Show down!

By Shaun Inguanzo
ATTENDANCE at last weekend’s Dandenong Show was down about 5000 on expectations and the downward trend is worrying the Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society (DAPS).
Ten thousand people attended the two-day show but organisers expected 15,000.
DAPS secretary Lynne Ferris said the cancellation of this year’s horse events because of the lingering equine influenza threat accounted for about 3000 people, mainly horse owners, competitors and their friends and relatives.
But Ms Ferris admitted that Dandenong’s changing population, coupled with its urban status, had resulted in a slow decline in gate takings for several years now.
“It’s a huge community event that we don’t want to see disappear, but unfortunately it’s getting harder for us (the society),” Ms Ferris told Star.
“I think it has a little bit to do with the changing population because it is not so agriculturally based.”
Bob Johnston, chairman of Victorian Agricultural Shows, the peak body for show societies, told Star that shows such as Dandenong should invite ethnic communities to play a larger part in entertainment and stall holding.
“Shows across Victoria are generally not indicating a decline,” he said.
“In fact, this year, even without horses, some of the shows have done quite well.”
But Mr Johnston admitted that those shows were rural based with strong and supportive communities.
For shows that had progressed from the rural fringe to urban, being inventive was a key to being well patronised, he said.
“It’s all about adapting to what is happening and putting on a show that the people will want to come and see,” Mr Johnston said.
“You can’t rely any more on people coming to see animals.
“For example, Geelong runs talent quests and competitions with local schools, and that really gets the youth involved.
“The Whittlesea Show also has a very strong youth committee there, and they have dunny-building competitions, bachelors’ ironing competitions and all sorts of fun things to do.
“Another show society has its show on a trotting track, so it had trot races.”
Ms Ferris said that as early as this week she and other DAPS members were brainstorming new ideas for next year’s show – which she hoped would not be crippled by horse flu-related cancellations.
“We are always aware of the changing needs (of showgoers) and we do try hard to integrate things here to meet needs of those people,” she said.
“But sometimes it is a bit of a gamble as to what works and what doesn’t.”
Ms Ferris said that despite the disappointing numbers, the weekend’s show offered plenty of rural charm for the urbanites of Dandenong, as well as the usual carnival games, rides and showbags.
One of the main attractions was Australia’s Living History, an elaborate display by Queenslander John Jewell and wife Mary that gave showgoers a taste of old crafts such as creating millet brooms, and using a pole lathe to make furniture legs.
DAPS sponsored Mr and Mrs Jewell as part of its approach to offering unique entertainment for the show crowd while maintaining its goal of displaying Dandenong’s agricultural and pastoral heritage.
Ms Ferris thanked all of the volunteers involved – up to a whopping 1500 – and said that figure didn’t include the tireless efforts of Apex selling showbags, other service organisations running raffles, sausage sizzles and providing demonstrations, and groups such as Scouts offering an abseiling tower to entertain the masses.