Mabel Rogers, 9 (left) and Rory Vandersmagt, 8, both from Kyneton, were among the first in the pavilion on Friday night and squealed with joy to discover they'd won second place with their first-ever entry, in decorated cup cakes. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
The 2018 Kyneton Show made history when the pavilion opened for the first time on the Friday night.
Kyneton Agricultural Society president Michael O’Sullivan said it was a real hit.
“It did mean bringing forward everything with entries closing a day earlier but people really embraced it and there was no resistance to it,” he said.
“We have been bringing it forward over the years. The pavilion never used to open until lunchtime on the Saturday and everyone was sweating on it opening.”
He said there had been concerns the flowers would lose bloom quality by coming in on Friday morning rather than Saturday morning but they still looked close to 100 per cent.
“It’s set in concrete now. We have made the move and it was successful and the community really embraced the change.
He said it gave more people the chance to see the huge effort by everyone who enters – and from the volunteers who work day and night to have the pavilion ready with more than 2250 entries to judge and display, including a fruit cake mailed from Queensland.
Standout exhibits included a two-metre-long Star Wars scene made of LEGO.
The salami class was popular and there were so many artichokes in ‘any other vegetable’, they’ll have their own category next year.
Utes were also back in force on the Friday night with local acts on stage and big crowds for the fireworks.
Numbers were up on both days despite a windy Saturday with the crazy bikes and free activity areas busy all day.
“It was just chock a block with people all around the show,” Michael said.
“I was talking to a little boy who’d just had a camel ride and he was so excited he could hardly stand still and then he ran off to the next thing and that was repeated all over the place.”
Fergus, Stacy and Poppy celebrate their triumph in the farm produce section, winning best exhibit with a giant cabbage. Photo: Raina Kilner. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
Make your own tractor in the Home Hardware Farm Workshop. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
Happiness is a hammer and a screwdriver to make your own invention to take home in The Farm Workshop. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
Many hours went into turning these young Bendigo riders into mermaids on their seahorse in the popular fancy dress competition. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
The team from Mount Macedon’s Waterford Charolais stud celebrate winning Supreme Exhibit in the cattle competition. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
Mount Macedon’s Waterford Charolais stud won Supreme Exhibit in the cattle competition, following their supreme exhibit rosette in the Charolais competition at the Royal Melbourne Show. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
The oval was full of action in the horse competition. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
The pavilion was busy both days. Photo: Nicole Laity
Elly Kinross, 3, from Kyneton was among those leaping through the country parkour obstacle course. Photo: Charlie Kinross
Levi, Asher and Ned with Cotton Ying Yang and Christmas Guinea Pig. Photo: Sarah Turner
Lanie, Bonny, Bailey and Jackie enjoying all the fun of the Friday night carnival. Photo: Sarah Turner
Saturday’s windy weather didn’t ruffle the pampered pooches in the dog show. Photo: Raina Kilner
Is this the future of the cattle industry? There was not a bloke in sight in the Champion Herdsman, junior cattle handling or junior judging competitions. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
Kyneton’s Wayne Gray took out the coveted Champion Rose prize donated by life member Rita O’Sullivan. Photo: Bernadette Nunn
