161st Annual
Kiama Show
2009
Friday-Friday Night 23rd &
Saturday-Saturday Night 24th January, 2009
Kiama
Showground
It is a community organisation run completely by volunteers and their families. The Committee has approximately 50 members who attend regular meetings throughout the year to organise the event. As soon as one Kiama Show finishes another begins to be organised.
The event runs for two days and two nights and can best be described as the Kiama community putting Kiama on show. The families involved come from all aspects of the Kiama community - farmers, business people, school teachers, students, retirees - everyone young and old!
It is a non-profit organisation - any money made from one show is spent on the production of the next. The aim of the Society and the show itself is to provide good quality family entertainment and exhibition. The success of this is demonstrated by the crowds who stream through the gates from the Illawarra region, Sydney and interstate.
As well as the main event of the Kiama Show, the Show Society also organises a Kiama Show Ball and parade to launch Kiama Show season each year.
The displays in the pavilion are described
as the best on the coast, boasting in recent years approximately 2000 exhibits
including:
vegetables, fruit, jams, cooking including the NSW Rich Fruit Cake Competition,
knitting, tapestry, crochet, sewing, patchwork, craft, art, floral displays,
homebrew, photography, porcelain and pottery, spinning and weaving, woodwork
and the NSW Dahlia Championships.
There are classes for all ages and all levels of exhibitors. Everyone is encouraged
to have a go.
The ring events include the Illawarra Cattle
Show - Kiama is the home to the only Australian Breed of Dairy Cattle. In
recent years with increased pressures on local farmers the Show Society has
diversified and included beef cattle exhibitions to guarantee a good cattle
show.
The Kiama Show Society has also hosted the final round of the World Cup Showjumping
and in 2002 Kiama Show held the deciding round of this prestigious event.
The Woodchop classes include NSW Championships. Other classes for horses cater for all age groups and all levels of interest from showjumping through to Pony Club.
The Kiama showground itself would have to be one of if not the most picturesque showgrounds in Australia. Its position allows easy access for the convenience of patrons and exhibitors. Being close to the main beach and Blowhole Point offers outstanding outlooks as well as pleasant breezes for patrons as they enjoy wonderful relaxing Summer days and nights.
In the night the showground really buzzes
with crowds swelling, waiting for the main entertainment to begin. Top quality
family entertainment is organised from one year to the next - many of the
acts have appeared at the Sydney Royal Show.
As well as the main feature other entertainment includes: The Kiama Showgirl
Competition - a competition held to identify an ambassador to go onto the
next level of the competition and perhaps represent Kiama at the Sydney Royal
Show; a rodeo; local talents eg. Kiama High Vocal Group; and fun events and
displays such as line dancing, Dog High Jumps, TaeKwon Do, Haystacking competitions
and much more.
Another very popular and fun part of the Kiama Show is the Pony Raffle . Each year a pony is prepared by the Show Society and raffled - the draw being entertaiment in itself with usually over 2000 tickets sold. Every child who attends the show dreams of winning that pony.
The Kiama Show is an event that brings just
about all Kiama community organisations and many local businesses together.
Spectate, exhibit, or participate - Everyone has the opportunity to be apart
of Kiama on show !!
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