THE Rochester Recreation Reserve was swarming with happy show-goers on Saturday, with the 133rd Great Northern Show drawing large crowds and some stiff competition.
The show recorded its largest number of cattle entrants since 1998, a figure which organiser Scott Somerville says is a testament to the dedication of volunteers and the show’s long legacy.
“We put in a lot of work into finding great judges and sponsors, and I think the people that have decided to enter this year are really aware of that.
“The horse judges were referring to the competition as the Rochester Royal again, and it’s great to hear that name back around town. The horse competition in particular benefitted from some really great sponsorship,” he said.
The kids’ activities proved to be a huge hit with smaller participants, and families came from as far as Ballarat to enter the show and enjoy the day.
Horse entrant numbers were outstanding, and the dog show also had a record number of entries.
Mr Somerville said it was a great day to come together as a community in a particularly tough period.
“It’s good for the town especially when the season is so terrible for farmers. It gives them a day out to relax and forget about everything that is going on. There was a big crowd at the cattle this year and I think lots of farmers just wanted to enjoy themselves,” he said.
“A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers — without them this wouldn’t happen. This is a great historical event that you don’t find anywhere else and it’s so important we keep it going. Lots of shows are folding because of lack of support.”
The committee is on the lookout for more volunteers to help run the show next year. If you’re interested in contributing to this great community event, call Scott Somerville on 0408 846 221 or visit the Great Northern Show Facebook page.