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Denver-Mall.Com
Press Release : Article : Denver Colorado
On the Road - The Sydney Royal Easter Show
by Bev Saidel
26 April 2009
If the words stock show, county fair or state fair conjure up wonderful
images of blue ribbons, cotton candy and carnival rides, then the Royal
Sydney Easter Show is the event for you. Part state fair, part stock
show, this huge 14-day event held around the Easter School holiday, has
something for everyone and “celebrates everything Australian from bush
heritage to the latest in entertainment.” And they aren’t kidding when
they say that. This is a massive event that spills over the 30-hectare
or 74.13 acre Sydney Show grounds, which is the area that was built to
house the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Like many similar events that are held around the world, the Sydney Royal
Easter Show is a place where jams and pies are judged along with quilts and
rabbits and sheep and horses and cattle. Over 15,000 competitors cross
fingers hoping they will win the prestigious Sydney Royal Blue Ribbon, which
is greatly coveted. There are extreme action performances featuring
dare-devil stunt drivers and feats of shock and awe as man and machine
hurtle up a ramp and across a void while contorting their bodies over,
behind, above and in one case, in front of their specialized motor cycles.
There’s a wood chopping event that pits the best Aussies against the best
Kiwis and an Australian district diorama competition where dioramas are
built using only produce from their district to depict their scene. The
entertainment includes a petting zoo, side shows and music and farming
demonstrations. In other words this is a “full on” event that is sure to
have something for everyone.
But there are also some things that are unique to this event. Say the words
“show bag” to anyone in Australia and I reckon their eyes will light up and
there’ll be a story to tell. Show bags are goody bags for lack of a better
description. They are branded bags available for purchase that are full of a
variety of items that cost less then the total of the items inside. For
example, if you decided to purchase the Coca Cola Cooler bag show bag, you
would receive a coca-cola cooler, trucker cap, 3-D plastic cup, yo-yo,
rubber key ring, set of 2 drinking glasses, a of bottle of coke and a bottle
of coke zero. Show bag price - $25.00, stated value - $93.00. The Cadbury
show bags, of which there are ten different kinds, are filled with a variety
of chocolate, dependent upon which is your favorite... be it Big Bites,
Dairy Milk, Triple Treat, Indulgence or well... you get the idea. And no one
is left out because there really is a show bag for everyone regardless of
whether you like Barbie, Bart Simpson, Bob the Builder, The Hulk, The
Incredibles, or Pirates -- a controversial favorite this year. Show bags
range in price from $4 - $25 dollars and once you enter the show bag
building, (yes there is an entire building dedicated to show bags) the urge
to get out your money is palpable. There are licorice show bags, magic
tricks show bags, mega western show bags and X-box show bags and there is
even a Star Wars Clone Wars show bag, which contained a Star Wars backpack,
cooler bag, cap, pencil case, cup, glow stickers and a money tin, just in
case Darth Vader left his at home.
And then there’s the The Grand Parade. The Grand Parade we are told, is
unique in the world. It showcases Australia’s best graziers, farmers and
equestrians in one location and is the only event that brings cattle, bulls,
horses, ponies, sheep and equestrians into an arena oval all at the same
time. The riders circle anti-clockwise in the center creating two inner
circles while tenders round the oval with their various livestock. The scene
is daunting. The announcers warn the audience to be quiet -- “No applause
please.” This is so that the livestock is not startled. While one or two
animals always escape their minders, they are always rounded up and brought
back to their place in line to no applause. The entire group is then asked
to stand stock-still for one minute. And somehow they do. This is an amazing
feat when you consider that livestock animals do not like to be still,
especially when other animals are around.
As in most events of this type there is plenty to see and do and one would
actually be hard pressed to see everything in one day. There’s the midway
where you can try your hand at fishing for prizes or going on rides that
will make you wonder why you ate that Dagwood dog, a deep fried,
flour-encased sausage, similar to a corn dog, but without the cornmeal.
There are various shows and competitions such as the racing and diving pigs,
which proved to be so popular that you had to queue up 45 minutes prior to
the show to get a seat! There is chook (chicken) washing and sheep shearing
and a Best In Show event for dogs which is as prestigious as any similar
event in the world.
And as in many events of this type, there are also lots of ways to spend
your money. Sure there are show bags, but my favorites show bags were those
found in the Woolworth’s Fresh Food Dome. Not only did this building contain
the amazing state dioramas, it also contained lots of food exhibitors.
Samples of tea and fudge and salmon jerky and coffee and ice cream and
licorice and cheese and chips and honey -- all there for the tasting. These
exhibitors wisely packaged their items in “show bags” that contained more
items than the cost of the actual bag. And really now, who can resist a
bargain like that?
We closed the day by attending “The Story of Blue” which was held in the NAB
arena oval, after all of the animal poo from the Grand Parade had been
cleaned up. The story is about a stumpy-tailed cattle dog named Blue who
gets lost in the bush. In his quest to re-unite with his family Blue meets
various outback characters and animals who help him find his way home. The
story is acted out in the arena with narration and lighting effects and
includes Australian singer/songwriter, John Williamson who wrote and sang
“True Blue” which talks about a changing way of life for stockmen:
Hey True Blue
Give it to me straight
Face to face
Are you really disappearing
Just another dying race
Hey True Blue
True Blue
Is it me and you
Is it Mum and Dad
Is it a cockatoo
Is it standing by your mate
When he’s in a fight
Or will she be right
True Blue
At the end, Blue is happily united with his family and goes home, as did I
after a very, very full day.
Bev Saidel
26 April 2009
Sydney Australia
Bev Saidel is a free-lance writer and photographer who can be reached at:
saico1@hotmail.com
All content copyrighted by Beverly A. Saidel
Coca-Cola show bag photo courtesy Sydney Royal Easter Show
Lyrics to True Blue courtesy Sydney Royal Easter Show
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