Angus Lane’s 30-year career as an agricultural show ring announcer

“As a nine-year-old my mum asked me what I’d like to do and I said take the microphone and be the announcer.” And for more than 30 years, Angus Lane has done just that.

Familiar voice: Angus Lane has been a ring announcer at ag shows for decades. Picture: Bev Lacey

ANGUS Lane has a voice like a hug: warm and reassuring.

But the 76-year-old says it takes more than dulcet tones to be a ring announcer at agricultural shows around Australia for more than 30 years.

“The skill is being able to project yourself positively but above all else to be a story teller,” Angus says. “To do that takes research, finding out about people and agriculture.

“So on the morning of every show I get up at 5.30 and walk around the stables and talk to everyone, taking notes, asking them about themselves and their livestock, before I’m due in the broadcast box at 8am.”

This kind of research, combined with his heartfelt X-factor, has helped Angus announce at shows annually around the nation, first starting at his local Jandowae Show, in the Western Downs of Queensland in the early ’80s, then at the Ekka in 1992 where, coronavirus aside, he continues to announce yearly. At the peak, he announced at more than 50 shows a year, and now his annual event calendar normally includes about 30: Royal events in Darwin and Perth (which run at the same time as Melbourne Royal), through to Gippsland’s Sale show, as well as occasional events such as the three-yearly Beef Australia expo, various equestrian events and emceeing activities.

It is a career that has earned the father-of-four an OAM for services to agricultural shows, Queensland Father of the Year and this year the Queensland Great award.

Not bad for a kid who grew up in Brisbane but dreamt of farming.

Angus says as a youngster he’d visit his country farming cousins, “loving the freedom of the bush and the clean air”. “At the Ekka I loved seeing the purple, green and white ribbons. I’d walk through the stables and be mesmerised by the excitement of it all,” says Angus, who has more recently retired to a small home north of Toowoomba.

“As a nine-year-old my mum asked me what I’d like to do and I said take the microphone and be the announcer.”

Angus left school at 17 to sharefarm with his uncle and aunt on their Jandowae pig and dairy farm, buying the property in 1967, expanding it to 450ha and turning it into a vealer production and grain growing property, which he sold in 1992.

In the mid-’70s Angus began selling gate tickets at the local show and when a role became vacant he became the announcer.

Team: Angus Lane and his wife Vicki. Picture: Bev Lacey

Angus says his career could not have been possible without his wife Vicki, who works behind the scenes collating results and information to send to her husband. This information, combined with his own personal research, helps the announcer talk to thousands from dawn to dusk — along with sucking ice cubes if his voice starts to falter.

“I research the history breeds too and like to add one-liners,” he says.

“Poll Herefords intrigue me. They were developed in the US and the first poll went to Rockhampton.

“I like to add one-liners for the kids, such as a dairy cow chews its cud 41,630 times a day.

“In the past I’ve been abused if I leave out a breed from the grand parade, so it’s important to be thorough.”

Angus says he has had no formal training, although in 1985 he had a suspected brain tumour, losing strength in his right side, and he required speech therapy. Even when he was given the all-clear, he continued seeing the speech therapist for two years until “she told me ‘I can’t teach you any more’”.

He admits his favourite show treat is the dagwood dog and his favourite show is Ekka, given his long history with the event. “Sale show, though, is brilliant because they own their own grounds and they’re passionate and dedicated.”

He says shows have changed over the decades, illustrated by the fact he now needs to take out insurance liability “in case I say the wrong thing”.

So is he hopeful about the future of agricultural shows in rural Australia?

“Shows will survive if they have a vibrant committee.

“There are 580 shows in Australia and they are the biggest volunteer organisation in Australia and it’s important to keep the enthusiasm going.”

Angus is mentoring three young would-be announcers — in anticipation of his retirement in coming years — and says it’s critical the younger generations are guided by older show members and allowed to take over the reins.

He says he always finishes each day in the show ring with the same message.

“I say, ‘boys and girls when you go home tonight put your arms around your mum or dad or whoever bought you here today, and say thank you, I love you’.

“I say that every time and I then always end with ‘God bless you and have a safe trip home’.”

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