Volunteers needed: Show societies feeling the pressure

Show societies are feeling the pinch, hit by the drought and dwindling volunteer numbers as they gear up for the Queensland show season.

COMMUNITIES are encouraged to get behind their local show this year, as organisers of the events feel the strain of the drought and dwindling volunteer numbers.

With the 2020 Queensland show circuit set to begin later this month, Queensland Ag Shows general manager Trevor Beckingham says shows are an integral part and a lifeblood for a lot of communities.

“They (the shows) are of the community, by the community for the community,” he said.

“Each one is uniquely different, so you might have been to one show but you haven’t been to all 127 … it’s about going and seeing what that community has to offer, because that’s what makes show different and unique.”

Show societies across the state have been working hard to deliver the events in 2020, but Mr Beckingham says they are feeling the pinch when it comes to their ­workforce.

Volunteers make up about 90 per cent of the workforce behind ag shows in Queensland, with about 13,500 volunteers across the 127 shows.

“I know four shows that had significant difficulty forming committees this year because people have been called back to their grassroots, which makes it difficult to put volunteer work forward,” Mr Beckingham said.

“We notice it particularly because we do have an old guard that are running a lot of our shows. It does take a fair amount of effort, and some of the younger generation are struggling with the commitment that needs to be made.

“We’ve got to start reaching a little deeper to assist a lot of our communities to get those people and try to encourage some of the younger ones out to get involved with a local show.”

Mr Beckingham expects the drought will have ramifications, particularly for entry numbers at shows this year.

“Queensland without rain in the next month is really going to suffer and that will affect the entries, particularly in livestock and the produce,” he said.

“We already felt the tail end of it last year – a lot of the horticulture and produce sections were significantly affected and I think that’s going to flow on even further this year.”

While times are tough, Mr Beckingham is hopeful none on the local shows will have to be cancelled this year.

“The community needs that breaker, and the show in a lot of cases gives that family fun day where they can put their troubles aside and actually go and have a day together as a family at the show,” he said.

“A lot of our shows are of that mind, but it’s it really comes down to what resources are available to be able to do that and just how hard and deep the impacts are of the drought we’re facing.”

The show circuit kicks off in Stanthorpe on January 31.