SPIRITS are buoyant at the close of a Dubbo Show that’s “looking on a par” with last year’s success and at a fall of rain anticipated to set up the region’s rural community for the coming season.
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Dubbo Show Society president Chris Edwards on Sunday told of strong crowd numbers at the 143rd Orana Mutual Dubbo Show despite the skies opening up several times at the weekend.
A total of 20.4 millimetres of rain fell in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday, and another 9.6 millimetres came in the next day, most of it in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mid-Sunday Mr Edwards said there was no financial result yet for the three-day event run by the not-for-profit organisation, but it was “looking on a par with last year” and he thought it had been “really successful”.
“Considering the weather, I think it will be a good result,” he said.
Mr Edwards said the rain hadn’t “impacted us much”, but was a boon for the industry at the heart of the annual agricultural show.
“Any loss to us is far outweighed by the local rural community’s gain,” he said.
In 2016 the Dubbo Show Society committee looked to add to its traditional offering of entertainment and agriculture competition.
It secured Melbourne-based Dinosaur Adventures as the show’s major attraction in what Mr Edwards said was a big step, with entry to it free of charge for show patrons.
“Our main aim this year was to vary the entertainment because as time goes by there’s less and less interest with young city people in the traditional livestock and farming exhibits,” he said.
“So you really have to have some impressive entertainment and this is why we looked at bringing the dinosaur show.
“And we’ve found even though it’s been wet, that’s been really well patronised and the feedback we’ve been getting is that it’s been really great for kids and even older kids to see what the world looked like 45 million years ago.”
A new amphitheatre-style show on the western side of the ring, aiming to take the action all across the ground had been really successful, the president said.
The TAB Carnival of Cups harness racing event on Friday night had been broadcast on Sky Racing, taking the Dubbo Show to an audience across Australia, Mr Edwards said.
On Sunday the show continued, with Murray and Sallyanne Yeomans enjoying the sights with daughter London Yeomans, who was crowned Miss Tiny Tot Dubbo. Vehicle enthusiasts also vied for Beaut Ute competition honours.
Lorna and Veronica Mitchell, both 12, and Kate Busch, 9, had seen the daring displays of the D-Max Utes and then treated themselves to a soft-serve icecream Veronica said they had gone on the cha-cha, and showbags were also on the agenda for the day.
Mr Edwards said he had been impressed with the way the committee of 50 people had all worked together, and also the volunteers that helped them as the show was staged.
He also offered thanks to major sponsor Orana Mutual, fireworks sponsor 2DU/Zoo FM, show society secretary Sue Hood and the office staff, and showground manager Dubbo City Council.