By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
Show goes from strength to strength with 6000 attending…
MORE than 6000 people turned up to soak up the annual festive atmosphere at the Parklea Pakenham and District Agriculture and Horticulture Show, thanks to the weathergods offering a sunny top of 22 degrees.
In its 104th year, the show held over the weekend was a huge success with a marked increase in crowd numbers.
Held for the second time at the P.B Ronald Reserve, the show offered many new acts and memorable exhibits.
There was something for the thrill seekers, foodies, exercise junkies and of course lots of activities for the kids, some even held a baby crocodile.
The up-and-coming Anzac Day Centenary was also celebrated with a commemorative project started on the day.
A shipping container, used to hold show equipment, was transformed by local artists from the SECAN group.
The vibrant affair was all filmed on camera by Michael and Josh Barth from the Pakenham Camera Club. They captured the container come to life in a sea of purple, black, red, orange and yellow.
The talented artists had planned the landscape work beforehand and started painting that morning to have the entire container finished by the end of the show day.
The time lapse film will show how the container came to life in remembrance of the Anzac Centenary and something the Pakenham township can be proud of for more many years to come.
The purple poppies that were painted on the bottom of the container were chosen in special memory of all the animals that were lost during war. The striking shipping container is yet to have a home finalised.
The gumboot throwing and dog high jump brought in a big audience along with some old country favourites in the paper planes competition, the rural iron man and woman competition, the giant pumpkin competition and the dog showing event which was held on Sunday 2 March.
Ferrets could be seen racing through pipes, cultural entertainment took centre stage going by the national flags, henna body art was carefully painted on arms and legs, rides could be seen high up in the sky from every angle and the children’s farmyard was constantly buzzing with baby alpacas and cuteness galore.
The meccano and model trains made an appearance for the first time at the show, with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends tooting their way around the tracks, a martial arts demonstration interested crowds and an Irish dancing exhibition brought colour to the main stage.
With more than 100 chooks, chicks and ducks clucking to be scored, the poultry competition was bigger and better than ever.
Due to the large numbers of fluffy fowl an extra marquee is planned for next year.
With the third weekend in March wrapped up for another year, the beloved event is sure to be back bigger and brighter for its 105th year in 2016.
