Kerrie Brill and Zoi McMaster want to make the 100th Griffith Show the best ever. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Griffith Show Society Inc secretary Kerrie Brill has been to each and every show over the past 62 years.
“I love shows, and I have ever since I was a child. I’ve been the secretary of the organising committee for most of the past 25 years,” she said.
Mrs Brill is backed by a small but dedicated group of volunteers who want to make the 100th show at the Griffith Showgrounds over this October long weekend the best ever.
The first Griffith Show was held in 1919, but this year will be the third attempt at the centenary event, after the 2020 and 2021 shows were cancelled due to COVID-19.
According to committee member Zoi McMaster, a lot has changed over the show’s 10-decade history.
“In the early days, shows were very much for farmers. For example, if you were a cattle farmer in Darlington Point you wouldn’t know about the quality of cattle in Yenda. The shows helped bring everyone together.”
Ms McMaster said previous shows included events that would not be considered acceptable today.
Miss Showgirl 1966 Pat Cashmere (far left). Photo: Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society Inc.
“At the old shows, they used to have boxing tents. People would be able to walk in and fight someone they’d just met.”
Mrs Brill said shows used to be held on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with kids getting the day off school to attend midweek.
“Now the shows are much more of a family event, with so much to do for the children … it works really well being a one-day show [on the Sunday].”
To entertain families, show organisers have secured the services of Aussie FMX, a freestyle motocross production that performs a range of daredevil stunts, and Will Sanchez, a professional breakdancer from New York.
“We’ll also have a heap of competitions, such as cutest pet and scruffiest dog. People can just bring their pet in and enter on the day,” Ms McMaster said.
“But we are also going digital for the first time. You can buy tickets and enter competitions online.”
Mrs Brill and Ms McMaster have been spending many hours preparing for the show, accompanied by Zoi’s son Walter, aged 18 months, and Kerrie’s grandson Flynn, 11 weeks.
Walter snoops into secret women’s business. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
“A lot of people don’t realise this is a volunteer-run thing. We are working all year to make it happen,” Ms McMaster said.
“Walter is our youngest volunteer,” she joked.
“But we really need others to keep this great tradition going. If you’d like to volunteer, we’d love to hear from you.”
The committee would also like to hear from prospective Griffith showgirls, who can now compete for the new, more politically correct title of the Sydney Royal Young Woman of the Year. Both prospective volunteers and women aged between 18 and 26 who want to be considered ambassadors of the region are urged to contact show organisers via their Facebook page.
The 100th Griffith Show will be held on Sunday, 2 October, 2022, at the Griffith Showground.
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