Show’s appeal remains strong 70 years on
Chapman Valley identity Trevor Cooper attended Chapman Valley’s inaugural show as a child, and 70 years later he said he had never missed a show.
What better reason could there be to invite him to open the 70th Chapman Valley show on Saturday?
Mr Cooper is a life member of the Chapman Valley Agricultural Society, and admits to not remembering the first shows he attended from ages three to seven.
“I was probably giving Mum and Dad a hard time when I wouldn’t ride around in a pusher,” he said.
“It has grown from a humble beginning in a country hall with a corrugated iron roof and a good dance floor in Nanson.
“A fair bit of competition went on between families and still does.”
Agricultural Society secretary Liz Eliott-Lockhart said Colleen Kennedy, who had been significantly involved in the show since 1949, received a Life Member award. “Joan Cant, who attended the first show, brought her three daughters up from Perth especially to visit,” she said.
“The Jupp family continued to dominate in the Exhibition Hall competitions.
“They have together been entering as a family for over 50 years.”
Mrs Eliott-Lockhart said Saturday had a great atmosphere, plenty of activities for the whole family and plenty of sunshine. Blue-painted trees lined the entrance on the initiative of Rural and Midwest Ambassador Jemma Hipper to raise awareness and funds for mental health programs.
The Spinners and Weaving Association put on a big exhibitor display with more than 100 entries.
Matilda Patten,11, and Georgia Crothers, 7, were a tie on countback for the Jan McCagh Trophy for most points in the children’s sections.
Lou Brown, the world champion in shearing, attended for his fourth time and was a big draw for the shearing crowds.
Another crowd-pleaser was the wood-chopping display with both axes and chainsaws.
Mrs Eliott-Lockhart said local identities had a laugh by entering in the celebrity animal races, with Glenn Barndon dressing up as riding a rooster for good fun.
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