Day 1966 - The Canberra Show

Do you go to The Show?

Image Source - Official photo of the Royal Canberra Show

Annual agricultural "shows" are traditional in Australia. As a kid I always headed to the Goulburn Show as both a competitor and a side-show enthusiast.  I would compete in the horse events, then we'd go and check out the rides, the showbags and the knitting and baking.  It was a big deal.  Just about every country town has a show. From Nimmitabel to Cooma, to Bungendore to Braidwood.



In NSW all show roads lead to the Royal Easter Show in Sydney.  I never got to compete at that level (that was kind of like the "State" or "National" championships of agriculture) but I went a few times as a spectator which was a trip of Disneyland proportions.

I remember going on a bus trip to the Sydney Show as a teen.  I bought an extremely fashionable Cronulla Sharks velcro wallet, big colourful plastic earrings (it was the 80s)  and who knows what else.  The most important thing at that point in my life was the rides.

In Canberra we have the Royal Canberra Show.  We've taken the kids plenty of times with our focus on the agricultural side of things.  Checking out the wood chopping, the cows, the alpacas, the petting zoo, the horse events, the shearing and the racing pigs.

Image Source - www.abc.net.au 

We also head to watch events like the "Crusty Demons" crazy motorbike dudes and the cars that do that precision driving where they go on two wheels and jump over things.  Let's not forget the bareback showjumping nor the jousting.

Image Source - The Canberra Times

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Then of course there are the pavilions where people enter their craft, baked goods, flowers and garden produce to win prestigious awards for "best in show".  As well as community groups and other businesses showing their wears.

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Last stop is always the rides and the show bag pavilion.  When my kids were little MUCH RESEARCH went into the rides and the show bags before we went to the show to ensure we were getting the most bang for our buck.  They were only allowed three rides and one (sometimes two) show bags.  So it was important to choose wisely!

Image Source - abc.net.au

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This year we won't be going to the show as spectators.  Nor as competitors.  This year we will be going as a business owner AND as the entertainment.

Cheer Chick Charlie will have a stall at the event where I will spruk my wears PLUS we're sponsoring three cheerleading displays over the Saturday and Sunday.

In order to showcase the sport of cheerleading I've coordinated seven squads across the ACT, plus Charlie and her Cheer Chicks, to do two one hour performances and another quick 10 minute performance on the main arena on the Saturday night.

Eeeek! How exciting.

Forget utes jumping over utes and motorbikes flying upside down through the air.  We've got people jumping over people and flying upside through the air! Well ... kind of ....

See ... we're on the program!

Part of the Saturday Canberra Show timetable 

We'll have around 120 cheerleaders performing across the course of the weekend, plus Charlie herself will be out there mixing with the kids and showing off her dance moves.

The Cheer Chicks rehearsing

Charlie and her Cheer Chicks

This weekend the show will look different for us. We'll be looking at it from a different angle.  We'll be showing off rather than just showing up.

I'm a bit nervous. And a little bit frazzled. But a lot excited.

What does the Show mean to you?

Which is your local agricultural show? 

Do you go?