THE Australian Sheep and Wool Show returned to the Bendigo Showgrounds last weekend for its first event in three years.<\/p>\n
Thousands flocked to the stalls and sheds to view some of the finest stock in Victoria, watch shearing competitions, and indulge themselves in food and woollen retail.<\/p>\n
CEO of the show Margot Falconer said it wasn\u2019t until the gates opened on Friday morning that she could breathe a sigh of relief, positive that it would go ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been three years since we\u2019ve had a show, two have been cancelled but our last show was 2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really important to have the event, to get people back into the habit of bringing their sheep to show and also coming out to attend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Falconer said last year\u2019s show was ready to go when a statewide lockdown was announced the night before.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had incurred every expense you can,\u201d she said. \u201cThe sheep were here, the store, the pens, the marquees were built, all of the contractors had been working the week leading up to.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said this year\u2019s event was made possible through government grants, member donations, and suppliers\u2019 generosity to cut back invoices.<\/p>\n