Showtime! People of Perth go to the Royal Show

Phil, Melissa and their tribe: ‘The free entry for kids has made the Royal Show possible for a family of our size’

MELISSA: I didn’t go to the Royal Show until I was an adult. I came from a family of six kids so it was expensive. And it was a hike to come from the northern suburbs. When we found out that this year it would be free for kids we said, “Excellent! This year we can go.” A lot of the time family passes are two adults and two kids, so we were always one short.

PHIL: The free entry for kids has made the Royal Show possible for a family of our size, so it’s a great move on the part of the government.

Phil, Emily, Edward, Matthew, Lucy and Melissa. Credit: Mark Naglazas

MELISSA: The older kids have been before, but this is the first time we’ve been together as a group. So it is a special year.

EMILY: I was excited to go on the Ferris wheel and buy an ice cream. And getting to hold the little chicks.

MATTHEW: And one of the chicks pooped on Emily’s hand!

PHIL: The kids are having a great time, so we would like to make it family tradition. Once you get through the front door without having to pay for the kids makes it very achievable. We haven’t had to spend too much, and we’ve had a full day since getting her at 10am. Getting around the pavilions is inexpensive and interesting.

MELISSA: And going on a weekday has been good because it is less crowded.

Justin and Sam man the blacksmith’s forge.Credit: Mark Naglazas

Justin: ‘The Royal Show for me is the sound of the blacksmith’s forge’

When I first came to the Perth Royal Show I could hear the sound of the blacksmiths all around the showground. When I moved to Perth from the country I became fully engaged with blacksmithing.

I’m now the vice-president of the Blacksmiths’ Association of Western Australia. We’re a not-for-profit heritage association who operate out of the Claremont Showgrounds three days a week with the aim of preserving and improving the art and craft of the blacksmith.

What draws me to blacksmithing? It’s the physicality of it — the heating and striking and moving of metal under the hammer by hand. It’s raw. And it’s stress-relieving. I never leave here angry.

There are lots of other activities for families and children, such as the rides and the fireworks, but I’ve always felt the royal show is about Western Australia’s heritage. Blacksmithing played a key role in forging out state. We want to keep that art and craft alive so future generations can understand where we came from. It also gives you a bloody good workout.

Phoebe, Sofia and Nick.Credit: Mark Naglazas

Nick: ‘My heritage is Greek and the Royal Show reminds me of the fairs you have in Europe’

NICK: The Royal Show is an important part of my family tradition. We didn’t every year but certainly every two. It is certainly on the calendar. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of summer. We’ve always looked forward to coming. It’s a treat.

My heritage is Greek and the Royal Show reminds me of the fairs you have in Europe. It is where all the community come together. We are not a country with a lot of the traditions and rituals they have in Europe. So having an event like this that draws so many people from all walks of life enjoying what’s on offer together is a wonderful thing.

SOFIA: I love the Royal Show because it is pretty much for everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are. It has a really great vibe. I love the ride the best.

PHOEBE: I love the ones that make you so sick you want to throw up.

NICK: They’ve had a couple already — the ones you do before you eat.

SOFIA: I’m doing ATAR so going to the Royal Show makes a nice break from study.

NICK: Going to the Royal Show was important for me growing up and it is providing nice memories for Sofia and Phoebe. I hope it is a part of their family tradition.

Shirley at the Machine Knitting Association of Western Australia stand.Credit: Mark Naglazas

Shirley: ‘Mothers today don’t learn traditional crafts because they have to rush back to work to pay their huge mortgages’

I haven’t been to the Royal Show in decades. I used to come when I was a teacher. This year I’m demonstrating for the Machine Knitting Association of Western Australia. We used to have a lot of members, but machine knitting is a pastime for old ladies and we are dying off. Last year we lost four of our very best knitters.

People buy all kinds of fancy sewing machines, but they are only as good as the operator. And it is the same with knitting machines. It is just a tool. The knitter brings the skill.

I’m not from Perth, so I didn’t grow up with the Royal Show. I’m a Brisbanite. There we had the Ekka. They still call it the Ekka [shortened from Brisbane Exhibition].

I’ve had a lovely time at the Royal Show demonstrating the knitting machine. A lot of people still have knitting machines under the bed or their mothers have had one. So I think we have managed to persuade a few people to come to one of our clubs and replace the knitters who have passed away.

For me the craft section is the heart of the Royal Show. There are lots of things to do here but I love to wander around and see what these incredibly skilful people have made. The clothing, the costumes, the cakes. It is so wonderful to see these traditional skills kept alive.

As a young mother I had quite a few years before I went back to work so I had the time to work on traditional crafts such as knitting. Mothers today don’t have that opportunity to learn traditional crafts because they have to rush back to work to pay their mortgages.