The traditions of the Orbost Show return to the Newmerella Recreation Reserve on Monday as the Labour Day long weekend brings three days of action to the town.
The 2019 Orbost Show marks 110 years of the annual event, and as it always has been it is brought about each year by a dedicated group of local volunteers. While that group has become smaller as the years have gone by, it by no means indicates that the fun of the traditional show is diminished.
This weekend will be an activity-filled one with Orbost Pony Club running horse trials on Saturday and gymkhana on Sunday in the lead up to the show on Monday.
After two days of pony club action, many of the club members will extend their weekend and head over to the show on Monday to witness even more equine action with six rings of horse events for riders from younger than six years right through to the more experienced adult riders.
Along with horse events there will be a pet parade, food vans, sideshows, showbags and a woodchop and portable sawmill demonstration.
There’ll be plenty of fun on hand for the youngsters with a wipeout wall, obstacle jumping castle, Jindi Zoo, face painting, and, of course, Patches the Clown.
Being a good old-fashioned agricultural show, there will be dairy goats, poultry, fat cattle, dairy cattle, stud beef cattle and junior handler and calf rearing competitions.
In the pavilion traditions continue with cookery competition displays, handwork, sewing, craftwork and art, photography and woodcraft, and produce competitions including homegrown vegetables, fruit, honey and hay bales.
Peruse the blooms of the flower entries, the floral art and scarecrow and sunflower competition entries.
And it wouldn’t be the Orbost Show with pumpkins of all sizes and varieties.
Miss Showgirl and Master Showboy without also continue as a tradition of the Orbost Show. Fees and entry forms can be dropped off at the Snowy River Mail office by Friday, March 8, or you can enter at the secretary’s office before 10am on show day.
The Orbost Show will kick off at the Newmerella Recreation Reserve at 8.30am, with horse events in the arena and the pavilion opening at 9am. Calf rearing and junior handler competitions, dairy goats and woodchop commence at 10am, stud beef cattle, dairy cattle and show girl/boy at 10.30am and the pet parade and giant pumpkin weigh-in at noon.
