After the sad news that the Benalla Show had to be cancelled as flood waters rose, organisers were ecstatic to bring one element back this week.
On Thursday, December 1, more than 800 dogs and their passionate owners flooded the Benalla Showgrounds, in a good way, for the Benalla Agricultural and Pastoral Society Dog Show.
With a morning and afternoon show, featuring 420 furry friends each, in seven categories, there was plenty to entertain visitors.
Benalla Agricultural and Pastoral Society committee member Julie Dickinson-Franks was in charge of setting up the dog show.
“As soon as the floods arrived we got straight on to Dogs Victoria and applied for postponement,” Ms Dickinson-Franks said.
“We managed to secure today. The Kyabram Dog Show managed to get yesterday, and Echuca the day before.”
Because of that, many competitors were finishing up a three-day tour of dog shows across regional Victoria.
Competitors came from across Australia.
“We’ve lost quite a few things in the flood, but we’re very happy to go ahead today,” Ms Dickinson-Franks said.
“My entire committee has come together beautifully, and we have excellent entries.
“We have 200 different breeds here today.
“And we have the most wonderful collection of homemade cakes for sale in the secretary’s office.
“The (dog) owners are very happy we didn’t cancel, as they would have lost their entry fees. But we’ve been able to put on a show and please everybody.”
The event included a van selling fairy floss, and another selling coffee.
The Benalla Lions Club was also on hand providing hot food.
Benalla A&P Society president Chris Ogden said it was important to involve community groups and vendors who lost income due to the Benalla Show being cancelled.
“We offered the local community groups, like Lions, the chance to come along,” Ms Ogden said.
“The competitors have been washed out of so many shows so we were pleased we could go ahead.
And we are very lucky to have the showgrounds. We had the sheds if it happened to rain, and the trees for shade.
“We lost a fair bit of money at the show, maybe about $12,000. It’s a lot to catch up, so we were keen to offer this great show today”
And the dog show isn’t the only part of the Benalla Show that will still happen.
Ms Ogden sad there would be a horse show on March 4, and a cake and baking event on March 26 in the Croxford Pavilion, at the showgrounds.