Brief recap
The return of the Maffra & District Agricultural Show was a huge success with equestrian events, livestock judging, live music, food trucks, rides, competitions, and countless more to see and do for families and children over the weekend of October 21-23.
For the School Friday Program, more than 250 students enjoyed activities with the local ambulance, Wellington Shire Sustainability, Auskick, Gippsland Woodcraft Group, Gippsland Water, MacMillan Rockhounds, the local poultry club, Fire Brigade’s Smokehouse and the Gippsland Climate Change Network and its Renewable Energy Trailer.
Kids and their parents ponied-up for the fancy dress to see who could win ribbons for their pony’s home-made costumes.
In the Pet Parade on Saturday pet owners aged under 17 brought their treasured animal to earn sashes.
There was 16 categories and, with first, second and third ribbons on offer, dozens of chances to win prizes.
The ShelterDome Pavilion was officially launched by Maffra Show president Tim Dwyer and Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull on the Saturday.
Located at the northern end of Maffra Recreation Reserve, the structure was built with grant money secured by the committee for the Maffra Show.
Maffra Show committee member Michael Coggan said it was great to see the show return.
“We’re a little bit rusty, but after three years it’s come together really well,” Mr Coggan said.
By the end of the weekend, fellow committee member Kath Coggan said the committee was extremely happy with the entire event across all three days.
“We’re getting very good feedback on our Facebook (page),” she said.
After spending an exhausting amount of time for the Maffra Show’s grand return in 2022, soon the committee will have to consider next year’s event.
School program at show
OVER 250 children from local primary schools celebrated the return of the Maffra & District Agricultural Show after a three year absence.
For the School Friday Program, students moved through four activities while enjoying the atmosphere of the show with horse events and the setup of the Showmen’s Carnival.
This year, students enjoyed activities with the local ambulance, Wellington Shire Sustainability, Auskick, Gippsland Woodcraft Group, Gippsland Water, MacMillan Rockhounds and the local poultry club. Also making an appearance was the Fire Brigade’s Smokehouse and the Gippsland Climate Change Network with the Renewable Energy Trailer.
St Mary Primary School, Maffra Grade 3 students Anastasia, Anushka and Lockie were excited to be at the Friday program.
“I like going to all the events,” Anastasia said.
“It’s been years since the last Maffra Show.”
Anushka was experiencing the Maffra Show for the first time, and said she enjoyed the woodwork activities the most.
“I didn’t even live here when the (last) show was on,” Anushka said.
Lockie was impressed by the display of rocks.
“I liked looking at the fluorescent rocks. They look so cool, they glow under UV light,” he said.
Lockie said he was looking forward to the Saturday show as well.
“Maffra Show is about celebrating what people can do.”
Maffra Agricultural Society committee member Michael Coggan said it was great to see the show return.
“We’re a little bit rusty, but after three years it’s come together really well,” Mr Coggan said
“2019 was the last show (because of COVID). We’ve had a bit of a parking problem because there’s been wet areas we’ve had to cordon off.”
Fellow committee member Kath Coggan described the School Friday Program as a stunning success.
“I think it was an extremely successful day. Our new activity Auskick was a hit, and our old activities are still loved by the kids. The presenters are fantastic, they make it interesting and fun,” she said.
“We’re very happy with our School Friday Program. It’s a community based educational program and we hope it continues for years to come.
“The program started in 2007 with a grant obtained by the show committee for areas impacted by bushfire and has been running ever since.”
By the end of the weekend, Ms Coggan said the committee was extremely happy with the entire event across all three days.
“We’re getting very good feedback on our Facebook,” she said.
After spending an exhausting amount of time for the Maffra Show’s grand return in 2022, soon the committee will have to consider next year’s event.
“We will have a debrief barbecue, and regroup in February. We work all year round,” Ms Coggan said.
Equestrian events prove popular at the show
WHETHER you loved equestrian events or ponies in fancy dress, there was plenty for horse lovers to enjoy on the Friday Program at the Maffra Show.
Maffra Show ringmaster Julie Broome said there was six rings going with “all sorts” of equestrian events.
“From pony club, to adult riding, led classes. Quite a variety, it was fantastic,” Ms Broome said.
“I was impressed with the quality of the horses. Lots of entries.
“And then (on Saturday), we do a similar thing, but there will be a bigger range of horses.”
Dimity Hagne, 17, said she had been participating in pony club events that morning, which had begun at 8am.
“We’ll get worked on a circle and then the judge will work us, and judge us,” she said.
“There’s different types of classes, so they’ll be a rider class, a handler class. And for each class you’re getting judged on something different.”
The equestrian competitor from Briag & District Pony Club had already won a champion ribbon, and was looking forward to more contests later in the day.
“To get a champion, you have an individual class, usually in your age group or it might be on the height of the horse. If you win that, all of the winners will come together for a champion,” Dimity said.
“And then, you can either get a champion or a reserve champion.”
Her pony Black Magic had more events lined up for later in the day.
“She can be a bit grumpy, but she’s pretty good at the moment,” she said.
It was 12pm when kids and their parents ponied up for the fancy dress to see who could win ribbons for their pony’s home-made costumes.
Primary school students had the opportunity to call out their favourites and pick the winners.
Charlotte, four, and Edgewood Brook earned first place in the fancy dress.
“I’m a bumblebee in a garden,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte said this was the first time that Edgewood Brook had entered a show, but it won’t be the last, with the Sale Show starting today.
Nearby covered in red, was the fire brigade team of four-year-old twins Livinia and Sidney Brady with Rosie the pony.
Ms Broome said this year’s fancy dress saw an amazing turnout compared to the previous.
Photo: Stefan Bradley.
“Compared to last time, there was only one horse. And today I saw something like 20,” she said.
“My heart was singing. It was absolutely joyful. I’m so grateful to the parents who did all the hard work in bringing the kids out to show the school children.
“So thank you to them – they were amazing.”
Photo: Stefan Bradley.
Show goes on under ShelterDome
WITH rain a worry around the region and the entire state, it couldn’t have been a more appropriate time for the official launch of the ShelterDome Pavilion at the Maffra & District Agricultural Show on Saturday.
Located at the northern end of Maffra Recreation Reserve, the structure was built with grant money secured by the committee for the Maffra Show.
With the rain suddenly pouring down half an hour before he spoke, Maffra Show president Tim Dwyer said the show had been struggling with rain every year.
“We’ve had to hire tents,” he said.
“It started raining in January 2020, and it’s hardly stopped since.”
With grants like this aiming to revitalise regional communities, Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull said it was very important to support local organisations.
“We just applaud our local business,” he said.
The crowd cheered when Mr Bull officially opened the dome.
“Congratulations to everyone involved and we will officially declare the dome open,” he said.
“It will be a great asset to this community for many years to come.”
Earlier this year, Maffra Show secretary, Michael Coggan, told the Gippsland Times it was great to have a sheltered exhibition space for the show.
“We put in our application in December 2019, and we finally got notification that it was successful in about June 2020,” Mr Coggan said.
“We just had a few compliance issues and things, so we eventually got our building permit earlier this year.”
A total of $250,000 was secured for the pavilion’s construction as part of a Regional Agricultural Show Development grant from the federal government.
“The Dome itself… comes from Northam in Western Australia, but all the rest of the work is being done locally – 75 per cent of the grant money is being spent locally on local businesses,” Mr Coggan said.
Show committee member Connie Dwyer explained months ago that the plan was for space to be utilised for food and wine at the show.
“We have about 150 patrons during the busy period for lunch, and if it rains, or it’s windy, there’s nowhere for them to sit,” Ms Dwyer said.
“This (pavilion) guarantees that we can hold the food and wine court to the full extent without disruption.”
With such a massive event across the reserve, not all of the show could have been sheltered from the rain, but the ShelterDome ensured the Maffra Municipal Band, Mr Bull and Mr Dwyer could speak and perform without disruption, and showgoers could sit down for a meal away from the mud.
Youngsters enjoy Pet Parade
IT was a massive day of family fun on the second day of the 132nd Maffra Show, with equestrian events, livestock judging, live music, food trucks, rides, competitions, and countless more to see and do.
Photo: Stefan Bradley.
While the Saturday show started out with favourable weather, the rain arrived after 12pm and it started to get muddy.
The Pet Parade, which began at midday, saw pet owners aged under 17 bring their treasured animal to earn sashes for certain categories.
There was 16 categories, and with first, second and third ribbons on offer, dozens of chances to win prizes. Categories included ‘Most Unusual Pet’, ‘Cutest Pet’, ‘Pony with the Longest Tail’, ‘Most Mannered Dog/Pup’ and ‘Best Dressed Pet’.
Holly Taylor from the Gippsland Veterinary Hospital was one of the judges, and said it was difficult to select the winners.
“There’s quite a lot of pets today, so it’s really tough to choose. We’re currently judging the cutest pet, and that’s a tough call,” she said.
Ms Taylor said the ‘Most Unusual Pet’ was her favourite category.
Evan Mawhinney’s dog Bindi won ‘Best Mannered Dog/Pup’. Bindi’s been a frequent visitor to Maffra Hospital, Royal Freemasons aged care home in Sale and other facilities spreading joy and excitement.
The night carnival began at 5.30pm, finishing up with spectacular fireworks from 9.30pm. Maffra Show president Tim Dwyer said it was a balmy evening with “record crowds”.
“Swarms of children participated in novelty events, children’s games and the Maffra Mile that continues to build its statue on the running calendar,” he said.
“The night lead to a crescendo of the Brian Daly Memorial Smash Up Derby, a unique event loved by Maffra, and spectacular fireworks.”
