The weather could hardly have been better suited to the event, and show-goers made the most of it.

From early Friday morning, and late into the night, and then all day on Saturday, the 

Donald showgrounds were alive with activities within the A. A. Dunstan Stadium and across all sports grounds.

Show Does Donald Proud – Two Days of Family Festivities

The Donald Show was off to a flying start on Friday night. While teams battled it out during the 3-on-3 basketball, president Nicole Nunn welcomed everyone and officially opened the two-day festival in the Anderson Blue Room.

Nicole stated that the key to the fun of the show was participation and volunteering with purpose. She informed the crowd that the show was a huge undertaking of around $80,000 and the P. and A. Society was indebted to the many sponsors and volunteers. She was thrilled to introduce fireworks on the Saturday night with the assistance of the Donald 2000 committee.

Guest Speaker
Nicole then introduced guest speaker Harry Cashin. Harry spoke of his wonderful upbringing in Donald where he forged many friendships and support. He has fond memories of school, mateship and friendly rivalry and the advantages of being raised in a small town. 

Harry talked of his transition to Geelong Deakin University to tackle sports management. His belief of “Why not me?” and “to work for what you’ve got” has opened doors and he grabbed an opportunity at Geelong Cats as football operations co-ordinator. 

Harry described much of the behind-the-scenes work including planning, bookings, supplying footballer boots, shorts, mouthguards and equipment among many of the activities. He said the culture of the club was of vital importance. His takeaways so far from his role at the club is to make the hard decisions, give maximum effort, be kind to everyone and dream big. Harry hopes to continue his interests, in particular running marathons where he has partaken in ten and is soon to enter the Melbourne marathon. 

Junior Ambassador
Nicole Nunn then had the delight in announcing this year’s junior show ambassador, Ben Krause. 

The award is open to young people aged between 16 and 19 years at the day of the Donald show. Entrants need to be involved in their local community and demonstrate an active involvement in their local show society. Ben Krause does all that! 

Ben has been involved with the show society for a few years, always at working bees, the first to always lend a hand, and the first to have a day or two off school to help with show days! For this show, he helped the pavilion co-ordinator with the record number of 600 photography entries. On Friday he made himself available for the executive (and his mum) to fire orders at him, which he completed always with a smile on his face. 

Ben, along with last year’s winner, Jacob Donnellon, are exceptional young men who are great role models for the younger generations. Both understand how much work and involvement goes into putting on the Donald Show. 

Life Memberships
Life Membership signifies enduring loyalty, a commitment to be part of something larger than ourselves. To contribute to the long haul and support a vision not just for today but for future generations.
Jill McEwen

Carey Brennan was invited to the microphone to induct life membership to Jill McEwen for her tireless work in the horse arena. 

Jill became involved with the Donald Show and Donald and District Pony Club since the early 1990s. She was involved with organising for the Pony Club to join the Donald Show horse events as opposed to running a separate Gymkhana at the Pony Club grounds. 

She has always been wiling to take on any job that needed doing; no job was ever a problem and was always tackled with great enthusiasm. 

Jill has worked as ring steward, gear checker, penciller in the show jumping ring and whatever duties needed doing in the horse events tent. She has attended every horse committee meeting, every working bee and both show days for the horse events. 

She has given 30 years to the Donald P. and A. Society as a member of the horse committee and truly deserves recognition for all her work and dedication to the show. 

Chloe Jones
Nicole was then invited to bestow life membership to her good friend Chloe Jones, who has been involved with the Donald Show Society since around 2015. Like an unwritten rule, Chloe carries on a tradition of bank managers being in the role of show society treasurer. The show’s finances have been in tip top shape since Chloe took on the role in 2016, which she still currently holds. 

Chloe has the “can do” attitude needed; she gets in, gets things done and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She is always thinking outside of the box and coming up with new ideas and ways to improve the show, not to mention representing Donald at the Wimmera Group Level of the Rural Ambassador Award, and the Wimmera Group winner in 2018. 

Just like the rest of the committee, Chloe is passionate about the future of the Donald show and has been an amazing addition to its committee. 

Dale Nunn
Life Membership was also received by Dale Nunn for his years of behind-the-scenes work and much of the planning and heavy lifting. Dale’s knowledge of the operations of the showgrounds is second to none after his many years of service. He cemented the excellent working relationship with the Showmen’s Guild, was instrumental in 
the new traffic management plans, took on the president’s role in 2017 and 2018.

Dale has been involved with Donald Show at group level and was heavily involved when Donald hosted the Victorian Agricultural Shows State Convention – which is still talked about to this day. Dale’s outstanding contribution to the Donald Show Society made him a worthy life membership recipient. 

It is the dedication and commitment of people such as these that keeps the Donald Show successful in a declining climate. Where other small towns have had to forfeit their show due to lack of interest and support, Donald show is thriving – let us count the ways. 

Show Entertainment
The mornings were cool and perhaps the later timeframe for the fireworks had crowds arriving later in the day than usual on the Saturday. The pavilion however, was packed with people perusing the many entries from locals, displaying their skill and creativity.

Also well supported was the photography section, with over 600 entries and the shearing competition, which had around 15 shearers and 18 wool handlers and another sizeable crowd for each presentation. 

Live music was provided throughout the day, while stomachs were satisfied by the array of food vans, or lunch in the Anderson Blue Room. The Lions Club held its traditional spinning wheel, and further down the field were demonstrations from CFA and Ambulance as well as the Berkley Super Tank for all the fishing fanatics out there, and even those who are not. 

Other things to look at at the show grounds were the classic cars on the Jeffcott Oval, where you could also go for a camel ride if you were so inclined; seemingly a strange combination to share a location, but it worked! Kids could hop astride a camel while their parents perused the beautiful cars on display, then stop for a barbecue snack provided by the Angling Club. 

There was even more to keep young showgoers busy, with the popular Sideshow Alley, kids’ zone, puppet shows, gaming centre upstairs in the Blue Room, baby goats and face painting. Local Primary

School kids were even provided with free entry on Friday, as a group, to watch the puppet show and get a taste of what was on offer at this year’s show.
Despite this incentive, the crowd seemed a little thinner this year, and horse events too, were quieter in the arena following a couple a difficult years and facing the heightening cost-of-living crisis. 

Now more than ever the Donald Show needs your support, get involved any way you can! At the very least, go along and enjoy everything the committee works so hard to bring to your doorstep each year! Not using it, risks losing it! 

Fantastic Finish 
It seemed the crowd had held out for the finish of the show. Everyone turned up for the fireworks finale. The band “Loudify” played and the kids danced and ran around having the time of their lives!

The fireworks went constantly for ten minutes to the “Ooohs!” and “Aaahs!” of those spectating; a fantastic display to end another fantastic show. 

The fireworks were a much appreciated collaborative effort between Donald 2000, Cr. Daryl Warren, Sam Goldsmith and Donald Lions Club.

Very well done to the show committee for its dedication and commitment to bringing such a range of entertainment to Donald every year. If you want to see the Donald Show stick around for years to come, consider joining the committee yourself or raise a hand to volunteer for a job. Imagine what this show could be if more people took on just one volunteer job to help out this amazing crew!

• Horse events and pavilion results will be in Friday’s edition of the “Buloke Times”.