March 15, 2023
Proston’s 65th annual show at the weekend was the biggest in decades with extra attractions added in honour of this year’s centenary of the township.
The show was officially opened on Saturday afternoon by an emotional Len Jansan, who is a very familiar face (and voice) around South Burnett showgrounds.
Len has been the lead ring announcer at the Proston Show for almost as long as anyone can remember, but he told the crowd that even after all these years he still becomes excited coming to the event.
“I look into the crowd and see the people and faces here, and they’re all good country people and wonderful supporters of the Proston Show,” Len said.
“I like to come up here because of the dress style of a lot of people … they all dress ‘country’ and it’s all clean and good, respectable people.”
Len praised the “very big program” that Proston Show Society president Mortimer Duff and his committee had organised for this year.
Mortimer said 2023 was a big year for the Proston region.
“It’s the 65th show … it’s also the 100th anniversary of Proston township and the establishment of the railway line; it’s the 100th year of the Proston QCWA and it’s the 90th anniversary of the ABC,” Mortimer said. “We’re the first ag show on the circuit to have the ABC’s commemorative patchwork quilt on display.”
Mortimer said Proston may be a small community but it always “punches above its weight” with every event it runs.
He praised his committee and its “youthful energy”.
“With youthful exuberance balanced by the experience of the long-standing committee members, we are going to be able to deliver great show after great show,” Mortimer said.
South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto also spoke at the opening, acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land but also the European settlers.
“I don’t think those farming families who ventured into this country from many of the European nations are acknowledged as much as they should be in our world today,” the Mayor said.
“I think that we’re very fortunate that they’ve done the hard yards to give us the life that we have. It’s from that, that these shows were born. They’re such an important part of our life here in rural Australia.”
The 65th Proston Show featured everything from miniature horses to dog highjumps, a night concert with Mick Lindsay on stage and a Fashions of the Field competition.
There were also all the usual attractions … a dog show, chainsawing, woodchopping, equestrian events and fireworks.
And for the first time at Proston, retired racehorses competed for $3000 worth of prizes in the Off-The-Track Horse Of The Show category in the ring.
The Grand Parade, held after the official opening, featured cattle, horses and a big contingent of feral and work utes.
Stud cattle are always a prominent feature at Proston, with a strong turnout this year from the Tropical breeds. And in another first, there was also a special Dexter feature.
The Junior Judges and Junior Handlers events were held on Friday.
Junior Judges winners were Under 15s, Danny Gould from Booubyjan, and Under 25s, Daniel O’Sullivan, from Brisbane.
In the Junior Handlers, Montanna Dziduch, Proston, finished first in the Under 15s, with Ryan Gould, Booubyjan, taking out the Under 25s.
- Related article: Proston’s Ready To Put On A Show
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