MORE FUN AT THE SHOW
I am told that nowadays many local Shows are in the doldrums, and their Societies are feeling the pinch financially. Participation and interest are undergoing a downturn, and as many formerly rural areas are being urbanised, so the traditional activities of many local Shows are seen as irrelevant and out of touch for the people in their local areas.
Not so the ROYAL Norfolk Island Show (we earned royal patronage back in the 70's.) It is true that our committee is largely a group of faithful oldies, and that most of the hard work is done by just a few.
But when the day comes around on the second Monday of October each year, then everyone seems to rally round to make it a really good community day!
Here are just a few more somewhat random pictures taken at this year's Show. This participant in the Equine Fancy Dress came as "Barney Duffy", a legendary hero from the convict days.

Sarah and Amy dressed as jockeys.

There is always an enthusiastic crowd of spectators!

Anna and Emily dresses as Western Sheriffs - but Em looks more like a bandit!

The girls were in a relaxed mode as they watched the adult riding events.

The Cat Show is always popular. My niece Mandy, who was visiting the island, is a real cat lover.

I walked around the corner to see some Martial Arts in action.

The Junior Fancy Dress participants lined up.

Trevor the Blacksmith visits from Alice Springs every two years. Faithful "Gotta Luvit" is happy to co-operate in the shoe-ing demo.

Emily and Anna parade their stuff.

Miriam and Em's godmother Gracie watch proudly.

Sarah comes back to her Mum with a yellow (2nd place) ribbon.

We have just about recovered from the Show. Bernie is involved in stewarding for the Cattle Judge, and I judge needlework. We are both involved generally with the activities of the Society, which still fills a very important role in our community. It is important to showcase a communities talents and resources.

We know that in a rapidly changing world, local Shows may have to adapt and be flexible to meet changing needs. But we do hope that our A&H Show will remain an important activity on our community calendar.

P.S. Now here is a bit of trivia.....Did you know that the very first Agricultural Society in the world was founded by John Christian-Curwen in Cumberland? This gentleman was actually Fletcher Christian's first cousin!!

A&H SHOW - THE EXHIBITS

Here are some of the exhibits that caught my eye at our Show on Monday. This 'sculpture' won the award for the Best Exhibit in the Hall. It is an amazing arrangement of fruit and vegetable carvings done by Moo, a lovely Thai girl who works here as a chef. The carvings feature a watermelon, a paw-paw, a pumpkin, and two turnips.

There are alwaysdplenty of island pies entered.

I love this array of dried fruit preserves.

The freshly baked homemade breads looked very tempting!

I always enjoy the children's entries, especially the art.

Now these two displays, the roosters above, and the colourful circles below, would lend themselves to being printed onto fabric!

Charles entered three really large yams, but someone else's were even bigger! It is always good to have some competition!

Traditional Norfolk plaited hats are getting better each year. The addition of colour adds such stylish variety and flair.

A very tempting and colourful salad!

Just loved this arrangement of gourds!

When you come up close to the frame on the right, you discover it is nothing more than a collection of 'flotsam and jetsam' (mainly plastic rubbish) that has been washed up on the beach, and artfully arranged!


Kaye's wonderful vertical arrangement, displayed on a specially made Guava easel.

SHOW DAY 1- BEHIND THE SCENES

The girls get the horses ready at the stables. It has been an early start.

All ready to set off for the Showgrounds.

The night before they had been polishing their gear. Here Anna and Sarah are decorating bridles.
Quite a few jodphurs and jeans have been going through the wash.

Early in the morning, people start turning up at the Hall with their entries.

Annette and Vuta set up a station where they are going to take people's blood pressure as a public service.

The stewards arrange the exhibits.

An entry in the Cut flower section gets a last minute trim.

The stewards on the Cooking section share a joke with an entrant.

Rotary sets up the Barbecue area.

People are unloading all sorts of exhibits from their cars.

The Lions Club are setting up their ever popular Merry-Go-Round.

Judging gets underway in the Needlework section.

Jack has a sneak preview in the Hall before he starts his duties in the Showring.

The Cooking judges have a busy task - this is a very popular section.

At least the Fruit and Vegetable judges don't have to taste everything!

There is a tea and coffee station where the judges and stewards can take some refreshments while they confer.

The season has not been the best for Cut Flowers this year - but what was entered still made a lovely display.

The preserves section was well-entered.

Bernie also had a sneak preview of the displays in the Hall.

Show President David says everything is ready to go!

The Official Opening on the steps of Rawson Hall.

The activity outside is well and truly underway.

In my next postings, I will show you some of the exhibits and the other activities!

MORE SPRING FAIR

As promised, here are a few pictures of some of the things I had on my stall at the Spring Fair.

Here is the car loaded up. It doesn't look much, but it took up a lot of table space when I set it out!Some of my Christmas stockings.Bottlle carrier bags - oops! Picture is not very clear!

The white lace collage bags are much admired, but I may need to dye them if I am to sell them. White would probably only be suitable for a bride.

You saw these little needlebooks before when I had just finished making them. These are little silk drawstring bags, with ribbon embroidery. The one on the left is fine muslin. with shadow embroidery.

These felt balls were popular. I suggested they would make good toys for pets and children, or pincushions. One customer thought they would also be good for people to exercise their hand and finger muscles, especially after a stroke.

Some of my colourful funky Christmas stockings.

These bags were made using my lace collage technique.

Patchwork cushions using rose prints and doileys. I got an order for a couple in blue.

More of my bags, pouches and spectacle cases.

Bookmarks, with a couple of little patchwork bags to the right.

The "sugar-frosted fruits." I have more of these in the pipeline for Christmas!!

Some little patchwork tissue purses.

More stockings!

Spectacle cases.

Little felt hearts. I am also thinking about more of these for Christmas.

Still more bags and purses.

I am planning some more of these "Rose" patchwork bags in smaller sizes.

The felt pincushion apples sold quickly.

Still more bags, using colourful prints.

Wool potholders. kitchen hand towels, and in the background, some of Annette's soaps which I placed in cotton organdy bags. (The bags were made from a couple of cotton organdie curtains I bought at the Op Shop.I decorated them with transfers and lace appliques.)

I really went to town on making marmalade this year.

A range of chocolates - hazelnut truffles, choc-coated ginger, and Guava jelly. I made the fudge at the last minute, and should have made more!!