Volunteer call-out for Tennant Creek Show facing ticking clock to get up to code

The Barkly mayor has revealed last-resort plans if a rural show can’t go on: ‘You’ll see me dancing around with a bluetooth speaker waving some sparklers’.

The mayor denied that nothing had been done to restore the Tennant Creek Show site over the years, or that the 25-day notice was a “last minute cancellation”.

A ticking clock faces a group of bush volunteers fighting to save the Tennant Creek Show, despite ailing 40-year-old facilities.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin declared on Thursday: “The show is a go”.

It comes 72-hours after the Tennant and Districts Show Society Committee cancelled the region’s one-day agricultural show on Monday, 25 days before it was scheduled to begin on July 14.

“I thought ‘stuff this’ and went to the Chief Minister,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“The Chief called and said ‘Look Jeff, how can we make it happen’, and I said ‘Well I’ll do it’.”

In cancelling the show the Committee had flagged volunteer burnout and major infrastructural issues in the 40-year-old site, with known problems around leaking pipes and electricals.

But Mr McLaughlin said he still intended to use the showgrounds by “rallying local sparkies” to fix the ageing site.

“It has to be compliant,” he said.

Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin said the Tennant Creek Show would go ahead on July 14.

“We have to have a safe show first, the last thing is that we will have a fun show.”

Mr McLaughlin said he had experience with major events and had three back-up sites in mind, and generators and portable toilets ready if it had to go off-site.

“If it gets really bad you’ll see me dancing around with a bluetooth speaker waving some sparklers in the middle of the showgrounds,” he joked.

Following the Commitee’s cancellation announcement, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles stepped in with a $10,000 grant and a proposal for an “alternative show experience”.

Ms Fyles said a call-out for volunteers had begun, with more information to be released later.

“Residents and visitors of Tennant Creek will still be able to enjoy sideshow alley entertainment and food elements of the show,” she said.

The Showmens Guild of Australasia executive officer Sandi Gordon said the alternative show was “great news”.

The Showmens Guild of Australasia executive officer Sandi Gordon said the alternative Tennant Creek Show was “great news”.

It is hoped the flashing lights, sugar and fast rides will still draw in the 2500-strong crowds — even without the classic ag-show attractions including the animal displays, baking, produce and arts and crafts competition.

Mr McLaughlin, who is also a Tennant Creek Show Committee member, said: “No one cares about the other stuff — well some people do”.

But Tennant Creek residents have warned the $10,000 cash splash was too little, too late — with questions still looming about the show.

Goldfield Hotel owner Jason Groves described the management of the show with one word: “clusterf—ck”.

Children at the cattle yards at the Tennant Creek Show, which are unlikely to run in the 2023 event.

Mr Groves said while he used to be fully booked by show-goers, now his July public holiday bookings were unrelated to the major event.

“It doesn’t affect me if the show is on, or off, or back on again,” he said.

“It’s not bringing people into town like it used to.”

Mr Groves said declining tourism numbers were being driven by the region’s high crime rate and rival accommodation setting up outside the town closer to attractions.

“We have more tourists going into town to use our dump spot than the showgrounds,” he said.

Mr Groves was sceptical the showgrounds in their “rack and ruin” could be brought up to standard within 25 days — particularly relying on volunteers and free sparky labour.

“There’s just not enough people around to do it,” Mr Groves said.

It is hoped the flashing lights, sugar and fast rides will still draw in the 2500-strong crowds that typically attend the Tennant Creek Show.

This publication understands another fully-booked accommodation business had all customers cancel their bookings, with only one room re-booked after the show was back on.

Mr McLaughlin acknowledged the chaos of the last week was frustrating for businesses.

The mayor denied that nothing had been done to restore the site over the years, or that the 25-day notice was a “last minute cancellation”.

Mr McLaughlin said given the nature of the 40-year-old facilities, issues with the pipes and electricals were constantly being raised and addressed.

He said last year they were given seven days to organise $7000 in electrical work before the show.

Mr McLaughlin said he expected anyone who was complaining to put their hands up to help.

“All those people who complained and whinged, I expect to see their names on the volunteer list,” he said.