A record 2,600-plus entries made last Thursday’s Nhill Show a standout, with strong fields across art, craft, photography, cooking, LEGO, metalwork, wool, grains, shearing and horses. (Last year drew about 2,200.)
Trade sites were busy throughout the day and the show was officially opened by local icon Merv Schneider, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
The evening closed with fireworks from Northern Fireworks, set off by show president Darrell Hall.
Ring and arena
29 horses competed. The committee thanked Donna Burns for coordinating the horse section over the past five years. Louise Hewitt will now take the reins, with Donna assisting in the background.
Headline awards
- Champion Commercial Flock Fleece: Will Shilling
- Most Outstanding Entry in Grain & Fodder: Stella Schnaars
- Champion Bird of Show: Lloyd Poultry
- Champion Pigeon: Gordon Templar
Pavilion highlights
- Cooking Challenge: Alicia Alexander
- Craft Challenge: Holly Beattie
- Amy Pilgrim Memorial Pavlova (18–30 years): Ellie Murden
- Champion Buttercake: Colleen Dickinson
- Best Exhibit – Cooking: Tricia Alexander
- Best Exhibit – Fruit and Vegetables: Belinda Rohde
- Best Exhibit – Jams and Preserves: Tricia Alexander
- Best Rose of the Show: Bev Rethus
- Best Single Bloom: Vicki Sherwell – bearded iris
- Best Multiple Bloom: Janet Heenan – orchid
- Winner of the Pavilion: Tricia Alexander
- Runner-up: Colleen Dickinson
- Champion Photography: Sam Neumann
LEGO competition
- Primary: Darcy Borgelt
- Secondary: Drake Dykes
- Open: Alana Zanker
Show Patron Competition
- Tiny Tot Girls: Lexi Dickinson
- Girls Prep to Year 2: Beth Koop
- Girls Year 3 to 6: Abby Cramer
- Boys Prep to Year 2: Heath Borgelt
- Boys Year 3 to 6: Connor Borgelt
- Young Casual Teenager: Olive Curtis
- Save the date: The next Annual Nhill Show is set for 15 October 2026.
Darrell Hall said, “It was a fantastic turn out with lots of people.”
Blaze aid were a huge help with assistance setting up the show and also with pack up the following day.
The weather was a bit up and down the wind affected some of the stalls, it did rain a little on and off however the wind dried you out pretty quick.
Side show alley had a bit of a pause while the lightning storm passed through but was able to start back up not long after.
Lots of amazing support in all the pavilions heaps of entries across the board which is great to see everyone getting involved and supporting the show.
Lots of people gathered for the opening where there was questions with Merv Schneider which people enjoyed.
Horse events had a good turn out and was lucky enough to finish before the weather got too hot.
One of the blaze aid fellas who is an outstanding photographer had lots of entries and won photography which was great to see.
Amazing effort by the Zanker family who put together the animal nursery where people are able to go and pat the animals and hold them.
Luckily the weather settled for us to finish the night with the fireworks; we had a new guy from Melbourne put the fire work display on which was great Daryll hall even got to press the button to tart the display “was great seeing everyone in the crowd watching as the sky lit up”.
The committee are having a show debrief tomorrow night.
See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 22 October 2025.
