Wet weather in the preceding days made way for welcome sunshine for the 131st annual Maclean Show which featured the largest sideshow alley ever and enjoyed by a big crowd.
The show was officially opened by local pharmacist Ken Hallgarth, continuing a proud tradition.
Maclean Show Society secretary Pru Ensby said the number of people through the gate at the show on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 6 and 7, was almost at record levels.
“Compared to other years the gate was right up there, which was great,” she said.
“With the rain leading up to it, the committee worked really hard, we tried to hang in there as long as possible before we had to call the trotting and the showjumping off.
“It was forecast to be brilliant sunshine, and we got two lovely days on the Tuesday and Wednesday.”
The Ringers Western wear truck proved popular with people, parked up near the entrance to the showground.
“In sideshow alley we have never had that many rides there, they did a great job of squeezing all of those in, we had a record number of rides which was really great.
“I was told that people were lining up for rides which was good to hear.
“We tried to put everything on we possibly could, we had the demo derby and the fireworks on Wednesday night which was great.”
Entries in the exhibitions, sales displays, floral and fruit exhibits, cane exhibits, craft, beef cattle, vegetables, poultry, cooking, championship dog show, caged birds, photography, school exhibits were very high, plus there were trade exhibits, and food stalls.
“Some of the pavilions, like in the cooking, we had record numbers, which was really promising,” she said.
“We also had a record number of exhibits from the schools, so that was amazing, gee they did a good job and supported us really well, which was really lovely to see.
“It was very successful, and we’ve got ideas to change a few things for next year to improve them.”
Two new Life Members of the Maclean Show Society were bestowed with the honour, Maclean residents and long-time supporters Peter Lee and Warren Apps.
“Our young women that were announced on Wednesday night, Grace Carr won the Young Woman of the Year, and the Junior Showgirl winner was Maya Wakerley,” Ms Ensby said.
Revolucion Dance Studio, Angel Stars Dance Studio and Maclean Scottish Town Dance Centre put on an amazing display in the Performance Pavillion.
Without their valued sponsors, Farrell McCrohon Stock and Station Agents, Ferry Park Gallery, North Coast Electrical, RDO Equipment, Shannon Bros, Donovan Livestock and Property, Maclean Bowling Club, Yamba Farmers and Producers Market, The Fair Butcher, Sunshine Sugar, Botero, Passmore Auto Air and Electrical, Stanfords Pharmacy, Maclean Outdoors, Spar Maclean, The Maclean Hotel, AB Accounting, and Corbett Earthmoving, Ms Ensby said the show would not go ahead each year.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 14 May 2025.
