www.LocalPaper.com.au
The Local Paper - Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - Page 13
Local History
Yea’s first Show was in 1909 ■ The first official Yea Show was held on November 18, 1909 - some 110 years ago. The Yea Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Association (Show Society) notes that local residents had participated in 18 shows and exhibitions before the first AP&H Show in 1909. “In 1874 the Yea & Alexandra Pastoral and Agricultural [Association] was formed with a predominance of Yea citizens on the committee but 17 of these early exhibitions were held at Alexandra and only one at Yea,” notes the Show Society. “The first proposed Show in 1874, to be held in Yea, was nearly postponed because of a general election and the prevalence of a Diphtheria epidemic in the district at that time.” The Yea Show website continues the story: “In 1909 a public meeting was called in Yea for the purpose of forming a committee to stage an agricultural show. “Seventy people attended the meeting on September 30, 1909, and this energetic committee held their first Yea Show on November 18, 1909, a magnificent effort in such a short timeframe, not only to organise the competitions but to build the infrastructure needed to hold the livestock and other exhibits. “The first Show was held on a Thursday afternoon and evening and “although there was still a lot of work to do on show morning, a scene of animation was evident everywhere. “Visitors flooded in from neighbouring towns with special trains running from Seymour, Alexandra and Mansfield. The crowd was largest at 4pm and gate receipts realised a very favourable £80.” “For the second show in 1910 a record 600 people came down from Mansfield by special train with their livestock also on board and that town staged ‘a marvellous exhibition’. “In 1911 a Dairy Herd competition was introduced which ran for many years reflecting the large dairy industry in the district at that time with the Yea & Mansfield Dairy Factory, still a prominent building in the town exporting butter throughout Australia and to the ‘Mother Country’. “In later years the Dalgety Beef Herd competition reflected the trend towards Beef rather than Dairy herds and was highly contested locally with several of our local properties winning the state finals. “The 1915 Show was pronounced a great success despite the adverse conditions produced by the war and the prolonged drought and a profit of £5 was made after donating £20 to the patriotic fund. “Over the years of WWI the Yea Show committee continued to donate the bulk of monies raised to various war effort causes such as the Lady Stanley Fund for Wounded and Disabled Soldiers. “The Yea Chronicle reported record entries and that “the main Pavilion was a big attraction for the ladies for in it was exhibited all that is dear to the feminine heart”. “The Yea Show has continued down through the years despite battling the Depression, adverse weather conditions and the shortage of labour during the war years. “The Show was cancelled for a few years during the Second World War and again in 1981 because of a local bushfire and in 2011 all horse
visitors, stock owners, and the public generally, whose opinion was that the ground was an ideal spot for a show. “The exhibits, generally, were of a high order. In draught stock some exceptionally fine horses were exhibited. “The brood mares and foals showed plenty of breeding. “Mansfield supplied the bulk of the exhibits. “The spring cart horses were a good lot, but the Killingworth horse that deservedly won the first prize, stood out conspicuously. “Blood stock was not too well represented, and there is plenty of room for improvement next year. “A two year old filly by Hymettus, the property of Mr J. Rice, showed a lot of breeding, and one shown by Mr J. C. Robertson also attracted attention.”
Show Night Concert
● Ironbark Clydesdales in the 2018 Yea Show Grand Parade. Photo: Ash Long. events in the arena were abandoned cooking, photography and country Bunch wild flowers, H. Fox, 2. Gent's with the arena underwater because excellence in a picturesque surround- button hole, Mrs Perry, 1. Floral deof torrential rain in the early hours. ing.” sign, Mrs. Perry, 1. Lady's spray, Mrs “Over the years the show has ★ Perry, 1. Best arranged. basket of continued to reflect the trends and The Alexandra newspaper (No- flowers, Mrs. Perry, 1. Cwt potatoes, fads in agriculture and home indus- vember 26, 1909) reported: W Creighton,. 1 and 2. Collection tries. “President C. Hamilton and his Potatoes, W. Creighton. Collection “A huge range of animals and pains taking secretary and commit- Fodder Plants, H. Fox; 1; 0. H. breeds have come and gone. The Yea tee are to be congratulated on the Buchholz, 2. 4lbs butter, Fox Bros; district was predominantly a dairy- great success that attended the hold- 3. Cream in pickle bottle, O. ing and wool and fat lamb district for ing of the first agricultural show in Buchholtz, 3. most of its early history but now beef Yea. ★ cattle, both stud and commercial, are “For a considerable time there has The Yea newspaper was effusive predominant and this is reflected in been a desire to form a society in in its praise: the cattle show at Yea being one of Yea, and although last week's effort “Naturally the chief topic of conthe best in the state. depended upon outside support, yet versation during the past week has “Horses have also always been a there were indications of greater been the show, w'hich, owing to the strong feature at Yea with many of things in the future. strong local support and unexpectour local riders among the top riders “Certainly a majority of the prize edly strong support from Seymour, in the state, including in show jump- money went outside, yet there were Mansfield, Alexandra, Kanumbra, ing which always had a strong fol- several of the residents who held and other parts, turned out a maglowing of the nation’s top show jump- more than their own against old ex- nificent success. ers. hibitors. “As we pointed out in our columns “Local show jumper Jim Slavin “This was particularly noticeable, at the very commencement, the succreated a record 6’1” height at Yea and there is no denying the fact that cess of agricultural shows depends and each year a special prize was next year greater things will result. upon such movements being wideoffered to beat that record but it was “A noticeable feature was the spread, and this proved the case with never equalled. large number of exhibitors and prize our local exhibition. “Side Show Alley has always takers from Alexandra and Mans“From almost every station from been an integral part of any agricul- field. Mansfield to Shepparton along the tural show and for many years was “Unselfish people were not slow main line exhibits were forwarded, one of the greatest attractions for all to acknowledge the great obligation and one has only to glance at the list ages. that the Yea society was under to these of prize winners to realise how grate“Who could forget the boxing two shires and it is safe to predict a ful we should be to those at a distents, the circus acts, the novelty more friendly feeling between the tance who assisted us to make our ‘freak’ shows, the spruikers on the two shires in the future. first show the brilliant success it unhigh platforms in front of the tents, “The following- are the prize-tak- doubtedly was. many a great performer in their own ers from the Alexandra shire: Buggy “A representative of a leading right, which gave the shows such a Pony, Fox Bros., Kanumbra, 1. Pony wool firm in Melbourne remarked great atmosphere? hack,- Il. Fox, 1. Pair ponies. Fox that he had attended many country “It has all changed now with the Bros., 1. Pair buggy horses, Tyson shows, but never had he attended one emphasis on “the bigger. the wilder, Creighton,: Single buggy horse from which he derived so much pleathe better” concept for rides and the Tyson Creighton;-1; Mrs Lauder; 2: sure. costs involved for these mega ma- Maiden hunters, T. Gartlan, 1. :Hunt“The ground, he admitted, was the chines preclude their attendance in ers, T. Gartlan, 2. High Jump, J. C. making of the show. small one-day shows with a result- Wightman, 2. Ayrshire. bull, 3yrs, A. “It was picturesquely situated, and ing fall in attendance among young E. Turner, 2. Ayrshire bull, 2rs, H. the shade trees undoubtedly put the people. Fox, 1. Ayrshire heifer, 2yrs, H. Fox, finishing touch to all. “The 2014 Centenary Show in- 2. Jersey bull, 3yrs, T.H. Hall, 1 and “To the forethought of the trustcluded a Friday evening Carnival champion. Jersey cow, 3 yrs, G. A. ees and secretary of the Recreation with a very successful fireworks dis- Payne, 1 and champion. Jersey heifer, Reserve, who, in the face of finanplay and so the evening Carnival 2yrs, G. A. Payne, 1 and champion. cial difficulties, laid out and planted now forms part of the festivities with Most profitable cow, A. W. Andrews, the reserve with trees in 1898, paa combined entry fee to both. 2. Yorkshire sow, any age, Fox Bros, trons of the first show owe a special “An enormous amount of effort 1;Gander and Goose, W. Creighton. debt of gratitude, and it must be very is put into organising the Show so 1. Brown Leghorns, H. V. Lade, 1. gratifying to them to hear such a chothat the public can celebrate the best Silver Wyondottes, H. V. Lade, 1. rus of praise as they have heard durin agriculture, horticulture, crafts, White Wyondottes, H. V. Lade, 1. ing the past week from distinguished
■ As far as is known, the concert, which passed off smoothly, will yield a profit of about £12 or £14, said a local press report on November 25, 1909. “Mr W. H. and Miss Taite were mainly instrumental in its organisation but in no less a degree is the credit which they earned, due to the performers as a whole. “The feature of the entertainment was the juvenile turns by Miss Taite's and Miss Roland's pupils. “The first was a song and floral march, She's a Lassie from Lancashire by the following :Misses Hunter, Gow (soloists) Kidd, McLeish, Tosh, Redpath, Stainsby. Gook, Buckland, Cosgrove, M. Smith, A. Smith, Logan, Coles, Borrie, and Downie. “The tin can band made its appearance at a later stage and to this somewhat novel accompaniment the following children sang Cupid is the Captain of the Army:- Misses Cosgrove (soloist), Stainsby, Buckland, M. Smith, A. Smith, Coles, Kidd, Hunter, Gow, McLeish, Tosh, Redpath, Gook, Downie and Borrie. Masters Buckland, Cosgrove, McIntosh, Hunter, Tosh and Teddy Morkbam. “The above item was a very entertaining one. “Some of Miss Roland's pupils were seen in a pretty rainbow ribbon dance, their names being: Misses Quinlan, Logan, Coles, R. Coles, Wightman, McLeish, Thomas, Cosgrove, A. Smith, I. Smith, Tosh, Gow and B. McLeish. “The following also contributed to the programme viz:Misses Fordyce, Daley, and Edes; Messrs Dunn, McConville, Edes, Templeton, Taite, and G. Templeton. “The latter is a brother of Mr T. H. Templeton, his recitations, especially the "Amateur Rider" were splendidly given, and roundly appauded. “Mr W. Taite's comic numbers were among the best received and most acceptable during the evening; “The lyric orchestra. conducted by Mr Stainsby, rendered valuable assistance.”