Community
13 September, 2024
P and A Society calls for volunteers, entrants
WITH the Camperdown Show approaching, the Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society (P and A Society) is calling for volunteers to help out on show day (Saturday October 12) as well as contributions to the homecrafts section.
P and A Society homecrafts steward Annette Hickey said the show committee was looking for volunteers to assist in various areas throughout the show day.
“There’s about 18 to 20 people on the committee, so we’ve got a good-sized committee, but of course over the spread of the day they’re pretty well all-used,” she said.
“We need people to sit at the gate selling tickets, there’s some rides this year so we need ride booth tickets, there’s people parking cars.
“We’d really like to see the community come on board and give us a hand if they can.
“We have a great buy-a-bucket where kids go around and collect different things from the vendors - there are probably a few spots like that where we need people to sit and sell tickets.”
Camperdown Show committee life member Geoff Risbey said putting together the annual show was always a “great effort” by the committee.
“The show, along with the Camperdown Horse Racing, are the two biggest events for the surrounding communities,” he said.
“Our volunteering committee is very enthusiastic and hard-working with our stewards and ground maintenance also seeking sponsors and judges.
“Come and volunteer and bring the rural side of the community into the township for a family get-together.
“We’re always encouraging volunteers to come to a meeting or join up to bring their ideas.”
Mrs Hickey said the P and A Society was also looking for entrants into the homecrafts section, particularly following the success of Make, Bake, Grow and Create in previous years.
“The show has Victorian Agricultural Shows (VAS) competitions that, if you win, you go onto other shows around the districts,” she said.
“People seemed to, as soon as we said they were going to be judged, they didn’t really want to put it in.
“We thought we could just have an area with the arts and crafts where people could just showcase what they do because lots of people do terrific things out there.
“We did get a good response from that last year, and we hope we’re going to get a good response this year.
“If you’re a sewist, if you’re a sculptor, whatever – bring your work to us, and we’ll display it for the show day and people can come and see how clever people are in the community.”
The P and A Society is also encouraging residents to enter a new competition this year, with residents challenged to create a scarecrow using recycled or upcycled materials.
The scarecrows can be any size but need to be able to be display securely.
Scarecrows are due at the showgrounds between 4pm and 7pm Friday, October 11 for judging, which will focus on creativity, overall appearance use of recycled or upcycled materials, and originality.
Entries are also sought for the VAS competitions, which include cooking, craft and photography sections.
More information on the rules and categories for the VAS competitions is available online at camperdownshowgrounds.com.au/camperdown-show-sections/.
Entries submitted for either the expo or the competitions can be delivered to the showgrounds between 3pm and 6pm on Thursday, October 10, or between 9am and 12noon Friday, October 11.
Mrs Hickey said residents wanting to put their hand up are welcome to reach out by contacting her on 0439 287 058 or Cheryl McMahon on 0419 464 567.
“We’ve got a couple more meetings, but people don’t have to meetings – they can just come on the day, and we’ll show them what they need to do,” she said.
“We need the support of the community.”