The 157th Toowoomba Royal Show has been officially launched

The cancellation of the Toowoomba Royal Show in 2020 is estimated to have cost the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland up to $400,000. But thanks to funding from two key sources, the show will go on.

The Toowoomba Royal Show has bounced back from its devastating cancellation in 2020, thanks to key backers committed to its return.

Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland chief executive officer Damon Phillips said last year was only the third time the Toowoomba Show had been cancelled in its 160-year history.

“We estimate the cancellation of the 2020 show and subsequent closure of the grounds cost the society between $350,000-$400,000,” he said.

Funding through Clive Berghofer’s five-year capital works program and his commitment of $2 million of his own personal funds, as well as a $150,000 of funding from the Toowoomba Regional Council has ensured a successful 2021 event.

“The fact is without the Toowoomba Regional Council’s support, we would not be standing here today,” Mr Phillips said.

“As the first show society established in Queensland in 1860, the RASQ continues to lead the show movement in the state. The Heritage Bank’s Toowoomba Royal show will be the first large show held in Queensland and as such we feel we have a duty to get it right.

“Due to a number of COVID-safe restrictions we have put in place to ensure we could go ahead, this year’s show will look and run a little bit differently, for one thing it’s now running on different days. In previous years the show always commenced on the Thursday but this year we’re hoping to spread patrons out better across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

ON WITH THE SHOW: Hoping for a fruitful harvest of patrons and showtime fun next weekend, RASQ CEO Damon Phillips and Heritage Bank Corporate Communications Manager Andrew Fox helped to officially launch the 2021 Royal Toowoomba Show launch on Thursday, April 8, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen

“Unfortunately a number of competitions and livestock judging have been cancelled due to COVID, but we will still have dairy cattle judged early next week ahead of the show.

“Almost 1500 horse entries are running across all three days, stud beef cattle will be judged on Friday and Saturday with led steers on the Sunday, show dogs and sheep dogs trials, also with a record number of entires will be running Friday, Saturday and Sunday while the other livestock to be judged including meat sheep, poultry, pigs, alpacas, dairy and mohair goats will be on display for the three days.

“Woodcraft, inter-home and apiculture will unfortunately not be part of this year’s show but handicraft, cooking, floriculture, floral art, fine art, art in bark, photography and leather have all attracted significant entries.”

The Toowoomba Royal Show officially launched on Thursday morning.

Mr Phillips said homegrown produce was going virtual this year, allowing more individuals and schools to enter.

“I am looking forward to winning a blue ribbon for my marvellous crop of basil,” he said.

“And of course and show is not complete without the traditional woodchop and chainsaw competitions which will be running across all three days.”

The family entertainment factor dial has been turned up all the way this year with tonnes of activities, events and spectacles for all ages.

“Costa Georgiadis from Gardening Australia is back again this year and brings ABC’s Dirt Girl to Toowoomba for the first time,” Mr Phillips said.

“In addition to our very popular animal nursery, working dairy, historical machinery display and Little Hands on the Farm programs will continue to engage, entertain and educate our patrons while the Eronis Circus, pig racing, monster trucks, vintage sprint cars, motorbikes, two fireworks shows, an amazing laser light show and the award-winning Spirit of the Red Sand Indigenous show will have everyone on the edge of their seats all weekend.”

Mr Phillips said under the current COVID-safe plans the show can accommodate up to 10,000 patrons per day, but this could be about to change any day now.

“We have been working very closely with Queensland Health to develop our COVID Safe plan which is currently with the Chief Medical Officer,” he said.

“We are confident that the decision will be made very shortly to increase our capacity above 10,000 patrons per day.”
And while the state’s current mask requirements will most likely be revoked on Thursday, April 15 before the show starts Mr Phillips is urging all patrons to purchase their tickets online now to avoid disappointment.

“Every patron entering the grounds will be scanned in and scanned out, We will know exactly who is on the grounds at any one time. No ticket, no entry.”

To purchase your tickets for this year’s Toowoomba Royal Show, follow this link.