Traditional Australian country shows have rides and other fun activities, and are a place for farmers to show off their best animals. In other English-speaking countries, these events are called fairs. However, in Australia they are shows, and the word ‘show’ will be the subject of our spotlight.



KATHY McLEISH: Lew Osbourne is a travelling showman. Now President of the Showmen's Guild of Australasia, his family has lived shows, seven days a week for six generations.

LEW OSBORNE: I saw all those things, so I'm very appreciative of the business and how much it's changed and evolved over the years as well.

KATHY McLEISH: So too, has Richard O'Neill. His parents helped start the Murgon show over 80 years ago. He's been involved all his life. Now he's president of the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies, representing the state's 130 agricultural shows at Brisbane's Ekka.

RICHARD O'NEILL: They mean a tremendous lot to those communities. Not only in the way of exhibiting their wares, it's also a social point for them, they come and have that get together, a good yarn.

LEW OSBORNE: It's amazing what you see in different towns and cities it's so important. You get out into the wheat belts and the wheat is the big thing, you go to north Queensland and it's the cane. So, it's a total reflection on what is really out there in the community and what makes that community strong.

KATHY McLEISH: Over the years these men have seen country shows threatened by all manner of adversity.

Drought, economic hardship and a declining rural population have all taken their toll.

LEW OSBORNE: They're struggling a little bit but can I add that the shows this year especially have been the best I've ever seen them in a long, long time. So, I don't believe they're waning, I believe they're strengthening.

RICHARD O'NEILL: Some shows are showing a vast increase in numbers and the gate attendance has been great.

LEW OSBORNE: There's 130 shows in Queensland and they're all connected to each other. So, it's quite common to see a show, a particular show up that's starting to struggle a little bit. So, there's plenty of support out there.

JOHN SHEPHERD: There's no doubt that we need to work together. The shows need to work together to provide some sort of economies of scale, I suppose, for entertainment and supplier commodities. If we can get those as cheaply as we possibly can then it'll assist.

RICHARD O'NEILL: A lot of them have learnt new skills. They've learnt ways of sharing their resources, various ways, you know, improving financial situations, learning how to apply for sponsorship in the right form, looking after their exhibitors and various things like that.

LEW OSBORNE: When you start seeing things like that you see a real business factor coming into it and also that professional touch that makes the world of difference to a successful show.

KATHY McLEISH: To show people though the investment most needed is in their future.

RICHARD O'NEILL: Probably the biggest problem affecting rural country shows at the moment is the fact that these young people do their schooling and then they go off to university to do further education and of course they're sort of lost to the community then.

LEW OSBORNE: They're encouraging the younger person to come through and just do a little bit of volunteer work.

JOHN SHEPHERD: There's no doubt that once shows get into your blood, you're hooked.

RICHARD O'NEILL: There's still a strong future for country shows.

KATHY McLEISH: What hasn't been threatened is their greatest asset.

RICHARD O'NEILL: That's typical of what country spirit's all about, bouncing back.