By Rebecca Skilton
The future of the Parklea Pakenham Show remains in excellent health with the next generation of agriculture and horticulture leaders taking charge at this year’s 2017 Pakenham Show.
With over 12 sections available for volunteers to be involved in on Sunday 18 March, the Pakenham show encourages members of the community to showcase their talents and abilities to like-minded people, while also working to keep Pakenham linked to its farming and agriculture past.
But as show president Geoff Young stated, for a handful of young people, the show is an opportunity to not only demonstrate their talents, but to step up and spearhead the new generation of agriculture and horticulture leaders.
“It’s good to see young people getting involved in their areas,” Geoff said. “There are so many areas young people can get involved in and we encourage and support them to come to the show to get something started.”
Proving to be a popular agriculture event among showing youths, the sheep division of this year’s show will be led by superintendents Tessa Runting and Emma Davies. Also lending a helping hand in the sheep division will be fellow volunteer and competitor, 20-year-old Indi Skehan.
“I am involved with the show because I used to exhibit my school’s Corriedale sheep at the Pakenham show,” 18-year-old Tessa Runting explained. “(That was) before the sheep section was dropped after moving to the new show venue, and I wanted to bring the sheep back to the show, as it was always such a great asset to the event. (I was) asked if I’d be interested in being a sheep superintendent, and here we are!”
While 2017 will be Tessa’s second year running the ‘new and improved sheep section’, this year’s show will see the addition of a number of new classes; with the girls hoping to have more than 100 stud sheep exhibited across 10 different breeds.
“A lot of preparation and organisation goes into getting the sheep section ready,” Tessa explained.
“But it is so worth it!”
Young Pakenham designer Meaghan Venables will also make her own impression on the show, with the fashionista working hard to develop the Make and Wear fashion competition.
“I’ve developed a new section called ‘Make and Wear,” Meaghan explained. “Basically, it’s a section for the fashionistas of the community to showcase their abilities and their style … it’s for all ages and capabilities. I’ll be judging the section, (but) I’m not a harsh judge!”
Having been involved with the Pakenham show since her days as a Scout, Meaghan elected to continue helping with the show, believing it was her duty to give back to the show, give thanks and help her area of interest run a little bit better.
“There are three sections in Make and Wear.” Meaghan said. “Garments, which are things like dresses and coats, and everyday wear. Accessories, which include handbags backpack clutches, even shoes. Then there’s the millinery section which is fantastic, because it shows a different side of fashion that people don’t know much about, like hats and nice headpieces.”
Over within the poultry and hoof and hook competitions, 18-year-old Giorgi Shanae will appear alongside mentor Roger Leamon, joining the committee following her position as the 2015 Pakenham Show Rural Ambassador.
“I have an interest in Beef Cattle and Roger, one of the older blokes on the committee, has been my mentor for the hoof and hook competition, so I help him out with that,” Giorgi explained. “He also does the chooks at the main show – I give him a hand with that as well.”
However for Giorgi, while the day is a chance to mingle among competitors and showgoers, it also proves as an excellent opportunity for education among the show’s suburban residents.
“I quite enjoy listening to people and what they’ve done throughout their life,” Giorgi said.
“I myself have an interest in (agriculture and horticulture), so it’s always good to see what else is out there.”
“For places like Pakenham that is turning into a suburban area, it’s good for people to have an idea about what else is out there,” Giorgi explained. “It’s good for them to see the agricultural side of life and help the little ones – and the big ones – to understand and get some experience as well.”
Junior vice-president of the show, Catherine Ritchie will also appear on the day, with the 21-year-old running the show’s personality competition.
“In 2013, I represented the Pakenham show and won the Victorian Junior ambassador,” Catherine explained. “I (now) run the Pakenham Show Facebook and help run the show, children’s art and craft section, run the show personality competition and do the show ambassadors.”
While Catherine won’t be competing in any of the show’s events, for the former Junior Ambassador, the show day is an opportunity to enjoy watching the Pakenham community come together and enjoy a day with their families.
“The Pakenham show is an opportunity for the community to come together,” Catherine said. “(People can) be involved in their community and see what our great show has to offer.”
Over within the pavilion, 36-year-old horticulturist, Bree Ure of Pakenham Produce and Saddlery will be spending her first year as a show committee member assisting where needed, offering her time and resources to the same show she attended as a young girl.
“I’ve always been involved with shows since I was little,” Bree explained. “I used to compete in the pavilion section (and) I always did the horse riding.”
While Bree, a self-admitted art lover and keen gardener will be judging the bra competition to raise money for breast cancer, Officer South resident Christine Young will appear wherever she’s needed, having first joined the committee after being selected as Show Ambassador several years ago.
“Anyone can become a member of the organisation,” Christine said. “I felt that volunteering my time with the show was a valuable way I could give back to my community.”
In keeping with the true message behind the Pakenham show, Christine remains a member of the show committee in order to ensure the show’s success for generations to come; encouraging those who enjoy the benefits of the event to become involved.
“We need passionate volunteers otherwise events like the show will cease to exist,” Christine said. “I think when there are people who are passionate about a particular organisation, event or charity, (it’s) really inspirational for those around them and can rub off on them and gain momentum. But when you lose that momentum, it becomes a real struggle and chore.”
The Parklea Pakenham Show will take place at P.B Ronald Reserve in Pakenham on Saturday 18 March, with free entry available to spectators. To find out more, visit www.pakenhamshow.org.au.
