2024 Goomeri Showgirl Emily Schultz, second from left; with QAS Showgirl’s Choice winner Casey Cleary, South Burnett Showgirl Emma Franz and South Burnett Rural Ambassador Carly Smith
March 29, 2024
Centenarian George Ansell returned to his roots on Saturday to officially open the 84th Goomeri Show.
George, who turned 100 in January, reminisced about riding his pony to school in Goomeri where he started his education in 1929.
He also recalled watching trotting, showjumping and horse high jumps at the Goomeri Show.
George moved to Murgon in 1948 when he got married but he “still called Goomeri home”.
He’s been in demand lately … George was also a special guest at Murgon’s Centenary Show a week earlier.
A special guest at the Goomeri show opening was Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington who congratulated the Show Society on their efforts and presented badges to new Life Members.
Show Society president David Pistock announced the names: Geoff and Fay Stumm, Roy Dennien, Russell McIntosh, Ellen Cotter and Sid and Bess Innes.
David also thanked his hard-working committee for all they had done and apologised that the showgrounds’ new toilet and shower block were not quite finished.
The new facility – which has been planned for about three years – is now on site but last-minute delays meant it was not fully installed in time for the show.
“We’ve done everything within our power to try and do this, but little hiccups along the way and extra bits and pieces that had to be done – and approvals to be got – didn’t happen for today for which we’re pretty sad,” David said.
Another special guest at the opening was Gympie Regional Council Division 6 councillor-to-be Warren McEwan (his victory in the poll was confirmed later in the week).
The 2024 Goomeri Show featured all the usual activities, including showjumping, cattle competitions and dog jumping.
After the opening ceremony, the Stockman’s Challenge – always popular with spectators – took over the main ring.
Goomeri Show Society Life Member Phyllis Hopf, after whom the Goomeri Showgrounds arena is named, with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and 100-year-old former Goomeri resident George Ansell who officially opened the show2024 Goomeri Show Rural Ambassador Maddie Pitstock and Showgirl Emily Schultz at the official openingThe full contingent of Showgirls, Junior Showgirls, Rural Ambassadors and Junior Ambassadors at the opening … the successful applicants were announced in a ceremony at the showgrounds on Friday nightRoy Dennien was presented with his Life Membership badge by Member for Nanango Deb FrecklingtonMrs Frecklington also presented a Life Membership badge to Ellen Cotter … Ellen’s husband John has been a Life Member for many years
Gympie Division 6 councillor Warren McEwan
Goomeri Show Society president David Pitstock
Tammie Alexander, from Bundaberg, on ‘Jessie’s Chick’, and Hannah Lee, from Nanango, on ‘Pinnaroo Paris’, were getting ready to compete in the Stockman’s ChallengeThe Kilkivan P-10 Cattle Team members competed in the Young Judges and Young Paraders competitions on Friday (Photo: Kilkivan P-10)Enjoying the Goomeri Show were Dean and Christine Bradley, from Goomeri, with Bonnie, 3Barton Lindley, from Gayndah, with Mike Lawless, from BooubyjanJason Frecklington, from Kingaroy, with Rhys Innes … Rhys collected the Life Membership badges at the opening ceremony on behalf of his parents Sid and Bess Innes; the Innes family have been looking after the stud cattle competitions at the Goomeri Show for 42 yearsSvjetlana Lanigan, from Goomeri, and Catherine Jennings, from Chatsworth, were checking out the exhibits in the pavilionSome of the large number of entries in the floral competition in the pavilionKilkivan State School took out the top prize in the Lego competition
