Bellinger River Agricultural Society
The Bellinger River Agricultural Society Committee is in the final stages of plotting and planning for the annual Bellingen Show. The Show Program has hit the streets and tickets are on sale via the Bellingen Show website www.bellingenshow.com.au.
Expect all of the trappings of a country show over the weekend of Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May with show competitions in Pavilion, Horses, Cattle, Poultry and Woodchop, the grand parade, a multitude of food and trade stalls as well as the Entertainment Tent, Reptile World and Petting Zoo. Challenge yourself on the 8 metre high climbing wall or in the bungee run or obstacle course. On Saturday we’re bringing back some old fashioned fun with egg and spoon, sack and three-legged races.
“We’re really passionate about continuing the traditions of the country show while at the same time reflecting Bellingen’s unique personality,” Bellinger River Agricultural Society President Dr Susan Lumsdaine said.
“We’re delighted to be showcasing a range of sustainability initiatives this year. We are partnering with OzGreen to provide Rethink Waste stations around the Showground, and Northbank Community Garden will be taking our compostable waste. CoffeeforClimate will also be helping with their well established mug library. Reducing the amount of single use coffee cups is a key strategy in reducing our landfill waste, so grab a coffee in a mug library cup and take it with you as you stroll around the Show. Mugs can be dropped off at any Rethink Waste station or coffee vendor stall. Also don’t forget to bring your water bottle that can be filled at either of the two water stations in the Showground.”
Susan added, “On Sunday our Entertainment Tent is being reenvisioned as the Planet Talks Tent. Come along and join in a range of discussions and presentations on all things sustainable. Topics will include seed saving and soil quality, food security and farming, affordable housing, access and inclusion in our community and more. We have even created a new class in our Photography Section – Harmony with Nature, which will showcase images that highlight the beauty of sustainable living and responsible resource management.”
The Show Committee encourages the community to spend the day or the whole weekend soaking up the laid back country show vibes. The grand parade and official opening starts at 2pm on Saturday, and this year farmer, filmmaker and actress, Rachel Ward will open the Bellingen Show. Rachel’s commitment to sustainability and regenerative farming, as depicted in the film Rachel’s Farm, makes her the perfect choice, and she will be joined by Raji Renshaw, ambassador for Celebrate T21, to co-open the Show.
Rachel Ward will be chatting all things beef and regenerative farming during a beef taste testing with local producers Bello Beef.
Expect fun for all the family with woodchop, cattle, chooks, horse and pavilion competitions as well as a new look sideshow alley with a giant 8m climbing wall, inflatable obstacle course and bungee run. Our friends from Catan Farm will have their miniature goats, there will be working Kelpies, Steve’s Reptile World, circus workshops and a raft of big farm machinery for kids young and old to awe over. Plus, families and friends will burst with pride at local performers of all ages in the entertainment tent.
The Bellinger River Agricultural Society would like to thank all sponsors, trophy donors, advertisers, stewards, judges, announcers, volunteers and the many unnamed individuals and businesses who helped with organising and running the 2023 Bellingen Show.
Get cracking, here’s how you can get involved in the Bellingen Show
There’s many ways you can join in the fun of the Bellingen Show, buy a family pass and spend the weekend with us or enter in one of the many activities or competitions on offer. We asked Show President, Susan Lumsdaine to give us her tips on what and how to get involved in the Show.
Volunteer with us!
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Bellingen Show. Our volunteer community gives their time generously to keep the wheels of the Bellingen Show turning. Our luncheon booth is back this year, with some delicious home cooked meals, so we’re looking for servers to help in the kitchen. From setting up and packing down displays, working the gates, setting up horse and cattle events, to helping with woodchop, staffing the information booth and fun run – behind all these activities you’ll find a volunteer with a warm Bellingen smile and a friendly word!
Being a volunteer means you are an integral part of the Show. It’s a fun experience where friendships are formed and for many it is also a chance to contribute to our community. If you have a few hours to spare and would like to get involved contact Bellingen Show Volunteer Manager Lydia Bezeruk on volunteers@bellingenshow.com.au
FREE entry Friday – Junior Cattle Competition & Maiden Heifer Stud Spectacular
FREE entry on Friday 3 May to Junior Cattle Competiton followed by the debut of the Maiden Stud Heifer Spectacular on Friday afternoon with a top prize of $1400 up for grab! Our Cattle team, headed up by Brett Wieck has pulled all stops to bring together a superb display of livestock for us this year.
EJ Mantova Art Prize on display at the Bellingen Gallery and Framing Studio until 5 May
Check out all of the entries including the winning artworks on display at the Bellingen Gallery and Framing Studio. Also on public display are a handful of Ernst Mantova originals which have been donated back to the community. The EJ Mantova Art Prize pays homage to Ernest John Mantova, who is credited as Bellingen’s first professional artist. Mantova moved to Bellingen in the early 1930’s where he spent the next 20 years producing innumerable landscape works and helping local artists establish their own creative practice.
Partner Carrying Competition
One for the fit, fast and strong. The crowd-pleasing Partner Carrying novelty event has two classes, mixed gender and same gender. Couples (two 18+ adults) compete against other couples in a timed 100m course negotiating four obstacles. Winners of the mixed gender category at the Bellingen Show will be sponsored to compete at the Singleton Show and the winners of that event are given the opportunity to travel to Finland for the World Wife Carrying Titles. Enter on the day.
Young Farmer Challenge
Are you 18-35 years old and reckon you know a thing or two about life in the country or have city smarts and wanna have a go? Well here’s the chance for you and your crew to flex your skills in the Bellingen Show edition of the Young Farmer Challenge, where teams go head to head against each other in a series of competitive “challenges”. These challenges can be anything from saddling a drum, potato throwing, fencing, shearing a sheep (with coloured chalk), hay stacking and shaving a balloon. Challengers ready, we’d love to see local businesses enter staff teams!! There’s $400 up for grabs, but more importantly the glory of the Bellingen Young Farmer title! Enter on the day.
Pavilion Competition
The Pavilion is the heart and soul of the Bellingen Show and a “must visit” destination on show days. There are over 350 Pavilion classes you can enter including photography, farm and garden produce, beer and cider, arts and crafts, cookery, school art and pot plants. You name it, there’s likely a pavilion category for it. So why not explore the Pavilion Schedule and enter as many classes as you can. Entries close 6pm Thursday 2 May.
Fun Run
It’s time to amp up your training – the Bellingen Show Fun Run is on again with participants of all ages getting out and about for the 10km and 3km running events. It’s an early start on Show Sunday morning as we pull on our activewear and joggers and head down to the showground for the start of the fun run. So get those shoes laced up, do your stretches then and hit the road for your community Fun Run. Register to run via the RaceRoster link on the Bellingen Show website.
Grab your copy of the Bellingen Show Program today!
It all happens on Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May. Grab a copy of the Bellingen Show schedules and entry forms from local business or download from the the Bellingen Show website bellingenshow.com.au. Stay in the loop on facebook www.facebook.com/TheBellingenShow and keep an eye out for this year’s printed Show Program available from local businesses.
Enquiries
Secretary – Tali Krieger secretary@bellingenshow.com.au 0498 483 915
Media – Rachael Hetherington publicity@bellingenshow.com.au 0432 018 190
