Premier raises damp spirits

HEAVY rain and strong winds presented Berwick show organisers with a major problem on Saturday afternoon forcing them to cancel most of the afternoon and evening events.
Premier Steve Bracks was at the ground from 3pm to officially open the show and was surrounded by officials and show patrons with whom he chatted freely.
Mr Bracks opened the show from the new Akoonah Park Centre and was warm in his praise of those who run the annual event and those who worked to have the pavilion built on the showgrounds.
Show president Andrew Dedlefs said things had to be changed quickly, but it worked despite the stress.
Andrew said the show had a good attendance on Saturday and Sunday although gate takings would be down for the weekend even though it still attracted 14,000 people.
He apologised for having to close the gates at 6pm, but safety and comfort of participants was a priority.
“We had flooding and the grounds became dangerous so we could not risk injury to someone.”
“Our government is a great believer in agricultural and horticultural shows.”
He said the Berwick Show was one of the biggest and best in Victoria that attracted visitors from across the State.
“It features Victoria’s biggest cattle show outside the Royal Melbourne Show and had one of the biggest horse shows.”
Mr Bracks foreshadowed ongoing government support for shows.
He said the Government provided $1.5 million to more than 125 show societies and that it was investing $101 million in a massive redevelopment of the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.
“This is because we want Victoria’s shows to be centrepieces for communities.
“Shows are major events that bring people together and they support primary producers,” he said.