Super successful Show

RECORD breaking crowds made the Ballarat Show the best ever.

Over the three-day event in excess of 16,000 people came through the gates.

Ballarat Agriculture and Pastoral Society executive officer Lucy Quartermain said she is thrilled with the results.

“The numbers were up on last year and the weather was great,” she said. Madison Goodwin and Billy Nolan hadn’t been to the Ballarat Show for three years.

With the public holiday last Friday Mr Nolan said it seemed like a good excuse to check out the Show as otherwise, “I would just be at work.”

“The Show is better this time than last,” he said.

Ms Goodwin, thrilled with winning her prize bear at the shooting gallery took delight in scoring better than Mr Nolan.

Ballarat local Herdi Bast and Sarah Merrylees, from Hay N.S.W., said they come to the show every year.

Ms Merrylees said, “We really love it, we wouldn’t miss it.”

With the Agriculture Society move to put focus back on the land this year, Ellie Argent-Jones and her son William, 5 years-old, said their favourite part of the show was the animals.

William said he loved the baby chicks in the poultry pavilion.

Ms Argent-Jones and her son, new to Ballarat, said as first-timers to the Show, “It is bigger and better than we expected.”

The Sandwith family – mum Kate, dad Shaun and daughter Amelia said having a public holiday for Show Day was a great idea.

“The kids – including grumpy son Zac – specially loved the dodgem cars and the donuts,” said Mrs Sandwith.

Lachlan 7, Aria 4, William 5, Cooper 4 and Sophia 3, all from Alfredton, are definitely not interested in the vintage engines and machinery display said kids’ mums.

Mum of Cooper and Sophia said, “The inflatable big worm and the dodgem cars were top of the favourites list.”

While Lachlan, Aria and William’s mum said the monster trucks kept her boys entertained.