Families flood in for first day of Royal Hobart Show for 2021
The Royal Hobart Show must go on, the city collectively agreed, as thousands flocked in for a day out in the sun. SHOW SCHEDULE >>
Hobart & South
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THE Royal Hobart Show must go on, the city collectively agreed, as thousands flocked in for a day out in the sun.
It came to the immense relief of show CEO Scott Gadd, who had been fearing a low turnout rate due to all the new mask requirements.
However both the morning and afternoon sessions were at near-full capacity, and the showgrounds were teeming with visitors for day one.
“I thought the Covid scare last week would scare a few people off. It probably has, but there’s a whole bunch who’ve said ‘y’know what? It’s a beautiful day, let’s go to the Hobart Show,” Mr Gadd said.
“Every one of them is doing the right thing and I’m proud of the people of Hobart for getting behind us, doing the right thing, and making all our jobs that much easier.”
It was a good day for chicken tamer Peter Moate, who proudly showed visitors his selection of prize-winning birds.
Mr Moate said breeding and taming roosters was a difficult art, but one that he has been mastering since he got his first chicken at age nine.
“I think you have to be a little insane,” Mr Moate said.
“The trick is to handle them. They need to get used to being handled. They learn my smell, and I feed them all the time.”
Nine-year-old thrillseeker Lenn Zac Li said his favourite part of the Hobart Show was the rides and roller-coasters.
His dad Li Max Joy said his family comes to the show every year, and that they were all relieved it could still go ahead.
“We’re lucky to have a Hobart show again, given the Covid restrictions. One person was doing something wrong,” Mr Joy said.
It was a busy day for 11-year-old cow farmer Tilly Lamb, who showed off her prize-winning cows to curious visitors.
Tilly has been looking after cows for her entire life alongside her family, who run Green Glory Geard Family Farms.
“We’ve had lots of pedestrians coming through asking questions,” Tilly said.
“Every year when the show comes around we get them ready, clip them, wash them, practice leading them almost every day.”
Goat farmer Scott Payton from Lavender Park Toggenburgs came with a herd of his finest goats.
Mr Payton said he loved goats and the wide variety of products you could make from their milk.
“They’re a very versatile animal and they’re much more interactive with people than a cow is,” Mr Payton said.
“We breed them and grow them for the milk, and then my wife makes all different types of cheese and soup and ice cream from the milk.”
The show will continue for two more days on Friday and Saturday.
‘Get behind it’: The Royal Hobart Show kicks off with minor changes
THE organisers of the Royal Hobart Show have ridden a Covid rollercoaster ever since starting to plan for the 2021 edition, and now People’s Day has finally arrived, they are calling for the public to support the much-loved event.
Border closures and limits on crowd numbers had threatened to throw a spanner in the works, while the show’s fate hung in the balance amid a three-day lockdown of southern Tasmania which eventually ended on Monday night.
That forced the first day of the show on Wednesday to be abandoned, and while many other Tasmanian shows have been called off this year, Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania chief executive Scott Gadd said they were determined to forge ahead.
“We’ve thrown everything at it and given it our best shot, and we’d love people to come and have a fun day and get behind it,’’ he said.
“All the staff, all the volunteers have all put in 150 per cent to be frank, to get this up in two days willingly and cooperatively.
“We couldn’t have done it without our army of volunteers.”
Just 5000 people will be allowed at the show at any given time, with organisers running two session times each day to cater for the rule.
Masks will be provided to patrons who do not bring their own, while attendees will be required to check in to the event via the Check in Tas app.
Mr Gadd said patrons would also be asked to practice social distancing and various hygiene practices like hand washing and coughing and sneezing into one’s elbow.
“All the traditional elements will be here — animals, showbags, carnivals, homecrafts, art on show, so in that sense it’s still a traditional show,’’ he said.
Show visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets online, with a 20 per cent discount applying and speeding up the process on entry.
The show starts at 8am on Thursday and runs until 4pm Saturday.
Sessions times are 8am-1pm and 2pm-7pm on Thursday, 9am-3pm and 4pm-10pm on Friday (with fireworks at 9.30pm), with a day session from 9am-4pm on Saturday.
DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS:
PJ Masks children’s entertainment
Freestyle motocross
Agriculture through the ages production
Official show opening at 11am with Governor Barbara Baker
Grand parade at 3pm
Sabrina ready for the ring
SABRINA Jackson has been around horses her entire life and when the 12-year-old enters the show ring at the Royal Hobart Show this week, it will mark yet another chapter in a proud family tradition of equestrian.
Sabrina, who celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, is preparing her pony Bambarough Liberache in the large show hunter pony category, and said the show was always much anticipated on the calendar.
“I’ve been in the equestrian community for my whole life ... I’ve been going to the Hobart show since I was about 5 or 6, ever since I possibly could compete there,’’ she said.
“I’m really excited, really nervous but it’s all fun when you get out there.
“It’s fun, it’s just the best show. You can compete but then you can do the rides and have a showbag.”
The show’s equestrian competition organiser Erica Clark said her team had been working hard in recent days to prepare the arenas.
She said it was Tasmania’s top show and was also a national qualifier where those who achieve a champion and reserve champion sash were eligible to compete in the grand nationals in Sydney.
“It’s wonderful because it’s a 200-year anniversary and I’ve been involved in agricultural shows since I was a child, and this is the first time that I’ve managed a Royal show. It’s pretty special,’’ she said.
Show must go on: Major event ploughing ahead with date change
A quarantine breach and the subsequent sudden lockdown wasn’t enough to stop the Royal Hobart Show from going ahead, but one of the event days has been dropped.
Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania CEO Scott Gadd was “disappointed” Wednesday’s event would be cancelled, but was glad sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday would plough ahead.
“Wednesday’s traditionally our schools day but unfortunately we need that extra day to get set up,” Mr Gadd said.
The team had to put preparations on hold over the weekend, forcing them to take an extra day on Wednesday to transform the Hobart Showground in Glenorchy.
Mr Gadd said those who purchased tickets for Wednesday would be automatically refunded, and he urged those people to book tickets for the other three show days.
He said masks would be available at the gate for all patrons over 12 years old.
“We would really appreciate the support given all the efforts we’ve made to help this go ahead,” he said.
Mr Gadd was “over the moon” the Royal Hobart Show 200th birthday event could continue at all, after agricultural shows in Launceston, Burnie, Brighton and Circular Head were cancelled due to Covid-19 restriction difficulties.
“Most of the animals are going to be there,” he said.
“Show bags, rides, everything else would be as you expect.”
The stage show of television hit PJ Masks will provide entertainment alongside professional trials rider Boris Zagrocki and the sword-swallowing Samora Squid.
Mr Gadd was particularly excited about the live and audiovisual production of Agriculture Through the Ages, recapturing the 200 year history of RAST shows in Hobart.
“We’re going to lose more money than we anticipated but we’re not doing it for the money, we’re doing it to celebrate the show’s 200th birthday and we wanted to give the ground an appropriate farewell.
“We’re about to demolish it and build a new showground.”
The show will be open Thursday 8am-1pm, 2-7pm, Friday 9am-3pm, 4-10pm, and Saturday 9am-4pm.
For more information and tickets visit hobartshowground.com.au/royalhobartshow
Earlier:
A quarantine breach and the subsequent sudden lockdown wasn’t enough to stop the Royal Hobart Show from going ahead, but one of the event days has been dropped.
The Hobart Showground Facebook page posted an announcement on Monday assuring locals the 2021 show was ploughing ahead this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“Unfortunately as a result of the lockdown, we have had to cancel Wednesday’s show to allow us and all our volunteers, section committees, commercial exhibitors etc. enough time to set up to produce the best possible show,” the Facebook post reads.
“Anyone who has already purchased a ticket for Wednesday will get a full refund. We will work through this as soon as possible.
A Royal Hobart Show spokesman said show-goers who had hoped to attend on Wednesday could also book another session on any of the other three show days.
The post reminded patrons over 12 years of age to wear masks and said masks would be offered at the gate.
“Along with masks, hand sanitiser will be all over the site and Covid measures will be taken to ensure safety,” the post reads.”
“As always, we ask, that if you have any symptoms at all, please do not attend.”
The upcoming public holiday marks 200 years of the Royal Hobart Show, which will be held at its usual home – the showground in Glenorchy.
It comes after agricultural shows in Launceston, Burnie, Brighton and Circular Head were cancelled due to Covid-19 restriction difficulties.
The show will be open Thursday 8am-1pm, then 2-7pm, Friday 9am-3pm, then 4-10pm, and Saturday 9am-4pm.
For more information and tickets visit hobartshowground.com.au/royalhobartshow
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