By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE patchy Melbourne weather on Saturday did little to dampen the spirits of locals at the 2016 running of the Parklea Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show.
The show, at PB Ronald Reserve on the corner of Henry and John Streets, featured a brilliant range of activities, attractions and competitions, including: Miss Personality, a dunk machine, dodgem cars, a jumping castle, the spectacular dog high jump, animal competitions (sheep, alpacas, goats and poultry), the Rural Iron Man and Iron Woman, horticulture, agriculture, craft, cooking, floral arrangements, a chainsaw carver, Animals on the Move, a shearer, and a blacksmith.
“As you can see, the young people and families are coming out to the show more and more,” said show president Geoff Young on the weekend.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to see that the town is supporting it.
“We’ve got the sheep back this year – there’s 92 sheep, which is fantastic – and we’ve got the tractors here as well so we’re bringing back the rural feel of it.
“We’ve got a wood-carver, a sheep-sheerer, and a milking cow. The roots of the show are coming back to life, and with the present-day committee we want to make this the best festival the shire has had.”
Mr Young said he couldn’t believe the amount of people putting their hands up to be involved at this year’s show – by rolling up their sleeves and helping out, entering the various competitions, or just being involved in some good old fashioned fun.
“(Star News Group managing director) Paul Thomas did really well in the dunking machine, and Brian (Bass MP Brian Paynter), George (Cardinia Shire councillor George Blenkhorn), Craig (Craig Membrey from Membrey’s Transport and Crane Hire), Sharon (Cranbourne Leading Senior Constable and Cardinia Youth Resource Officer Sharon Patteron), and Jack (Pakenham identity Jack Mitchell) too,” he said.
“The way people have come out to support the show and the committee has been fantastic.”
For so much more coverage of the 2016 Pakenham Show, pick up a copy of this week’s Pakenham-Berwick Gazette.
