Dubbo’s Sue Hood determined shows will go on

Dubbo’s Sue Hood has spent the past 38 years supporting her hometown’s agricultural show, and is adamant NSW’s show societies will bounce back from 2020’s COVID cancellations.

Dubbo Show Society secretary Sue Hood is a nominee in The Weekly Times Shine Awards for her decades of dedication to NSW shows. Picture: Clancy Job

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THE show must go on, and with Dubbo’s Sue Hood on the case, NSW’s shows certainly will.

The 67-year-old is secretary of the Dubbo Show Society and has devoted 38 years to making her hometown’s annual event a cracker.

Despite the cancellation of this year’s Dubbo show, Sue is already planning next year’s event to boost spirits in the drought-affected region.

“This year would have been fabulous,” said Sue, who is also a director of the Agricultural Society Council of NSW and puts huge effort into the statewide show sector.

“Dubbo looks a picture compared to even six months ago. It (the show) actually would have given everybody a new lease on life.

“We’re in full swing of preparing for 2021. We have to try to move forward, try to run our show and have our COVID-safe plan in place.”

While the local show is first on her to-do list, Sue’s efforts to keep NSW’s show scene vibrant go well beyond her town’s borders.

As a delegate to the ASC, Sue encourages innovative ideas and new formats that help shows appeal to more young people. She also supports young women to become rural ambassadors as part of the showgirl program.

The ASC represents 195 show societies across NSW.

“We try to work together … to make it easier for show societies to access new ideas and innovations,” said Sue, who is a delegate of the Western group, which includes 24 societies from Trunkey Creek to Bourke.

Coonamble is part of her group and she praised its May-June “Shownotshow” event, which put traditional show entries of chutneys, quilts, scarecrows and homegrown produce on display in the town’s shop windows to celebrate the community’s talent.

While concerned about the survival of agricultural shows, she said initiatives such as Coonamble and more young people becoming involved in committees meant next year’s show season looked bright.

Sue Hood is a nominee in The Weekly Times Shine Awards, supported by Harvey Norman.

The Shine Awards celebrates rural women who make a real difference to their communities, businesses and industries. Winners in six categories will receive a $2500 Harvey Norman voucher, and an overall winner will receive a further $5000, announced on November 18.

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