“While I’ve done other things, I’ve always maintained that connection with the agricultural side of things”
“It’s in my blood” is bandied about a lot but it’s entirely accurate in the case of Ann Keys and farming. The Berwick resident spoke to CASEY NEILL about her decades-long connection to the Dandenong Show in the lead-up to this year’s event.
The Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s first president was William Keys.
His great, great, granddaughter Ann Keys is continuing the family’s involvement in the Dandenong Show, and in the agricultural and horticultural industry more generally.
Ann has served in the animal nursery at the annual two-day event for more than 20 years and is looking forward to getting back in the pavilion on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November.
“Because the family’s always been part of the show, I’ve liked to continue that,” she said.
Ms Keys explained that in May 1871, Dunbar’s Hotel in Dandenong’s main street hosted a meeting to discuss launching an agricultural show for the region.
The Dandenong and South Bourke Agricultural Association launched three days later at a public meeting at Dandenong Market and the first show was held on the site in March of the following year.
The market was then bounded by Foster, Thomas, Mason and Walker streets.
The initial show had competitions in 54 sections and received 301 entries.
William drowned just months later while trying to save cattle from floodwater in Bangholme.
Ann said that John Keys came on board in his place, and that about 11 other members of the Keys family have since served as show president.
“About eight or nine are life members,” she said.
“They were great community people.
“Agricultural shows in those days were a big part of the community.
“Here in Berwick, once upon a time the Berwick Show was the big event of the year.
“Now it’s just one of umpteen.”
Ann said the family was known for breeding Ayrshire dairy cattle.
Her father was Harold Keys, her grandfather was George and her great grandfather was Thomas.
“They were all involved in farming in the Dandenong area, mostly with cattle,” she said.
Ann has helped out at the Melbourne and Pakenham shows over the years, but it’s Dandy that has her heart.
Another Keys descendent, Rob Beauman, passed on responsibility for the animal nursery to Ann.
She said it gave children the chance to meet animals they might only have otherwise seen on television.
“When they see them in real life it’s lovely to be with them all,” she said.
“They probably haven’t even got a cat or a dog.”
But the show gives them the chance to get up close and personal with calves, baby goats, lambs, ducks and guinea pigs in the walk-in area.
There are hens, alpaca, sheep, goats and cattle in the farmyard section, and an enclosed glass cabinet with day-old chicks inside.
Ann watches parents teaching their children about the animals. They feed them, pat them and play with them.
“It’s just a lovely area of the show to be involved in,” she said.
“I think shows are really important because we’re such an urban society nowadays.
“Children and adults have no idea where the products they eat and drink come from.
“It’s really important to maintain that agricultural side of our lifestyle.
“Shows are not just about show bags and food and fairy floss and the rides.”
And Ann should know. Agriculture and horticulture has been the family trade for generations.
“I lived in Narre Warren half my life,” she said.
“I moved to Berwick about 35 years ago.
“We had dairy farms at Narre Warren. My grandfather had dairy farms.
“It was in my blood.
“While I’ve done other things, I’ve always maintained that connection with the agricultural side of things.”
Today she works on an acre and three quarters that overlooks the bay to one side and the hills to the other.
Ann said it used to be a big tree farm. Today it’s the headquarters for the Rocket Pot.
Ann explained that Peter Lawton had a nursery down the hill.
He got the Rocket Pot idea from a product in the US and designed one that was “even more advantageous”.
That was about 20 years ago, and Ann has been involved for the past 16.
The pots come in three parts – the wall, the base and the pin that holds them together.
The wall and base are filled with holes for roots to grow through. It’s known as 3D air root pruning.
The pots are easy to reuse and easy to water and are used in propagation.
“It creates a very healthy root system,” Ann said.
“We sell them to wholesale nurseries all around Australia.
“We get inquiries from all over the world.”
The wall and stick are made in China and the bases are manufactured in Hastings.
“I look after all the orders and things like that,” Ann said.
“We do a little bit of research and development out in the nursery.”
Ann always looks forward to the Dandenong Show.
“It struggles a bit these days,” she said.
“Once upon a time it was the only event in the district.
“It was a great social event as much as anything else.
“Now there’s a lot of competing entertainment.
“Each one takes from every other event.
“There are only so many entertainment dollars.”
To help stretch those dollars, the show has halved ticket prices this year.
Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for kids aged six to 16 years and free for children aged five years and under.
Family show tickets for two adults and up to four children are available via pre-purchase for $25.
Visit dandyshow.com.au/tickets.
