>>> For more pictures and reports turn to pages 30-35.
By Melissa Grant
THE horses were back and so were the crowds.
People flocked to this year’s Pakenham Show in droves: there were a record number of exhibitors and the gate was double that of 2008.
The absence of horses and 40-degree heat kept crowds down last year but the show is now back on track.
The Wally Wombat Golden Trail was a hit, with passports selling out just after lunch, while sheep and poultry competitions were also popular.
Cardinia Shire Citizen of the Year John Glazzard officially opened the 98th Pakenham Show, and in doing so perfectly summed up the situation.
Last year it was the horse flu and this year the bushfires “but still the show goes on”, he said.
Pakenham Show Society president Gavan Bourke said the committee was pleased with the crowd and the number of competition entrants.
“In the poultry we had nearly 200 entrants and a couple of hundred sheep,” he said.
Mr Bourke said the dry ground was the only hurdle, with showjumping numbers down on previous years.
There were the usual attractions: rides, animals, Junior Show Personality, dog high jump and the legendary gumboot throwing and rural iron man/woman competitions.
New additions included Ian Mortimer’s story book, fast and furious dog fly balling competition, Polyglot puppets and a cow milking demonstration
Wally Wombat first appeared at 10am with new friend Max the Scout. The cuddly wombat was as popular as ever with 500 Wally showbags sold on the day. All proceeds from Wally showbag sales went to the Rotary Club of Pakenham and the Pakenham Scouts.
Mr Bourke presented a plaque to Star News Group proprietors Ian and Dorothy Thomas as part of The Pakenham Gazette’s centenary celebrations.
He commended Mr and Mrs Thomas for their family’s 98-year involvement with the annual event.
