“You’ve got the sheep, you’ve got the fleece and you’ve got a lady spinning the fleece. It captures the whole process.”
The Dandenong Show has been celebrating farming for the past 146 years. Reporter CASEY NEILL caught up with some show-goers and exhibitors on the this year’s opening day, Saturday 11 November.
A curly-haired toddler marches across the animal nursery and abruptly bends over, his short body contorted in half and his head almost touching the hay-strewn floor.
“Hello, goat!” he says to a thankfully-subdued kid.
This moment captured perfectly the spirit of the Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s annual Dandenong Show.
Bentleigh couple Katie and Andy couldn’t wipe the smiles from their faces as toddler Paddy made his way through the animal pen, meeting new animals.
“He’s been talking about it all week,” Andy said.
Andy is from Sydney and had never been to the show. Katie used to go when she was little and growing up in Dandenong North.
“I’ve always really wanted to bring Paddy,” she said.
“He’s already had a go on the rides.
“He loved the dogs. He sat there for about 45 minutes watching them.”
Andy said: “He was a bit of a fan of the scones as well.”
Asked which animal was his favourite, Paddy doesn’t need to ponder.
“The chickens!” he exclaimed with a grin.
Dandenong Show president Sue Glenn was pleased with how this year’s event went.
The committee halved entry fees and offered half-price ride ticket periods to entice attendees and bolster declining crowd numbers.
“There was a very positive vibe out there,” Ms Glenn said.
“It was good to have some new entertainment on the main arena.”
She was referring to the Stockman’s Show.
“There was a huge bullock out there – it was bigger than his horse,” she said.
“The crowd certainly seemed to enjoy it when I was watching.”
In the pavilions were art and craft displays, baked goods, and plenty of sheep.
Alongside the sheep were ladies from the Hampton Park Spin ‘n’ Yarn group.
Judy Gallie from Noble Park said it was nice to help children in particular to make the connection between an animal and their woollen clothing.
“You’ve got the sheep, you’ve got the fleece and you’ve got a lady spinning the fleece,” she said.
“It captures the whole process.
“It’s good to keep the traditions going, too.
“There was a time where all you could buy was hand-spun yarn clothing.
“A lot of that’s dying now and I think we need to show our grandchildren.
“I’ve got two granddaughters and the both say ‘Nanny, will you show us how to spin?’.
“I’ve got a couple of wheels and my goal is for them to learn how to spin, and because they want to do it.”
Judy explained that she and her Spin ‘n’ Yarn mates were spinning various fibres in various forms.
One lady was working with fibre taken straight from the sheep and washed.
“Mine’s straight from the sheep, dyed, but not washed because it’s still got the lanolin,” she said.
“Feel that, it’s quite sticky.”
Pam Duguid from Dingley was working with dyed fibre from a Gotland sheep.
“It’s a rare breed of sheep, the Gotland sheep,” Judy said.
“There’s only one lady who grows them in Australia.”
Judy was working with Corriedale fibre, and there was also Corriedale-English Leicester cross fibre on a spinning wheel.
“We bought some of our tools as well, to show people what you have to do with them,” Judy said.
She said they go to the effort of making their own wool for the satisfaction and relaxation.
“Pam’s made these beautiful mittens,” she said.
“She’s spun that and then she’s knitted that up.”
Also behind them are shawls, hats, cushions and more.
Outdoors, 23-year-old Courtney Pulham from Fish Creek is tending to calf Bella. The red Holstein took out first place in her class.
“It’s a good feeling, it’s a nice feeling,” she said.
“It’s better than walking away with nothing.”
Courtney said preparing a cow for showing was challenging.
“It’s fun making them look pretty,” she said.
“There’s been a few people ask us a few questions.
“Not many people know that they definitely get pampered.
“They get clipped and washed, and lots of feed.”
She tries to attend the Dandenong Show each year.
“It‘s good to get out there and see all the other pedigrees,” she said.
Dandenong Show cattle chairwoman Melissa Ferris, armed with a microphone, shouts: “Stop milking. Step away from your cow.”
There were 27 entries in the dairy section this year, she said.
Beef entries were up on last year at about 33.
“Every class had four to eight head in it, so it was quite competitive,” Melissa said.
“There’s eight exhibitors in the dairy section and there were about 15 exhibitors in the beef section.”
Jerseys and Holsteins featured in the dairy section.
The beef attracted Charolais, red angus, angus, red poll, Welsh black and Simmental.
Melissa is married to former show president Ricky Ferris. They met at the show as children.
Her grandmother, Winsome Anderson from Nar Nar Goon, said the family had been showing at the event for 127 years.
Melissa and Ricky brought their son Austin along.
“We have four generations of the same family here today,” Winsome said.
Melissa’s brother Patrick, 16, won junior champion for the first time. He’s the fifth generation to participate.
“The family have been here so long so he’s just taking that next step,” Ricky said.
“The youth are really starting to come through showing, which is a real plus.
“Youth having their own cattle is a big positive.”
