THOSE attending the Sydney Royal Easter Show are often blown away by the displays of produce from regional NSW.
According to the Royal Agricultural Society, the District Exhibits competition celebrates cropping and horticulture and “agriculture’s place in Australia”.
There are now four regions in the exhibit; Central, Northern, Southern and Western.
Gloucester is part of the Central Region, which has been awarded first prize with a display based on the theme of “Farmer + Water + TLC = Food and Fibre for Life”.
Gloucester local Bob Tebbet was the designer of this year’s display.
Bob, who has been involved for the past five years, was ably assisted by locals Alison and Jess Kernahan, Betty-Anne Webeck, Garth Rodrom, Jillian Carson and Claire Reynolds.
“Thanks to these people and the many other Central District people who work tirelessly, we have this year won the Royal Agricultural Society Trophy for Best Display of our produce,” said Bob.
“It was very much a team effort.
“Our message was to show the public that the food we eat and the fibres we wear are provided by the farmers with loving care.”
Planning for the display and sourcing the produce takes the best part of nine months.
It is not only the appearance of the display that is judged – the quality of the produce is also critical.
Bob has been hooked on the Royal Easter Show ever since his parents first took him at the age of five, but he never thought that one day he would be the designer of the winning exhibit.
One of the items in this year’s Central display was a gramma grown by Gloucester eight-year-old Michael Harris.
Weighing 23.3kgs, Michael was delighted when it won the prize for being the heaviest in the show.
The first District Exhibits display was staged in 1876, when show societies from around the state were asked to mount displays of their produce.
Each display consists of more than 10,000 pieces of fresh produce, representing the best-of-the-best.
By John WATTS
