IT was eye-opening to listen to Gunnedah Show Society member Rob Witts tell the sad story of a show drowning in the tide of “progress”.
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For well over 100 years, Gunnedah people have made this show happen, raising the money for the pavilions and then building them themselves, working to put together a packed program and maintaining a great grounds.
And Gunnedah people – and many others – have loved and supported the show.
But little by little, inch by inch, the “improvements” of our modern system have encroached on the ability of the society to hold a show.
The establishment of the Reserve Trust has meant that for the past four years, the society has been required to rent and maintain the buildings they had largely paid for and built.
They also lost the income from running the camping grounds, which were so recently packed with AgQuip visitors.
On top of this are the ever-increasing and ridiculous costs of insurance and liability payments.
The laughing clowns are now looking a little less happy.
Imagine a Gunnedah with no show and no showcase for our amazing talents, produce and livestock.
No excitement as the kids await the rides and the fun, no fireworks, no grand parade, no flowers, no artworks, no grand champions.
It can’t happen.
As Councillor Steve Smith said, the show must go on.
Credit goes to the council for listening to this plea, but there is no credit in the long, slow, cruel process that has built up to this point.
We live in a crazy, buck-passing time when governments are happy to take the efforts of hard-working community groups and then hit them with a bill.
Some things are just worth supporting.