Show society sends out an urgent SOS

Sideshow alley is just one of many aspects of Cobar Show that could be lost in coming years without a boost in volunteer numbers. File photo

Things aren’t looking too good for the Cobar Show this year if the Cobar Show Society can’t immediately recruit some more volunteers to help run this year’s event.

Cobar Show Society secretary Heather Christie said with this year’s annual agricultural show just three weeks away, she’s worried that their small committee of 11 volunteers won’t get through the long list of jobs that need to be done before, during and after the show.

“In my job as secretary, I do a lot of running around. In past years I did that in my lunch hour but I’ve recently changed jobs and I now start work out at Endeavor at 6.30am and don’t get into town until 4.30pm (that’s on a good day). I’m just not able to do all the things I used to do and I don’t have anyone on the committee that I can delegate those jobs too.

“We barely have a full committee, let alone having an extra person who can lend me a hand a few hours a week,” she said.

Heather said in the lead up to the show she needs help with publicity and getting sponsorship while a tonne of work also goes into getting the pavilions ready.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into setting up in the main pavilion, getting it all ready, labelling and sorting goods and then recording results and points.

“People in that main pavilion put in some very long nights before the show just setting it all up.”

Heather said over the past few years the committee has not been able to recruit any new people with fresh ideas and other interests.

“It would be great if we could have spinning and weaving, goats, llamas, pigs and cattle.

“We don’t have shearing anymore because there’s no one to run it,” she said.

“I’d love it if we could have whip cracking and wood chopping, but we don’t have anyone on the committee with those interests.”

During the show, Heather said they need lots of helpers to set up and pack up gear, record results, help to marshal competitors, or just act as runners.

“We rely heavily on the junior stewards to help over the two days. Rotary gives us $500 in Cobar Quids to hand out as prizes to the stewards and, as further incentive, they also get free lunches, drinks and tickets for show rides.”

She said the committee is struggling to find someone to run this year’s pet show and dog jump competitions.

“If we don’t have a steward for a particular section we could be in danger of losing some activities.”

Heather said if anyone is keen to lend a hand, they may contact her or Cobar Show Society president, David Snelson.