May 12, 2023
Some small showers may have dampened crowd numbers on the second day of the 2023 Kingaroy Show, but overall Show Society president Craig Lucas is pleased with this year’s event.
The show clashed with several other events in the region, including the Burrandowan Races, but from the number of cars parked along Youngman Street on Saturday, organisers should be happy with the attendance figures.
Craig said there was about 110 head in the cattle categories and there were good numbers in the horses and mini-horses.
Entries in the various pavilion competitions – including cooking, needlework and fine arts – were also up, and there was a good array of produce.
“It was also really good to see a whole lot of kids had entered the various sections,” Craig said.
The pig races and reptile show proved very popular, as did the 40m Megadrop amusement ride which was a first for the Kingaroy Show.
Three Queensland titles were contested in the woodchopping.
Saturday’s activities were topped off with a fireworks display, while Sunday night’s highlight was the bullride which attracted 50 competitors.
“The bullride will definitely be coming back next year, ” Craig said.
There was also a lot of interest in the sheepdog demonstrations which were held on both Saturday and Sunday.
“We are looking at holding a competition next year,” Craig said.
There were trotting heats on both Saturday and Sunday, but unfortunately the showers stopped Sunday’s finals from going ahead.
The show was officially opened on Saturday afternoon by South Burnett Sub-Chamber Rural Ambassador Dan Trace in a small ceremony with show dignitaries, including 2023 Kingaroy Showgirl Ashlee Schofield and her twin sister Renee, the 2023 Kingaroy Rural Ambassador.
Dan thanked the large crowd for supporting the event.
South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto and Crs Danita Potter and Kathy Duff also attended the opening.
Mayor Otto said it was wonderful to see the Kingaroy Show getting back to its former glory.
“These shows are an important part of our lifestyle out here in rural Queensland and without the work of these wonderful volunteers they wouldn’t happen,” the Mayor said.
He also saluted the region’s farming history.
“I’d like to pay tribute to the settlers who settled our country and the wonderful community leaders who followed after them,” Mayor Otto said.
“It was those settlers who came out from European nations and British nations and forged through the scrub and built the wonderful lifestyle we have to enjoy today.
“They toiled through serious hardship, they farmed the land, they grew crops, they introduced livestock and I think we don’t take enough time to pay tribute to our pioneering farming settlers of this country, and I’d like to pay tribute to them today.
“(And) to the community leaders who brought our community to where we are today as well, those people who have served our Council and of course, our own wonderful former Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen who made agriculture in this State the powerhouse that it is today.
“I’d like to pay tribute to him and his family and all the other wonderful leaders who have done so much for agriculture in Queensland. Let’s hope we have people like them to lead us into the future.”
Mayor Otto said the South Burnett had some of the best soils in the southern hemisphere and all it needed was the government to invest in water and roads and the region could get back to having a strong agricultural sector and become a major exporter.
