May 21, 2024
Blackbutt Show celebrated its 90th anniversary on Saturday … and the second year since it was resurrected after a four-year break.
Torrential rain and the pandemic wiped out the show in 2019-22 but the weather couldn’t have been better this weekend!
Show Society president Trevor Holt was at the helm again for the 2024 outing and said that despite some small “teething problems” it had been a really good show.
The FMX motorbikes had been very popular with the crowd and the children were fascinated by the “Dinkum Dinosaurs” shows.
“We have received a lot of positive feedback,” Trevor said.
“We try to change the entertainment up every year.”
He said the woodchopping had been very popular – as usual – with some very big names competing.
Crowds stayed on Saturday night for the fireworks and then live music in the bar area.
“It was even a better crowd than last year,” Trevor said.
The Blackbutt Show is a real community effort, with the Blackbutt Benarkin Lions and AvoFest manning the gates and the parking area.
Benarkin State School P&C volunteers were also kept busy at their stall, which included temporary tattoos for the kids.
Numbers in the cattle competitions were down, due to Beef 2024 at Rockhampton, but there was still good quality in the ring.
Trevor said activity in the pavilion was better this year with a lot more entries submitted.
Something new this year was the car show which was co-ordinated by the Blackbutt Car Enthusiasts Club but attracted entries from other clubs, especially the Cars & Coffee Car Club at Crows Nest.
Trevor said the Dog Show was just as big as ever, with about 350 entries.
The show was officially opened on Saturday afternoon by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff, who recalled bringing her pony, “Gay Lady”, to the Blackbutt Show about 50 years ago.
She congratulated Trevor and his committee for putting on an amazing show.
“It’s just a beautiful day, everything’s perfect and it couldn’t be better,” Mayor Duff said.
Special presentations were made at the opening of Show Patron badges to long-time Show Society volunteers Erica Wingfield, who worked as a steward in the pavilion; and cattle judge Margaret Wilson.
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Action From Woodchopping Arena
Blackbutt is known for producing world champion axemen … and its annual show always attracts some of best competitors from across Australia (including many world champions).
