On Thursday, October 21, show society representatives from group 14 travelled from across the district to Narrabri for the Northwest Showgroup annual general meeting (AGM).

The AGM was held in the Narrabri RSL Club’s auditorium, from 10am.

Narrabri, Wee Waa, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Moree and Warialda were represented, while members from Bingara, Walgett, Mungindi and Brewarrina issued apologies for their absence.

Narrabri locals in attendance included Northwest Showgroup director and delegate to Agricultural Societies Council of NSW (ASC) Judy Michell, Narrabri group 14 representative Wendy McNair,

Narrabri Show Society secretary and Next Gen delegate for group 14 Bec Cope, and Narrabri group 14 representative and 2021 senior Showgirl Gemma Ferguson.

The meeting began with attendance formalities, including apologies, before moving on to each town’s show report.

Miss Cope presented Narrabri’s report, which demonstrated some major wins from the 2021 event.

A range of new stewards and events have been added to the Narrabri show line-up over the past 12 months.

Miss Cope also touched on the 2022 show weekend, which is set to include even more sections.

“We’re introducing a number of new categories, as well as rehashing some old favourites,” she said.

“The rodeo was a massive hit this year, so we’ll be doing it again in 2022 and hope to have more ring-side seating by then.

“This year the committee also saw the return of much-loved ring announcer Vince, and canteen coordinator Courtney, who were welcomed back with open arms.

In the lead up to the 2021 weekend, a new website was created to help show visitors and entrants navigate the Narrabri event.

Record sponsorship and in-kind donations saw the show return bigger and better than ever before this year.

As a result, the event attracted a high number of visitors to the showground over the early-May weekend.

“Visitor numbers through our gates were phenomenal, seeing more than 5000 people visit the show over the duration of the weekend,” Miss Cope said.

“Our educational day once again broke previous attendance numbers too, with more than 650 preschool and school children participating.”

Six new life members were also recognised this year.

Miss Cope reported that attendance for the Narrabri Show Society meetings has also sky-rocketed, moving the gatherings from the showground secretary’s office to a function room at the Tourist Hotel.

After the surrounding towns delivered their show reports Miss Cope went on to share updates about Next Gen, a youth-focused extension of the ASC.

“Between the seven committees across group 14, 11 awards were given out this year,” Miss Cope said.

“This was the greatest number of award recipients of any group across NSW.

“I feel it is something we should be proud of, to know our local committees are supporting the younger generation coming through so we can ensure the longevity and prosperity of our local ag shows.

“I’d like to thank the committees across our region for their support, especially since we were unable to hold our Next Gen rural ball this year.

“We hope COVID-19 safety restrictions allow us to host the event in 2022, and are continuing to encourage more memberships signups in the meantime.”

Following the Next Gen report was Gunnedah’s Kim Shields with the secretary’s report.

The main item she brought to the meeting’s attention was an update in the showgroup’s constitution.

The secretary/treasurer concluded her report with high hopes for 2022, wishing next year to be less turbulent for regional shows, before moving on to the treasurer’s report.

The report included a quick word on the impact of COVID, as well as a receipts and expenditures brief.

Nominations and votes for the incoming committee then took place.

Hugh Coulton of Warialda was re-elected as president, followed by Walgett’s Brennan O’Keeffe being selected for deputy president.

Three vice presidents were then nominated to fill the two available positions, with a meeting-wide vote declaring Wee Waa’s Gary Hibbens and Narrabri’s Janine McGowan successful.

Another secret ballot took place to vote for the two secretary/treasurer nominees, with Gunnedah’s Kim Shields winning the role for the 23rd time.

She was also selected as the group’s public officer.

Narrabri’s Bec Cope and Moree’s Brendan Munn were nominated as the new ASC delegates.

A number of new patrons were also added.

The $600 show society fee was raised to $620, before the AGM was closed.

The general meeting then opened, with the same apologies and Next Gen, secretary and treasurer reports being carried over.

Narrabri’s Judy Michell then delivered her director’s report, explaining that most of the ASC meetings over the past 12 months have been over Zoom.

Mrs Michell shared the latest news about the Showgirl title, which the ASC have renamed to The Sydney Royal Ag Show’s NSW Young Woman.

The body hopes the new name will better represent competitors, with the update coming into effect at next year’s Royal Easter Show.

The report also offered guidance for local show societies ahead of their 2022 event, with the steward’s handbook now available online for committees and funding grants on offer to areas who had their show cancelled this year.

Other points Mrs Michell’s report touched on included junior judging, other matters relating to the 2022 Royal Easter Show, changes to horse sections, insurance matters and Working With Children Checks for show volunteers.

She concluded by congratulating the new delegates.

The Northwest Showgroup then discussed future show dates, ensuring each town’s event is locked in for the following three years, in an order that doesn’t cause any clashes.

Wee Waa’s show will be moved to August 26, 27 and 28 next year, as it was planned to go ahead this year prior to lockdown.

This change has been made in line with the area’s agricultural calendar, with hopes the show weekend will go ahead before locals become too busy harvesting wheat and planting cotton.

The other town’s dates are already locked in for 2022, on the same weekend they usually occur.

In addition to Wee Waa’s changed date in 2022, Bingara moved its 2023 weekend from April to May and Moree pushed its 2023 show back a week to late April.

The 2023 dates agreed upon are April 14-16 in Gunnedah, April 28 and 29 in Moree, May 5-7 in Narrabri, May 11-13 in Warialda, May 13 and 14 in Walgett, May 19-21 in Bingara, August 4 and 5 in Mungindi, August 25-27 in Wee Waa and September 1-3 in Tamworth.

The 2023 dates for Brewarrina remain unconfirmed.

After show dates, the group moved on to general business including discussions on the 2021 zone junior judging competition.

It was agreed that Warialda will conduct the upcoming trials on February 13 next year.

This date was picked in accordance with the summer school holidays, ensuring students are at school when the event takes place, and is also far enough ahead of the 2022 Royal Easter Show to allow successful competitors to continue on to the state level in early April.

Moree’s show representatives agreed to attend the Warialda event, to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge needed to host the following zone junior judging.

It’s expected this will take place in winter next year, when the shed facilities at Moree showground are updated.

Attendees on the day enjoyed lunch at The Outback Shack after the general meeting closed.

They will meet again on Thursday, March 17, 2022.

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