November 26th, 2022Daylesford Show: It only needs you and the heavens

After a two-year break and a ton of work by a very small but very
dedicated committee the Daylesford Show is scheduled to return today, November 26 at the Daylesford Showgrounds in Victoria Park.
President Don Harvey, pictured centre with his volunteers, said there were
some advantages in being late in the calendar and the showgrounds being in one
of the higher spots in town but “we are still looking for good weather”.
“So far this year over 40 shows have been forced to cancel by the rain and
flooding but fingers crossed. We have two inspections with Hepburn Shire
Council officers next week and the main concerns will be the sure footing of the
horses in the showjumping and spots around the oval and the amusement area.”
Don said the committee was holding a working bee last weekend to
continue the refurbishing of the Tom Ford Pavilion and looked forward to
having it as the main centre for the young people’s activities with the junior art
and craft displays with an opportunity for creative activities inside the pavilion
early on the day. The Youth Rocks bands will take over in the pavilion, with the
support of the Hepburn Shire crew from about midday. Outside the pavilion
will be Parker’s Mini Circus, Professor Wallace’s Puppet Theatre, The Rescue
Ferretts and free petting zoo, races with prizes and playdoh making for the
littlies.
“The short formalities will be even shorter this year as our local politicians
will be otherwise occupied but the new Mayor Cr Brian Hood will officially
declare the show open and introduce the Daylesford & District Brass Band just
after noon.
“Horse, sheep, goat and poultry judging will be going on all morning but
the homecrafts, cooking and needlework and photography displays in the footy
pavilion will have been judged on the Friday and be open from 9am.
“The Table Tennis Pavilion will once again be transformed to the Hall of
Flowers with the Daylesford Horticultural Society and Friends of Wombat Hill
Botanic Gardens mounting displays alongside the flowers and farm produce.
“We are hoping to see some decorated wheelbarrows and flowers in boots as
well. If enough people would like to bring a decorated wheelbarrow in on the
day I may donate a $50 voucher for the People’s Choice.
“Our dog show at the soccer ground end and behind the poultry pavilion
will again be a highlight. We had about 400 dogs shown in 2019 but, like in
everything else we are not sure how many we will have this year, they will be
well worth a look and who doesn’t like seeing the finalists paraded before the
judges, with dogs and owners in their finest.”
Don said the show was in its 148th year, held at Victoria Park since WWII.
“Let’s hope that we pass the Hepburn Shire test and the weather holds up
and we have another great show.”
Don said he wanted to thank his very hardworking committee members
and not just the two major sponsors, Daylesford District Community Bank
and Hygge Property Group, but every sponsor and everybody who had entered
something to be judged – and everybody who comes to the show on the day.