It all began with a conversation with a girlfriend. This year she was planning on taking her kids to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. I could tell she was excited for her children and although I am well and truly over the crowds and commercialism of this huge event, it got me to remembering another Australian icon — the country show.
It’s part of Australia’s culture; after all one is held in some country town on almost any given weekend For the town’s folk, who may be battling drought, floods or stock problems it’s a chance to get together and treat the family to a fun day out; no talk of problems and hardships, it’s all fairy floss, rides and baby animals.
I have great memories of shows from childhood; both the Sydney Easter Show and the Gosford and Inverell shows but would a country show still offer all the fun of the fair.
Well a recent trip to the country held a surprise when we discovered it was show weekend. John and I couldn’t resist and we headed out to look at baby animals, check out the country baking and watch the grand parade.
We had a wow of a time, bough ourselves new hats, ate too much junky show food and watched the smiles on various littlies as they ran through the gates. We laughed as we watched those tots discover the baby ducklings, the fairy floss and the rides. And laughed again as they excited over mum or dad’s shoulder sound asleep some hours later.
We sat and chatted to some locals while we awaited an aerobatics display by the airforce and of course I had to head over to the pig judging to sneak a pat of a pig’s nose. In case you’ve never done that, forget sow’s ears; pig’s noses are the softest thing you’ve ever touched and you need to touch one once to know what I mean.
While I resisted the fairy floss, the Pluto pups and the hairier of the rides, I couldn’t resist the tent that featured carnival memorabilia from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. I even discovered treasures from the carnival that was run by a family friend at Ettalong when I was growing up.
Ok, so the prices have gone up, the rides and the food are much the same, but who cares I hope the country show is around for children of all ages to enjoy for years to come.
Till next time.
