Margie Maccoll
Cameron Morris inherited his love of poultry and knowledge of fowl from his grandfather.
When his grandfather passed away last year, the Cooran local took over his Astralorps, adding them to his own breeds of Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes and at last weekend’s Noosa Country Show, he took over the role of steward, caring for the seven categories of poultry entered.
This year, Cameron’s four champion birds were show winners at Maleny, Nambour, Redcliffe and Mary Valley but he had none of his own birds entered at Noosa where the champion of the show was awarded to Lucy Roche’s Partridge Brahma rooster.
While Cameron, a third generation poultry farmer, was fortunate to have family to pass on their knowledge, the Noosa Country Show provided an opportunity for people across the shire to get closer to those with rural roots, an intention of the show and reflected in the it’s theme, where town meets country.
“We know there are so many young people, especially, who have had limited opportunities to learn about the agricultural and horticultural heritage of our community, to learn where their food comes from,“ society president Rob Graham said.
“At the show, they can be introduced to farm animals at the petting zoo, see the judging of stud beef, and look through the different flower, cookery, and craft displays.”
Among the craft exhibit was spinner and knitter Pam Walker who brought her spinning wheel to demonstrate to visitors the process of spinning the yarn which was shorn from her own alpacas and then knitted into a collection of hats.
For the past 15 years, Pam has been creating her hats, producing about 10 hats from the wool shorn from an adult alpaca, as well as knitting a range of colourful lambswool hats, all of which she sells through a craft shop at Kilcoy.
In the ring, the equestrian events dominated with the horsemanship described by Rob as world class.
A stand out performance came from one of the youngest riders, Bridie Raymont, who at only seven years of age and competing against adults in the open section, wowed the judges to win the Supreme Champion Rider award on her pony Nawarrah Park Belladonna (Bella).
Bridie, who has been riding since she was four years old, comes from a family of horse riders with her mother claiming her skill was “well and truly in her blood“.
There was a variety of events at the show for the whole family, like the traditional side show alley and Friday night fireworks, the wood chopping and the Honky Tonk Rodeo with a special guest appearance from internationally renowned horseman, Guy McLean.
And while the rain on Friday dampened conditions at the showgrounds, the sunshine on Saturday drew in a bumper crowd.
