Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (10:02):

The weekend of 7–8 October saw the 143rd St Arnaud Agricultural Show, or as locals put it, ‘the best agricultural show in town’.

There was plenty to enjoy at this year’s annual show as well as a long list of winners, from the best egg exhibit to photography, homemade preserves and some of the most amazing wheelbarrow gardens. This year also boasted a full schedule of showjumpers and show-ring events helped made possible by our Labor government’s lighting upgrades at Lord Nelson Park. Another big contributor was the hardworking local Landcare group, the Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network, who as always show up for their local community, sponsoring some fantastic entertainment and interactive displays.

I want to thank the incredible bunch of locals who helped put this event together, including president of the St Arnaud Agricultural Society Peter Knights and his hardworking committee, including the shearing subcommittee, which this year put on a shearing competition that ran from 8 am until late into the evening. I also want to pay a special tribute to Joan Supple. Joan has been a part of the St Arnaud annual show for the past 40 years as pavilion secretary, and I was so pleased to see her contribution honoured with her very own plaque. It is people like Joan that help keep the culture of our country agricultural shows alive, ensuring that generations of rural Victorians and their families can enjoy all the fun and food of this incredible event.