Page 16 - The Outdoor Showman October - December 2025

9 Days as a By Kristy Ahrens, AALARA GM
With passing showers and bursts of
BUMP IN – High Vis, High
sunshine, I’m learning the rhythm:
Stakes and High Energy
enticing punters to test their luck,
uncovering just one winning number
Don the high-vis and get ready for
on a card to claim a giant plush toy. It’s
the media scrum! We roll in, see Phil
fast-paced, loud, and strangely addictive.
Durkin and Trent Woodall – I feel relief
at seeing their familiar faces in what
The real pros make it look effortless, but
is a very unfamiliar office for me. It’s
I can tell you — sitting in that spruiker’s
bump-in day and the excitement is
chair for even two minutes? Stage fright!
already electric. Broderick is front and
I stumble, laugh, recover, and leave with
centre in front of the cameras, talking
a brand-new respect for these show
up his brand-new ride, The Lunarix —
voices who draw crowds like magnets.
the first of its kind in the world and
We close at 10:20pm with healthy
brand new for 2025. It’s a double-
crowds and happy faces. My feet
ended, triple-spinning KMG marvel
ache, my head is buzzing — and
that hurls 16 fearless riders through
I can’t wait to do it all again.
gravity-defying flips, spinning a full 360
DAY 3 – Back to the Box
degrees more than 25 metres in the air.
I’m secretly thrilled to be back in the ticket
My kids are wide-eyed and thrilled
box at The Lunarix. The music is loud,
to be part of it all, jumping on a few
the lights brighter, and the adrenaline
rides for the media cameras and
contagious. I’ve become a lip-reader and
even joining Broderick’s grandson,
a hand-signal expert — one ticket, two
Blaze, for interviews and a cameo
tickets, card or cash — all communicated
on Perth’s nighttime news and
through muffled beats and smiles.
tomorrow’s newspaper.
I might just have the easiest gig on the
By afternoon, I’m back at the caravan
showgrounds, but I’m not complaining
prepping meals for the eight days
and am very grateful - this is a long
ahead — not really knowing what kind
way from my desk in Burleigh!
of beautiful chaos lies ahead. The
showgrounds hum with anticipation, the
DAY 4 – Midway Magic
scent of hot chips, hay and adrenaline
and Country Soul
in the air. It’s showtime… almost.
The bosses must have sensed my
DAY 1 – Showtime and Shiny Shoes
fish-out-of-water energy, so I get the
day off to explore with the kids. It’s
Uniforms collected from the Goldenway
the halfway mark of our secondment,
Amusements office, I’m officially on
and I’m ready to soak it all in.
the team! Today, I’m on ticket box
duty at The Lunarix, while Ben’s
I love how capital city shows bring the
working the gate at The Speed rides.
country to the city — the heart, the grit,
the community. We explore it all with
The sun is shining, the sky is that perfect
Showkid Ambassador extraordinaire
Perth blue, and the gates swing open
Blaze Pavier and his little sister Henley:
to the crowds. It’s an early knock-off for
the livestock, the whip-cracking, the
me (which I’m told never happens), as
tractors, the produce displays.
I’m off to attend the Perth Royal Show
Opening Ceremony Cocktail Function
I even jump on a ride beside Henley —
with RASWA CEO, Robyn Sermon.
she’s six and a hundred times braver
It’s a privilege to hear the stories of
than me. It’s humbling, heartwarming,
their inaugural award winners — Dr.
hilarious and horrifying (for me).
Rob Wilson and the late King of the
Our friend Ben Morton is also at the
Perth Show fireworks, Jim Cardile.
Show today and pops in for a chat. No
By nightfall, its fireworks, drones,
longer Assistant to The Prime Minister
Dolly Parton and showtime magic. The
and Cabinet, no longer in politics at all,
kids are buzzing, massive, caravan-
Ben is looking relaxed and enjoying the
unfriendly teddies in tow (thanks
time with his kids and watching with me
Susan!), and for once, I’m in bed early.
as our children ride The Speed together,
That might be the biggest show miracle
pure thrill and excitement on their faces.
of all. I’m fast asleep by the time Ben
DAY 5 – Stories from the Booth
clocks off and gets back to the van.
Back in the booth, I’m sort of getting
DAY 2 – Luck of the Showies
the hang of it. I share the space with
Today, I’m trying my hand at The
the operators and listen with intrigue
Luckies. Before today, “Luckies” to
to their stories — where they’ve come
me meant Irish good fortune — turns
from, how they came to be here, the
out, it’s a game of skill and charm
logistics, the passion, the extension
that takes real showmanship!
of family, what keeps them here.
14 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN
Showie