Volunteers prepare for Wanneroo Show

VOLUNTEERS are working tirelessly to prepare for the Wanneroo Show this weekend after receiving a record number of entries.

The November 29 and 30 event will showcase produce and creativity from across the northern suburbs as well has providing entertainment with rides, show bags and fireworks.

Wanneroo Agricultural Society president and chief ground steward Michael Aspinall said they had received about 3600 entries this year, a thousand more than last year.

He said 20 to 30 volunteers were working up to 12 hours a day this week to set up displays of the entries in the Margaret Cockman Pavilion in time for the gates to open about 4pm on Friday.

The children’s art categories this year had a theme of ‘cultural diversity’ and reflected children’s interests and ideas.

“We’ve got anime this year which is new,” children’s section coordinator Meg Birch said.

“That’s what the kids do, so we’ve had to stay abreast of that.”

Mrs Birch said the show had a great community atmosphere and gave everyone who wanted to contribute an opportunity to do so.

Mr Aspinall said organisers aimed to make it a show for young families and affordable for them, with proceeds going back into community projects.

He said the popular attractions were usually the show bags and rides, as well as animal farms, motorcycles and opportunities to milk a cow.

“One of the things that’s very popular with young children is the tractors,” he said.

Mr Aspinall said Wanneroo Amateur Football Club, Wanneroo-Joondalup SES, Wanneroo Army Cadets and Wanneroo Central Bush Fire Brigade would compete in a tractor pull on Saturday night.

The Wanneroo resident said SES and fire brigade volunteers would be on hand to help during the fireworks from 9.15 each night.

He said the showjumping competition had been cancelled this year because it conflicted with another competition in Perth, which meant there were not enough entries.

Margaret Cockman Pavilion coordinator Sue Omodei said she enjoyed “seeing all the amazing entries” dropped off in the lead up to the show and “how many talented people there are”.

“It’s just lovely to see it building up,” she said.

Mrs Omodei said entries included hobbies and craft, photography, woodwork, jewellery, pot plants, floral displays, cakes, cooking and vegetables grown by local farmers, market gardeners and residents.

“It’s really important that we have all the vegetables and remember the history of Wanneroo,” she said.

The Wanneroo resident said they were building up the honey competition and would have a hive on site with Perspex sides so people could see the bees.

As well as the anime drawings, Mrs Omodei said they had added camera and drone photography categories in a bid to keep up to date with what people were interested in.

Wanneroo Agricultural Society will host the Wanneroo Show on from 4pm to 10pm on November 29 and 9am to 10pm on November 30 at Wanneroo Showground, Ariti Avenue.

Tickets can be bought online via www.wannerooshow.com or at the gate.