Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
MORE than 10,000 Limestone Coast residents spent Friday and Saturday exploring the showgrounds for this year’s Mount Gambier A&H Society Spring Show.
Celebrating 158 years, this year’s show had attractions for everyone, including Sideshow Alley, the Rooftop Express Show, the speed shearing event and grand parade, in addition to many others.
Mount Gambier resident Kirralie Spada said she enjoyed taking her daughter, Domonique, 4, out to explore the showgrounds.
“We had a really great time playing the games and checking out the different rides,” she said.
“Dom had so much fun on the jumping castle and even won herself a unicorn on one of the games.
“It’s just a great day out for the kids – I really love coming to the show every year.”
Mount Gambier Agricultural and Horticultural Society president Kerry Hill said some of the highlights of the weekend included the animal nursery and the Royal Flying Doctor Service simulator.
The animal nursery, hosted by Grant High School and run by students, showcased many different baby animals, including goats, puppies, chickens and calves.
There was even a miniature goat judging competition held on the Saturday.
“We had a lot of great feedback about the baby animals and the goats,” Ms Hill said.
“I think this year we had something for all ages and we really worked hard to put on a great event.
“Our vendors all expressed how happy they were with the turn out.”
With a recorded total of 10,199 people attending, not including children under the age of five – which is less than 2017 – Ms Hill said she was pleased with how things went.
“It was a little smaller this year and I do not think the wet weather on Friday night helped, but we still had a successful event,” she said.
“Hopefully next year the weather is a bit better and we can pick up again, but 10,000 is still a great weekend.”
Merely days after wrapping up, the show society is already putting together plans for next year’s event.
“Some of our attractions have to be booked a year or two in advance, so we are already in the planning stages for 2019,” Ms Hill said.
“It’s really important to us to get things right and make sure we have something for everyone.”
