Page 17 - The Outdoor Showman October - December 2025

There’s a raw honesty in their words.
The hours can be brutal, the travel
sometimes relentless — but the pride,
the community, and the joy I see in their
faces as we chat about the industry
and what it brings to others make it all
worthwhile. There’s a thread that ties
everyone together here: resilience,
respect, and an unspoken understanding
that this industry is something truly
special, unique and complex.
DAY 6 – Cake, Chaos and a
Missing Faux Showkid
It may be Susan’s birthday today — but
on the Showground, it’s showtime
as usual. The kids sing happy
birthday, share cake, and then it’s
back to business. 5-minute birthday
celebrations on the Showground.
Managing a casual, pop-up workforce
is no small feat. Every shift brings
challenges, personalities, and logistics
galore. Today’s slower daytime pace
gives way to a night-time rush — and
suddenly, I’m in the rhythm. Tickets,
cash, card, nailing it! (I think?)
Just as the sun starts to set, Campbell,
my son, is unaccounted for. Cue panic.
Lost AirTag, no radio contact, police
search — until we find him, blissfully
shooting hoops at the Goldenway
basketball stand, completely unaware
of my heart rate and new grey hairs.
Thankfully, the Show families were
already watching out for him — it takes a
village, and this one’s spent generations
doing it, so thankful he was safe!
DAY 7 – From Showgrounds
to Member Grounds
Today, I trade my ticket box and
Goldenway uniform for my AALARA
name badge and shirt. Greg Yong
(AALARA President) has flown in to
meet with our WA Members, but we
start with a call to QTIC to discuss
national collaboration opportunities
— important work to make our
advocacy stronger together. More
to come on this in the New Year.
Then it’s off to visit our Perth Members.
First stop, Adventure World — meeting
Andrew, Ross, Ben, and one of the
park’s owners, David. The park is
stunning, calm, and full of stories.
We even brave The Abyss — smooth,
thrilling, and not nearly as terrifying as
I expected (though I still screamed).
Next, we visit Perth’s Outback Splash for
a full park tour with Eli, Chloe, and
Jake. The team’s energy is infectious,
and the history of the park and the
team that have grown up here is
amazing. Having just launched their
new attraction, Lavender Estate the
day prior, we didn’t get the chance to
catch up with Paul, but we did get the
chance to try their new lavender ice
cream, made in Margaret River - a
must-try if you get the opportunity!
We race back to the Showgrounds with
10 minutes to set up for the AALARA
Member Networking Drinks! The turnout
is amazing: showmen, regulators,
theme park operators — all in one
room, sharing stories and laughs.
These moments remind me why
AALARA exists — to connect, to
listen, and to lift each other up.
I show Greg and his wife Tanya around
the Showgrounds, thinking I’m an
expert, and catch up with some of
our members who couldn’t make the
Networking function, also giving Greg
the insight into how hard this part of our
Membership works. He also suggested
that unlike me, he would be good at
‘The Luckies’, so watch this space…!
DAY 8 – Rain, Reflection and Farewell
The final day rolls in with
rain — and plenty of it. Spirits
could’ve been dampened, but
this is the Show! It goes on.
Crowds still trickle through, hoods
up, smiles on. I’m tucked in my ticket
booth, watching the ebb and flow of
families, friends, and my faux Showkids
soaking up every last moment.
As the final fireworks fade, the
rides slow, and the lights dim, I
realise how deeply this experience
has changed my perspective.
Ben and I hand back our uniforms,
say heartfelt goodbyes to our
new friends, and thank Broderick,
Susan, and Blake Pavier for letting
us step inside their world.
Camping onsite — with the Wild Mouse
roller coaster tests as our morning alarm
and the Showground as our backyard
— was unforgettable. This has been a
once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one
I’ll carry back to my office in Burleigh
with newfound appreciation for what
our Members live and breathe every day.
And unless you’re born into this industry,
you don’t get this opportunity, so how
fortunate are my children, my husband
and myself to have had the chance
to experience it first hand?!
The pack-down begins for the Showmen,
but for us, it’s time to hitch up the
van and head for the Nullarbor.
Reflections from the Road
In my ten years at AALARA, I’ve never
done anything quite like this — but
I wish I had sooner. You don’t know
what you don’t know until you live it.
To every Showie, operator, ride tech,
spruiker, and dreamer who makes
this industry what it is — thank
you for the privilege of walking
beside you for the past 8 days.
Safe travels everyone.
K x
THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN 15
THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN 15