2018 Proston Miss Junior Showgirl Louisa Frahm, Miss Showgirl Stephanie Weaver and Junior Rural Ambassador Stephanie Flint
March 12, 2018
The Proston Show was “blessed with kind weather, green grass and a good range of exhibits” … these words from Federal MP Ken O’Dowd at the official opening summed up Saturday’s 60th annual show very nicely.
In the cattle competition, a large number of entries kept the stewards and judges busy.
Proston P-10 students as well as students from local schools and visitors from Bundaberg and Brisbane proudly displayed their beasts.
Many of the entries were being run through their paces ahead of the 2018 Beef Australia expo in Rockhampton.
Supreme Exhibit in the stud cattle was “Oakwood Native Cut”, from Oakwood Limousins at Bundaberg.
The show was officially opened by Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who said she was excited that Proston was now part of her expanded Nanango electorate.
However, she was warned by Show Society president Valley Horne that the last MP who represented the area, former Callide MP Jeff Seeney, had attended every Proston Show … so she now had to live up to his example!
Mrs Frecklington said country shows were about promoting “our agriculture, our region”.
She congratulated the Show Society members for the effort they had shown over the past 60 years.
“It is such a beautiful country show, I encourage you to keep on doing it for another 60,” she said.
The first Proston Show was held in March 1958 and it has expanded its attractions over the years.
Competitions such as the Ute Muster and whip cracking have been added to the popular mix of sideshow rides, fireworks, equestrian events, poultry and pavilion competitions.
A successful day was topped off by a concert by covers band MISS Leading.
Cutting the cake to mark the 60th Proston Show … from left, Fay Kruger, from Durong; former Show Society president Cec Sullivan, Abbeywood; and Beryl Beitzel, from Kingaroy (Beryl attended the first Proston Show as a young girl)
Proston Show Society president Valley Horne with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington who officially opened the show
Bridget O’Shannessy, from Brisbane, has become a fixture at the Proston Show, singing the National Anthem at the official opening
Murgon Men’s Shed treasurer John Armstrong, from Wheatlands, was showing Proston resident Cliff Blanch the association’s fully restored German wagonSome more of the Murgon Men’s Shed members who were selling cold drinks … from left, John Crawford, Murgon; Jim Brook, Wondai; Dave Mollenhauer, Wondai; John Eustace, Wondai; and Allan Lark, MurgonChristina Zdenek, from Luke’s Reptile Kingdom, with a “Cuddles”, an olive pythonSouth Burnett Rural Ambassador Kate Roberts, South Burnett Miss Showgirl Courtney Retschlag and National Rural Ambassador Justin MatthewsMatthew Whalley, from Toogoolawah, competing in Round 1 of the showjumping
Melissa Boully, from Gympie, with the Champion Galloway, “Roy’s Wild Card”
Cattle stewards Kathy and Michael Duff were kept busy with the large number of entries
South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell was catching up with Cathy Clegg, from Kingaroy, in the cattle yards at the Proston ShowgroundMember for Flynn Ken O’Dowd presented the prize for the Grand Champion Tropical Female to “Bardia Lady Chloe”, from Bardia Brahman Stud at Wowan, led by Nanci Wilson, from MontoLachlan O’Sullivan-Blanch and Avah Murdoch, from Bundaberg Christian College, with the Reserve Champion Junior Heifer, “Oakwood Felicity”Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, centre, dropped in to say g’day to the large cattle show team from Brisbane’s Nudgee CollegeSouth Burnett mayor Keith Campbell, right, with Craig and Andrea Taylor, from MK Cattle Limousins, from Murgon … Keith sashed the Junior Champion European Bull, “MK Cattle Maximum Energy” while Reserve Champion “MK Cattle Midnight” is at the rear
Corey Evans, from Jen-Daview Limousins in Kingaroy, with the Supreme Bull of the show, “Jen-Daview Mr Pinnacle”
Casey Plevey, from Oakey, with her koolie “Calico” and kelpie “Dusty” … Calico was champion of the pet parade
Ted McArdle and John and Tracey Steer were busy selling tickets for the Show Society chocolate wheel … local businesses generously donated many prizes for the wheelArthur Pointon, Eidsvold; Helen Roth, Proston; and Eric and Kate Sturgess, Gayndah; were checking out the Pavilion displays
