By Paul Dunlop
SCHOOL holiday crowds and a carnival atmosphere combined to make the Pakenham Show a standout success on Saturday.
The 95th show, held in bright and breezy autumn weather, was hailed by organisers as among the best.
A host of new attractions, including extra children’s activities and several spectacular animal shows, added extra zest to the colourful annual showcase of country life.
People flocked to the showgrounds at Pakenham racecourse throughout the day, prompting show president George Wall to declare the show one of the most successful on record.
Mr Wall said gate takings were still being calculated but was pleased with the event.
“Crowds were up on previous years thanks to the holidays and added attractions. It was a great day,” Mr Wall said.
Snakebusters, a birds of prey display, puppet show by the Great Aussie Bush Show were some of the new events that were very popular with show patrons.
But the biggest success was possibly Wally Wombat’s Golden Trail, a huge hit with families who followed the Gazette mascot’s trail to stands around the showgrounds, picking up a host of prizes on the way.
The show was opened by Cardinia mayor Bill Ronald, who thanked organisers and the exhibitors who made the event such a success.
Cr Ronald said opening the show was a proud moment for him. He previously opened the show in 1993 as president of the former Shire of Pakenham and spoke on Saturday of his family’s long association with the show society.
Cr Ronald’s father, the late Peter Ronald, opened the show in 1952.
“My family’s association with the show goes back many years,” he said. “It is a great showcase of Pakenham and the surrounding district.”
MC Peter Deering kept crowds informed and entertained throughout the day while the pavilion and arena events were popular.
Live bands, sideshows, whip cracking and the Lions Club spinning wheel combined with woodturning and vintage car and truck displays, knitting, horse shoeing demonstrations and the junior show personality quest to provide a constant buzz around the grounds.
>>> Show pictures and results, pages 2833 and 67.
