The 136th Gunnedah Show has been lauded as one of the best in years with a bumper crowd, new attractions, healthy exhibit entries and superb weather making for a great show weekend.
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson was on hand to officially open the 136th show on Saturday afternoon.
He praised those involved in making it happen including the show committee and volunteers who worked tirelessly to stage a successful event again this year.
Mr Anderson also congratulated the 2024 Gunnedah Show Young Woman of the Year, Chennelle Winsor.
Show president Kath Wilkinson also had high praise for the outstanding representative.
“Her speech on Friday night was amazing,” Ms Wilkinson said.
The committee president applauded all show convenors on delivering a stand-out event, naming the art show, six-bar and camel racing as among her own highlights for this year’s show.
She said the pavilions were well supported, the poultry and animal nursery again proved popular and children loved the pet show.
The show president commended a “wonderful” ute muster, led by one of the show’s youngest convenors – 18-year-old Goran Kelly.
Utes taking part in the show parade.
Also receiving the tick of approval was the show rodeo, which proceeded as planned despite early concerns it would be unable go ahead due to “high costs” involved.
It was later confirmed the show rodeo would go ahead but on Saturday afternoon instead of the event’s usual evening time slot.
“People said they liked the earlier format,” Ms Wilkinson said.
She gave a special shout-out to guest announcer Martin Gostelow – a former Olympic show jumping, dressage and eventing commentator for Channel 7 during the Olympic Games in Rio. He commented alongside champion equestrian rider and former Olympian, Vicki Roycroft.
Ms Wilkinson said Gostelow, who now lives at Wallabadah, was right at home conducting pre-race and post-race interviews with camel jockeys in Gunnedah.
“He did a fantastic job,” she said.
The same however, could not be said for the show’s public address (PA) system which despite best attempts, did not function as expected.
“The PA has been an ongoing issue for the last five years,” Ms Wilkinson said.
Many in the crowd strained to hear what was being announced and there were also issues combining music with the microphone over the speakers.
The show president said although the PA system was tested three days before the event and council staff who went “above and beyond” to rectify the problems, issues persisted.
Ms Wilkinson said addressing the problem-plagued PA system would be made a priority.
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