Royal Hobart Show legend David Skinner retiring after 80 years, confident in the show’s future

David Skinner first got involved with the Royal Hobart Show when he was a schoolboy at Hutchins in 1946 and after 80 years is stepping aside.

David Skinner OAM who has been associated with the Royal Agriculture Society of Tasmania and the Royal Hobart Show for nearly 80 years and has recently retired from the RAST board. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A stalwart of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania is handing over the reins after 80 years of connecting people to the agricultural sector.

“The general public like to see the agricultural side of the business very much, and the show is the only opportunity that they get to see it all together,” David Skinner said.

Mr Skinner is retiring from the RAST board after being involved in a number of capacities since his schoolboy days at Hutchins in 1946 including two terms as president.

“I started off as a small boy as a junior steward and finished up as president,” Mr Skinner said.

The 91-year-old was declared a living legend of the Royal Hobart Show in 2018 and successfully steered the organisation through the state government removing racing from the showground at a time where racing was its major tenant.

Crowds pack the 1946 Royal Hobart Show – the year David Skinner first served at the show as a schoolboy. Picture: Mercury archives

Mr Skinner has had a long and distinguished career in the agricultural and primary industries including several decades at Webster eventually becoming GM of Webster’s Rural Division.

He was a member and past president of the Tasmanian Meat Industry Advisory Council, a member of the state Agricultural Advisory Committee and past president of the Australian Council of Livestock Agents. He also has an Order of Australia.

He said his main interest was in animals after working as an auctioneer.

“I sold an awful lot of sheep and cattle over the years,” he said.

He said it was increasingly important to educate the general public about the agricultural

industry as urbanisation draws more and more people to the cities and out of the regions.

“There’s only a small percentage of the population that are close to the agricultural side of the business, Australia wide,” Mr Skinner said.

“We see it as a showcase to advertise what agriculture does for them and for the country,” Mr Skinner said.

Mr Skinner will stay on the Show Council but said it was time to hand over the reins of the business side of things.

He said shows were still “very popular” around Australia and he saw a “wonderful” future for the Royal Hobart show.

Originally published as Royal Hobart Show legend David Skinner retiring after 80 years, confident in the show’s future