For more than a century, no visit to the Sydney Royal Easter Show would be complete without taking in the famous “District Exhibits” displays of produce.
Since 1998 these giant dioramas have been situated in the iconic “The Dome” at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.
While works of art admired by hundreds of thousands of showgoers each year, they are also a great sense of pride amongst the communities that make up each of the traditional five “Courts” (Royal Agricultural Society of NSW regions) in NSW and South East Queensland.
Some of the designers and volunteers who work on their District Exhibit each year have done so for more than 50 years.
Today however a call has gone out for the youth of Northern District to join the cause and you don’t have to be from the land to add your contribution. Young people from our townships and villages are encouraged to add their skill, imagination and team spirit.
While each display attracts the votes of the public, leading to “The People’s Choice” Award, behind the scenes it is a very serious business, with expert judges spending many hours examining the produce in intricate detail and awarding points for the quality of the contents of each display.
Sydney Royal Competitions set the benchmark for agricultural excellence that underpins Australia’s agricultural performance ensuring a viable and prosperous future for our rural communities.
For Sydney Royal competitors, a win is testament of achievement at the highest level.
However the success of these exhibits is very much about the commitment of individuals including selfless volunteers committed to making them happen.
The Northern District is one of the most successful of the Districts since the competition began in 1911, second only to Central District.
The Northern District has won the prestigious District Exhibit Shield Perpetual Trophy an incredible 27 times, including an almost total domination from 1926 through to 1940 and on eight occasions in a row from 2005 until 2012.
Northern District stretches from Tweed Heads, west to include the farming districts around Brewarrina and Walgett and back to the coast, encompassing areas around Coffs Harbour.
Northern District is keen to reclaim its crown at Sydney Royal and stop the two year winning run of South East Queensland.
However to do that organisers of Northern District need the support of local communities.
Northern District is also today publicly calling for a person with the knowledge, expertise and skills to take on the role of Manager for the Northern Districts commencing with the 2020 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
However more immediately the District is seeking help to put together the District Exhibit for the 2019 Sydney Royal Easter Show including;
- A Sugar Cane grower who is willing to grow and supply three varieties for the 2019 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
- Anyone from the District who can make and supply jams, marmalades, pickles and preserves for judging and sale at the Sydney Royal.
- People with carpentry skills to assist in constructing the exhibit at Sydney Showground.
- An enthusiastic grower who can provide a range of grains for judging and display.
- A willing cheese producer able to provide mature, semi-mature, mild and “fancy” varieties for the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2019 and beyond.
“Our District has always taken a lot of pride from our District Exhibits displays at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and we have had phenomenal success, but there is always a lot of work involved and these displays can never come together each year without planning, a community spirit and top class product,” said Brian Winter, President of Northern District.
“If there is anyone in our District who is willing and able to volunteer their time, product we need for the display or even their skills to help put out display together, we would love to hear from you,” he said.
Brian can be contacted via;
winter-paddock@bigpond.com