{"id":345801,"date":"2024-03-21T23:59:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T13:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=345801"},"modified":"2024-03-22T20:50:21","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T10:50:21","slug":"murgon-show-celebrates-100-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/03\/21\/murgon-show-celebrates-100-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Murgon Show Celebrates 100 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Murgon centenarians Alf “Mick” Purser, Gladys Birch and George Ansell joined with Murgon Show Society patroness Gladys Sippel to cut the 100-year celebration cake at the official opening of the Murgon Show on Saturday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 21, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon’s two-day Centenary Show celebration has been hailed a great success despite several hiccups outside the control of the organisers which potentially could have been a disaster.<\/p>\n

Firstly, the Show Society was informed about six weeks out it would have to change the date of its rodeo; which was duly shifted to the Friday night.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the last-minute change made no difference to its success …<\/p>\n

“Friday night was unbelievable,” Show Society president Alan Eagleson told southburnett.com.au<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It was such a good turnout … someone said there could have been 1500 people, and we were so busy I could believe it.”<\/p>\n

The second hiccup was the last-minute cancellation of some of Saturday’s promoted amusement rides after the operator suffered a medical emergency.<\/p>\n

But that didn’t seem to faze the crowd, either, with children enjoying the free animal farm and jumping castle.<\/p>\n

Saturday was “really, really good”, Alan said.<\/p>\n

He said the sheep dog and cattle dog exhibitions were very popular, as well as the cutting competitions in the morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“And we had an outstanding opening and grand parade,” Alan said.<\/p>\n

Special guests at the opening were three local centenarians – Alf “Mick” Purser, Gladys Birch and George Ansell – who cut the Centenary cake.<\/p>\n

But there was also a touch of showbiz glamour, with a TV crew, accompanied by presenter Lisa Millar, filming segments for an episode of the ABC program “Back Roads”.<\/p>\n

The crew has been popping up at various locations around the South Burnett over the past week. A date for the broadcast is yet to be announced.<\/p>\n

Richie O’Neill OAM did the honours of officially opening the show (see below), regaling the crowd with some of the history of the event and the showgrounds.<\/p>\n

The Grand Parade, which included children from local schools as well as cattle and miniature horses, was led off by riders Lachlan and Jacinta Rockemer bearing an Australian flag.<\/p>\n

Alan said Saturday afternoon was a little quiet … until the motorbikes came on to the program.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“People love things that they can get involved with,” Alan said.<\/p>\n

The children brought along their own bikes – and safety gear – to compete in bending races and flag races.<\/p>\n

“The youngest participant was five,” Alan said.<\/p>\n

Saturday was topped off by a fireworks display which again attracted more people back to the showgrounds.<\/p>\n

Alan said he would like to send out a special “thank you” to groundsman Owen “Owie” Wessling who turned up every day beforehand to help with the mowing and whippersnipping of the grounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Owie is 84\u00bd and the show couldn’t happen with out him!” Alan said.<\/p>\n