IT'S SHOWGIRLS, it's showbags, it's sideshow alley, it's a showcase of our rural community and it's attracted the Australian Demolition Derby Championships.
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It's our Taree Show and it's on today, tomorrow and Sunday.
Months of hard work by Taree Show Society has realised a super program for the 135th annual show and the community is now urged to come and experience the popular agricultural show.
Gates opened this morning at 8am but it is the Saturday and Sunday program that will hopefully draw thousands of people from all over the Manning Valley and surrounding regions.
The pavilions will be full of competition flowers, fruit and vegetables, cooking, needlework and craft. Booklovers will also be able to find a fabulous read at the Taree North Rotary Club book stall.
The showground will be alive with livestock as horses, heifers, sheep, poultry, beef cattle and reptiles feature in various competition events and shows.
Highlights of the Saturday program include the official show opening by FMX Mini Motocross Champion, BJ Kelly. He has toured with P!nk and the Heart & Huntington Australian Motocross Tour and will be part of a spectacular mini motocross display.
The 2013 Miss Taree Showgirl will also be announced on Saturday afternoon. This year three showgirls will compete for the title and all have different motives for entering the competition and all are keen to win.
Amie Brown enjoyed the experience of the 2012 contest so much that she decided to again vie for the title.
She confesses that she's "always been a rural girl," and sees the competition as being "not all about winning, it's about being yourself and being confident."
"I've always believed in following your dreams and it's amazing what can be done in the local community," Amie said.
Agricultural shows evoke strong childhood memories in showgirl entrant, Brooke Yarnold. The joy of playing in sawdust and camping in the cattle shed with cows, leading cattle in the ring, and feelings of pride that come with knowing her mum, Karen Polson and aunties, Julie and Sue Polson, have participated in previous Miss Taree Showgirl competitions.
This year Brooke will add another chapter to her family' s involvement in the Taree Show with her decision to enter the showgirl competition. Brooke hopes her decision to contest the title will help her to promote and "emphasise the importance of the rural sector within our region".
The challenge of trying "something different and meeting new people", prompted Rowena Avent to vie for the showgirl title. At 24-years-of-age Rowena decided it was time to "get more involved in community spirit" and is keen to be given the opportunity to represent the Manning Valley. The winner will receive $300 and the opportunity to represent the region at the zone finals and possibly, the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Night-time show-goers on Saturday will be treated to V8 racing car and FMX mini motocross displays in the main ring and an 8pm fireworks spectacular by Ka-boom Fireworks.
The first 50 children through the showground gates on Sunday will get a free ticket to sideshow alley.
Early punters will also get to see the dog show get underway and equestrian ring events, which include showjumping and dressage. If snakes are more to your liking then visit the Reptile World Display from 10am.
Metal beasts are set to roar into life around 2.30pm with the Australian Demolition Derby Championships and inaugural Ladies' Demolition Derby. The explosive crunch of metal on metal, roaring engines, the acrid aroma of burnt tyres and dust - that is the heady combination set for Taree Showground on Sunday afternoon.
There will be nothing lady-like about the Ladies' Demolition Derby and it will be a teaser for the main event which will see about 45 cars drive into the ring to smash, bash and crash into each other for a chance to secure the title of Australian Demolition Derby Champion. The drivers will be competing for a chunk of the $45000 prizemoney pool and the event has attracted competitors from Sydney, Wollongong, Dubbo, Tamworth, Cessnock and Newcastle. The winner will take home $3000, second gets $1000 and third, $500.
Taree Show Society is keen for the community to support its local show and is hoping to beat last year's attendance figures and gatetakings. A full show program liftout was published in The Manning River Times on Wednesday, October 9. For further information visit www.tareeshow.org
