit hopping competitions will be held and there are also events for Fancy Rodents (rats and mice!), dogs and cats.
In 2019, the show introduced a “sausage competition” and
Appreciation evening on the Wednesday night leading
up to the show. This event
has been well attended by major sponsors and gives the committee a chance to network and personally thank each contributor for their support
to the show. At the 2023 event, Elwin Bell was invited to share some stories about his life as a guild member and the challenges faced out on the road. It was certainly a revelation to most of those present and gave everyone a new found admiration for
the work of the Guild.
Moving forward, plans are well underway for the 2024 show which this year falls during the school holidays so we are anticipating a good
6 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN