By RUSSELL BENNETT
THIS year’s Berwick Show could only come about, thanks to the months of hard work put in by the tireless efforts of the Berwick and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society committee.
The committee includes president Debbie Akister, vice-presidents Andy Fyfe and Willem Boon, immediate past-president Tom Gibson, and secretary Mike Vallence.
“People have no idea how much work is required to organise and conduct an event of this magnitude,” Mr Vallence explained.
“Apart from a part-time secretary and treasurer, the society members are all volunteers who devote considerable time and effort throughout the year to carry on the tradition, which has survived for 160-plus years.
“The society also conducts a number of events, for example the Show Dinner Dance, where excess funds are donated to charities such as beyondblue, the YMCA, and St John of God hospital. Over the last five years the society has paid out in excess of $60,000 to community organisations and charities.”
For the Berwick Show, and so many others like it, children are the future.
Later this month, young people won’t just make up a key section of the exhibitors at Akoonah Park – they’ll learn a whole range of agricultural and horticultural skills that will help keep the show alive for future generations.
“In and around this area, we have the likes of Chairo Christian School, Woodleigh, Elisabeth Murdoch College, and Flinders Christian Community College, which all exhibit at the Berwick Show,” Mr Vallence said.
“The kids prepare the sheep, for example, they bring them, and they show them.
“We’ve made a conscious decision over the past decade at least to try and generate interest within each section when it comes to getting the kids involved and educating them.
“They’ll learn skills like communication, negotiation, management and organisation – life skills, as well as the friendships they’ll pick up along the way.”
The current office bearers of the Berwick and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society are: president Debbie Akister, senior vice-president Andy Fyfe, junior vice- president Willem Boon, immediate past-president Tom Gibson, secretary Mike Vallence, assistant secretary Margaret Boon and treasurer Nicole Hanssen.
