By CASEY NEILL
THE Dandenong Showgrounds could welcome more than 80,000 people through its gates on 9 and 10 November – if the weather gods are kind.
Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society president Margaret Weightman has her fingers crossed for sunshine to bring families to the annual event.
“I can control everything except the weather,” she said.
Ms Weightman and her team have been busily preparing since February to make sure there’s something for everybody, and always something to see or do.
A new activity for this year is the beyondblue Human Truck Pull at 7.45pm on Saturday.
Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire managing director Craig Membrey lost his son Rowan to suicide in 2011 and has since thrown his support behind the depression support service.
Teams of 10 will battle to pull Mr Membrey’s truck over a set distance in the shortest amount of time.
The winning team will walk away with bragging rights and $500.
“We’ve got three or four teams for our truck pull,” Ms Weightman said.
“One of the guys is a Maori and he weighs 190 kilograms – that should be really interesting. He could just about pull it by himself, I think!”
There’s a wheelbarrow run competition for $1000 worth of groceries, a gumboot throw and an antiques and heirlooms class.
“One of my stewards had a shawl that was her great grandmother’s. It’s over 100 years old,” Ms Weightman said.
She’s been involved with the show since the 1980s.
“I started off doing the ceramic display and competition and gradually finished up being in charge of it,” she said.
“Everything’s done by volunteers. That’s the wonderful part about it.
“I love it all, but I suppose my favourite is the arts and crafts pavilion.”
And it holds plenty of activities for the kids and the young at heart – from creating puppets to decorating cupcakes – as well as displays of incredible creations.
There’ll be football clinics, ute displays, mini bikes, live bands, an animal nursery and the national Dog Flyball championship.
“These dogs are just absolutely amazing. The agility … ” Ms Weightman said.
Crowds can also check out the showjumping and Clydesdale displays, fireworks at 9pm on the Saturday and much more.
The Dandenong Show is on at the Dandenong Showgrounds at Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong, from 9am to 9pm on Saturday 9 November and 9am to 5pm on Sunday 10 November.
