Two years after fires ripped through town, Cobargo Show is back

Bull-riding, ice creams, soft toys and old-fashioned fun, Cobargo Show on Saturday was a chance for the community to come together to heal after the trauma of bushfires, floods and Covid.

“There’s not enough lifetime in a lifetime to ever get over it.”

Kristen Cowdroy still feels the pain of losing her brother and father in the Black Summer bushfires. And she knows she always will.

But she’s also keenly aware life that goes on, particularly when you have two young daughters.

“The fact is life is going on whether you want it to or not, so I say we owe it to our kids, even if life has been insanely cruel to us,” Mrs Cowdroy said.

Kristen Cowdroy, who lost her dad and brother in the fires, with daughters Hallie and Lacey at the Cobargo Show. Picture: Gary Ramage

Thrills and spills in the junior bull riding competition. Picture: Gary Ramage

Two years after Patrick and Robert Salway died ­defending their property when the fires slammed into Cobargo, an old dairy farming village with a population of about 800 people that sits between Narooma and Bega on the NSW south coast, the community on Saturday held its beloved annual show again for the first time.

Bull-riding, ice creams, kids clutching soft toys and old-fashioned fun, it was a chance for the community to come together to further heal — and to simply enjoy themselves.

Mrs Cowdroy, whose family has a long involvement with the show, was determined to do just that for the sake of her daughters, Hallie, 5, and Lacey, 3.

She wanted them to ­experience the Cobargo that she grew up in.

Sisters Alexandria Frank, 9, and Mikaelah Frank, 8, share smiles and an ice cream. Picture: Gary Ramage

Jed Sandilands, 3, had a great day at the show with his mate Bluey. Picture: Gary Ramage

“It’s been hard not having Dad, he was always in the yard with the cattle, and Patrick, he was the clown, doing some sort of entertainment,” she said.

“Although it’s a ­really hard time, because of the virus we haven’t really caught up and life has been crazy.

“It’s like a big celebration that everyone is getting back together, saying hello and having a cuddle and a smile.

“There is still a lot of people living in caravans and who don’t have running water so there’s still a lot to do, but this is the best way to do it right? Have a show and everyone get out, even if its raining.”

It has been two years since the Black Summer bushfires ripped through Cobargo. Picture: John Feder

Despite the rain, for Callie Sandilands, who lost animals and equipment in the fires, the event was the perfect ­example of everything that makes country life so special.

“After the fire, Covid, the floods and everything it’s so good to get together — and the kids are just having a wonderful time,” Ms Sandilands said.

“Things like this, getting back to playing with the kids and meeting all the friends again is just lovely. Sydney needs to come down and ­experience it because this is what the country is about.”

Former Bega MP Andrew Constance said the show could not have come at a better time.

“It’s incredibly symbolic, they are good people who have been through enough,” Mr Constance said.

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