Lang Lang Pastoral Agricultural and Horticultural Society junior vicepresident Dick Westhead presents immediate past president Gordon Sampson with a lBy Jim Mynard
ALAN Light was elected president of the Lang Lang Pastoral Agricultural and Horticultural Society at the society’s annual meeting and dinner in the Lang Lang Hotel last Thursday.
Cheryl Berry was elected Secretary and the treasurer is Rosa Stewart.
Retiring president Gordon Sampson was made a life member of the society.
Mr Sampson commended grounds manager Colin Leeson on the excellent condition of the showgrounds.
He said the area looked great and trees along Western Port Road were growing well to set off that part of the ground.
Mr Sampson said the January show was successful with all sections performing well.
“We had an ideal day for the Easter Monday rodeo,” he said.
Mr Sampson said future projects for the grounds included sealing the driveway from the front gates to the toilets, roofing the terraced area, and reroofing the sheep pavilion.
“With the addition of another netball court/tennis court, sporting facilities in the area are good,” he said.
Mr Sampson thanked retiring secretary Annie White for a firstclass job and expressed thanks to committee members.
Kooweerup Hospital representative Lois Gardiner thanked the society for a $5000 donation toward the hospital’s early parenting unit.
Guest speaker Paul Williams also commended the society on the high standard of the showgrounds.
“The Lang Lang facility has nearly always been one of the best in Victoria and this is because of Colin Leeson’s work,” he said.
Mr Williams said if a society ran a good show then the riders would be there.
Junior vicepresident Dick Westhead presented the life membership certificate to Mr Sampson and said he had a lot of information about the area.
“If he doesn’t know the answer to something he will find out,” Mr Westhead said.
“I have known Gordon since the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.”
Mr Sampson said he had enjoyed every minute of working for the society.
“I do it because I enjoy it, but I thank everyone very much for this life membership,” he said.
Western Port Ward councillor Doug Hamilton said he had known Mr Sampson for many years.
“He always does an enormous job for whatever he is involved in and I congratulate him for receiving a life membership,” Cr Hamilton said.
“Lang Lang is an extraordinary town.
“Many towns can’t get people to take on jobs, but in Lang Lang people always take their turn.
“The Easter Monday rodeo is great and it means outside money coming into the town.
“This means that both organisations the show and the rodeo are able to stay in front financially,” he said.
