THE Ararat community has rallied around the city’s annual show, sparing it from the chopping block.
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An emergency meeting at Ararat’s visitor information centre on Tuesday night called on more volunteers to secure this year’s event.
Ararat Mayor Gwenda Allgood, also a show society life member, called the meeting after fears for the show’s survival.
Cr Allgood said she was grateful to see the community show their support for the show.
She said 19 people attended the meeting and five were apologies.
“People travelled from Kaniva, Pomonal, Great Western and other areas for the show’s emergency meeting,” Cr Allgood said.
“The show committee will meet next Wednesday to overturn (their previous) decision to cancel the show.”
Cr Allgood said she had queried whether enough people were interested in the show, into the future.
“The answer is yes, there is,” she said.
The Ararat Show has traditionally fallen on the last Sunday in October.
It started more than 150 years ago.
“The more volunteers we have, the more we can do at the show ,” Cr Allgood said.
“People who were at the meeting said they didn’t know where and how to meet for the show committee.
“It’s something we need to address, perhaps with more advertising about show meetings.”
Cr Allgood said the annual event celebrated the great things about Ararat.
“We are going back to the basics with rebuilding the show,” she said.
Cr Allgood said the show committee members wanted to celebrate Ararat’s agriculture industry with more farm animals at the show – particularly more cattle and poultry.
“One person at the meeting also mentioned having cooking at the show, where we could have a little bit of MasterChef at the event,” she said. “We want more free things for kids at the show.
“Shows are about families and families are conscious about money.
“It’s currently $25 for a family to attend the show.
“We will reassess the cost and try to lower it.”
Cr Allgood said secondary school students expressed their interest in the show.
She said the committee wanted to have younger people involved.
“I am very confident there will be a lot of people interested in the show,” Cr Allgood said.
