Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre’s education officer Jillian Riethmuller helps youngsters learn about our unique temperate oceans by getting hands-on at Pambula Show on Saturday.
A horror forecast, the continuing threat of fire and high morning temperatures resulted in lower numbers at the 2013 Pambula Show.
But that didn’t stop the thousands of show goers from enjoying some great country entertainment.
Show secretary Gail Cummins said there were many highlights for her at this year’s show.
“I thought the wood chop was a real highlight. There were scores of people around the (woodchop) arena constantly. The competition was terrific,” she said.
A premier event on the woodchop program was the Norm ‘Bull’ Yelds Memorial trophy and $1000 prize money in the open 300ml Standing block handicap won by Dewayne Grealy (Buchan), second was Graeme Love (Towamba) and Matt Wassink (Bairnsdale) was third.
Veteran woodchopper 72-year-old Alan Feilen from Ando was happy to confess he was the oldest wood chopper in action on the day.
“Wood chopping keeps you young,” Mr Feilen said. “You’re mixing with the young fellers all the time. There’s nothing better.”
The free children’s entertainment program that ran undercover throughout most of the day was a winner for families with young children.
Entertainers included The Fizzics science shows, Toot the Magic Clown and balloon modelling.
“The kids just loved it. They were absolutely thrilled by what was going on. Parents appreciated it too because they could take the kids there and get some refreshments while the kids were entertained,” Gail Cummins said.
A first at this year’s show was the oyster judging and shucking competition (see story page 7).
A good field of 18 entries was received with the blue ribbon going to Alan McIntyre’s Pambula Lake oysters from Hazelgrove Oysters.
Simple pleasures like watching sheep shearing, taking a dray ride, getting hands wet in the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre’s touch tank, and watching horse events won the day.
Also popular was a leisurely wander through the pavilion looking at the many home-made and home grown entries.
“Entries in the pavilion were better than we expected because the weather has been a killer of a season,” Gail said.
Shaun Fitzpatrick of Millingandi agreed. Delivering his produce to the showgrounds on Friday he said weather had played a part in keeping down the amount of produce he could enter. He was still very proud of his rhubarb and herbs, grown with the help of his dad.
The show was officially opened by show sponsor Andrew Constance, who also made a special presentation to retiring life member June Sawyers of Lochiel in acknowledgement of her decades of service to the show.
Mrs Sawers could have had a small tear in her eye as she accepted her gift but was blunt about what she wouldn’t miss.
“I won’t miss walking the streets looking for sponsors!” she laughed.
The final show event was the dog high jump. A good crowd stayed on just to watch the dog jump which has become a crowd favourite.
The small dogs jumped first with some great jumping by Little Brit, Jed, Puddles, Lara and Cheeky.
It was Puddles owned by Janice and Jackie Wilson of Candelo who won the day with a jump of 1.82 metres.
In the open dog jump a good field including D for Dog, Mo, Kate, Bolt, Nitro and Whiskers went neck and neck until the jump proved a challenge for most once it reached 1.5metres.
In the final rounds it was a contest between stag hound whippet crosses Whiskers and Mo owned by Luke Cowdroy of Moruya and Kate.
Kate fell out of the running at 1.65 metres as did Mo at 1.95 metres.
The five-year-old Whiskers went on to jump a record 2.25 metres, amazing most of the crowd.