Hooves of history

IF THE Pakenham show is to continue to expand and maintain its place against the leading agricultural societies of the state, provision must be made for an additional area at the showgrounds or alternatively for the use of another site.
This opinion was expressed at the meeting of the society on Thursday of last week, which reviewed the 1952 show.
The sub-committee was appointed to go into the whole question.
The subject was raised by the secretary (Mr George), who said that the society must enlarge the ground or find another site. The Recreation Reserve was too small for the show as it was now, and they must improve and expand. As it was now, there was not opportunity to set out the various sections to advantage – they were all mixed up together.
They could not have put another car in if they had tried, and some 200 cars had been turned away.
“Could we approach Pakenham Racing Club for the use of their ground?” asked Mr George. “The club has always given us a good hearing in the past and makes an annual donation of 20 pounds. If we could get the use of the course we would have the facilities ready-made for us. The stalls are there for the horses. We could get all the cars in. There would be room for a championship dog show, and other facilities could be provided. If we could get the use of the course for a few years, we could buy our own ground and gradually improve it.
“We made 100 pounds out of the show, but we can expect to make much more than that on our present site. When I sold members’ tickets I told the buyers the tickets would admit their cars, but many would not get them into the ground. That must have an adverse effect in the show.”
The president (Mr Shelton) said the small ground was a drawback to the society. Something must be done to enlarge it.
Mr I. Handford suggested that by getting an additional area from the shire council and putting the cattle where the stock transport now parked an additional 150 cars would be accommodated.
Mr P. Deveney pointed out difficulties in the way of using the racecourse as a showground.
There were only 112 horse stalls, which would not accommodate all their entries.
Then the show came right in the middle of the racing season, and they would not be able to use the track as a lot of damage would be done to the course at that time of the year.
He agreed to the need for more accommodation of the show. More room could be provided at the reserve if the creek were straightened.
Or possibly they could persuade the public –which owned the reserve – to sell it and purchase a new ground, as the present reserve was becoming too small for the district, even apart from the show.
It was obvious that the show required more room, but he was rather loath to move from their present ground if facilities there could be extended, said Mr W.J. Carne.
He suggested the appointment of a committee to go into the question. The society was losing money under existing conditions and the position would become progressively worse.
He moved that a sub-committee be appointed to go into the matter of providing additional space, either at the reserve or at some other site.
“It looks like the ‘battle of the sites’ for the Olympic Games,” put in Cr Ronald.
Cr Thewlis said he had felt for a number of years that they were at a standstill because they did not have sufficient room.
Year after year the gate was closed to cars at about 11 o’clock. That must reflect on the attendance.
As to the suggestion for the use of the racecourse, they could only use the centre of the course, and that would mean crossing the tracks.
Mr Carne’s motion was seconded by Mr Lorimer and carried.
The committee will comprise Crs Ronald and Thewlis and Messrs P. Deveney, J. MacDonald, F. Crowley, D. Bourke and J. Fleming, with the president and secretary.
The forthcoming show, to be held on Saturday 18 March is the 42nd held at the racecourse. Facilities for exhibitors are first-class, the society being able to avail itself of the splendid race club facilities.