May 26, 2016
After 10 years, the annual Wondai Show Bull Ride is no more … and it’s something to sing about.
On Sunday night, the Wondai Show Society held a “thank you” barbecue for volunteers, sponsors and supporters at the Wondai Showgrounds.
Show Society president Dennis Morris announced that the group have decided that the Bull Ride has “had its day”.
“When we started the Bull Ride it was a new thing for our region and drew very big crowds,” Dennis said.
“But over the years a lot of other groups have started their own bull rides, and it wasn’t as popular as before.”
At this year’s show, the finals of a region-wide karaoke competition will top off the day.
Dennis said the karaoke competition would offer big prizes for competitors and great entertainment for the public, and he was confident its addition to the schedule would prove popular.
The competition will be organised by Geoff Grevell and Sue Bradley from Love2Sing.
Geoff and Sue have operated successful karaoke events around the region for several years.
* * *
The “Regional Karaoke Sing-Off” will be open to adult males, females and duos, and there’ll also be a special section for children aged 8 to 15.
Four fortnightly adult heats will be held at the Warana Hotel in Wondai between June 24 and August 5, while two afternoon children’s heats will be held at the Wondai Diggers Club on Sunday, July 17 and Sunday, August 7 between 12:30pm and 2:00pm.
Sue Bradley said the adult heats, which would be held on alternate Friday nights, would allow competitors to re-enter if they were knocked out in any particular round.
“We have some very good karaoke performers in the South Burnett so we think the standard will be high,” Sue said.
“And with $2500 in prize money we’re hoping the Show day finals will attract 24 adult performers and eight children, which should ensure a really great show.”
* * *
Show Society secretary Noreen Brier said that as well as the new karaoke competition, this year’s Show would also be offering several other new treats for visitors.
A Show & Shine, horse agility trials, an expanded Chainsaw Racing area, roving entertainers, children’s entertainment and more were in the planning stages.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington will officially open the 2016 Show on Saturday, August 27.
Noreen said the 100th show would be held in 2017 so she was starting to compile a history for this event. She had begun gathering material for the occasion.
She is particularly interested in stories related to the Show so the history would convey the flavour and colour of an event that has been at the centre of the town’s history for more than a century.
* * *
Nominations are now being sought for 2016 Miss Wondai Showgirl, Rural Ambassador and Junior Rural Ambassador competitions.
Miss Showgirl entrants need to be unmarried girls aged 18 to 28 (as of August 1, 2017) and be Australian citizens.
Rural Ambassador entrants can be men or women aged 20 to 30 (as of August 1, 2017), while Junior Rural Ambassador entrants can be boys and girls aged 13 to 17 years; they also need to be Australian citizens.
Noreen said each competition offered great prizes for the winners, who will assist at this year’s Wondai Show and the Wondai Christmas Eve Carnival before going on to represent Show Society at the Sub-Chamber finals.
If they are selected to represent the South Burnett at the Sub-Chamber level, they will represent the region at the State finals held at the 2017 Brisbane Ekka.
* * *
Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff said the South Burnett Regional Council was very happy to support the Show Society’s efforts, and was always open to suggestions about how to achieve better usage of the Showgrounds.
She congratulated the Show Society on several initiatives it had undertaken in the last few years, such as the installation of a new shower and toilet block for the expanding range of caravanners who now visit the facility.
She also thanked the Show Society for asking her to open the Show a few years ago.
“I have been involved in Shows ever since I was a little girl,” Cr Duff said.
“So being asked to open the Wondai Show was an incredible honour for me, and I really must thank the Wondai Show Society for that.”
* * *
After this, Show Society vice-president Greg Day showed guests the Society’s new $9500 ride-on mower, which was purchased to help keep the grounds looking neat and tidy for visitors.
Greg told southburnett.com.au that the Show Society would now be able to assist the Council with the upkeep of the grounds.
“Now that we have so many caravanners staying here it’s important that we keep the area looking good all the time,” Greg said.
* * *
- Inquiries about the South Burnett Regional Karaoke Sing-Off can be made by phoning Sue on 0427-749-209.
- Inquiries about the Miss Showgirl or Rural Ambassador competitions, or historical anecdotes about the Wondai Show for inclusion in the Centenary book, can be made by phoning Noreen on 0400-305-272 or by emailing her.
