By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA residents have been waiting for more than a year to celebrate the successful de-amalgamation from Sunshine Coast Council last year, but they have so far been without a party.
Fortunately the Noosa Country Show in Pomona will soon be here to save the day after being named the host of the de-amalgamation party on 12 and 13 September.
The story behind the Noosa Country Show is one of rich history, a connection with Noosa’s country roots, and the show is now in it’s 105th year at Exhibition Street.
To discover more, Noosa Today took time out to ask some questions of Noosa Show Society vice president Perene Barker.
What is the show theme this year… and how did it come about?
I was thinking about a theme for the show when this current committee took over the reins at the end of March this year and thought of how much the local community fought for the de-amalgamation and how there had not been any celebration of such since it came in action. So I ran it past Cr Bob Abbot… he had said to me how many people had put it to him to have such an event, but he was not willing to put the idea forward as council was in no way in a position to spend funds on a party. So I said to Bob, how about we make the show the party? And he replied, good idea! So, this year the theme for the show is ‘A Celebration of Noosa Shire’ as being a de-amalgamation party. So welcome back Noosa Shire and the party is on!
Could you tell us why the Noosa Country Show takes place in Pomona?
People often ask me this – the answer is really quite simple – the town of Noosa was originally Pomona and not Noosa Heads or Noosaville. The business hub was at Pomona and so too was the council. In fact, the old council chambers is the Pomona Museum today. Pomona (goddess’ name for fruit) was chosen as the place to be the hub as it is situated in the middle of the Noosa shire. The dynamics of the area has changed and the society is not in a position to sell up and move and really does not want to, we like it here where it’s authentic.
What are your hopes and dreams for the show?
I have many hopes and dreams for the Noosa Country Show and the Pomona Showgrounds. First off was to get the show up and going and give it a kick. I am very happy and contented that in such a short time, the wonderful team that is the Noosa Show Society is presenting such a fantastic and full show. We aim to keep the ante up and are already talking about next year’s show. I would still like to get more of the community involved such as all the sporting and community clubs. The Noosa Shire has such a diverse array of products and services to show off and the show is a great way to do it and unite the community as a whole.
The showgrounds is a community asset, purposely built for the community though it is privately owned by the Show Society. The intention was to add and upgrade facilities to accommodate more attractions and events. The showgrounds is currently the home of the Pomona Tennis Club, Pomona Squash Club, Pomona Pony Club, Sunshine Coast Mower Racing Club and the Pomona Caravan Park.
Tell us some more about the future of the show?
We are currently upgrading for touring caravans and caravan clubs and we are hoping to get an undercover arena built in the near future, for not only the show but for Pony Club and equestrian events. In that package would also be facilities for the show cattle, so they are out of the weather and some stables for horses. The showgrounds is a stopover point on the Noosa Trail Network and needs safe overnight accommodation for horses.
My Mother and I are also offering the show society her house, which started its life as the Coolum School House, was moved to the beach side of Hastings Street and then to where it is now at Tewantin. The house will be moved to the showgrounds for new offices and a member’s area for meetings and gatherings. It will be a nice place to take people that we invite to the show etc. At the moment the office is a store room with us falling over each other. Also the house will live on at the showgrounds.
How are younger people getting involved?
“Next Gen” (Next Generation) is a program started a couple of years ago through the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies (QCAS), which run the EKKA, and the Noosa Show Society. It now has some great younger members who have represented us previously, via the Showgirl and Rural Ambassador competition, who are going to start the program up. They are inviting the younger generation to get involved with the show and bring their ideas with them. It is a great way to learn all aspects of the show, get knowledge on how to organise events, office procedures, grounds management, become community minded and meet people from all sorts of aspects and fields. There are also scholarships on offer.
To find out more about the show, or to get involved, phone (07) 5485 2331.
