BEHIND the rides, fireworks, livestock and displays of the annual show is a huge amount of work carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers.
The annual Molong show will return on Saturday 5 September for its 162nd year, with organisers promising another big day for the community, with new attractions alongside the traditional favourites.
Molong Show Society president Helen Crisp said preparations involved organising almost every aspect of the event, from entertainment and rides to parking, gates, displays, the bar and contingency plans for wet weather.
“People don’t see the behind the scenes, what actually has to happen,” she said.
“It’s an enormous task, but we are all in this for the community and we are all volunteers.”
This year’s program will feature a reptile display, an animal nursery, rides, fireworks, cattle and sheep, yard dog trials, a motorbike display, a ute display and a dog high jump, along with displays from the Rural Fire Service.
The event’s regular competition sections will also return, with photography, cooking, needlework, metalwork and other categories offering opportunities for entrants of all ages and abilities.
Ms Crisp encouraged more people to consider entering the show, saying there was something for everyone.
“We would really love more entries in every section,” she said. “There is something for everybody here. You’ve just got to do something for yourself and do something for the community.”
For many entrants, Ms Crisp said, the real reward was not necessarily the prize money, but the sense of achievement and community that came with participating.
“Entry is not about winning,” she said. “It’s about doing something that is good for yourself.”
The show will feature school displays, a CWA-run canteen and luncheon pavilion, and a fireworks display scheduled for 7.30pm.
Organisers said the support of the community was essential to keeping the event running.
“Without community support, we can’t run the show,” Ms Crisp said.
“It’s an expensive exercise and we really need the community to get in behind us and support us.”
At the same time, the Show Society is urgently seeking a secretary. The position involves helping with the significant administrative and organisational workload behind the event.
The committee is also welcoming volunteers who may not wish to join the committee but would like to lend a hand, with working bees planned in the lead-up to the show.
The Show Society acknowledged its ongoing partnership with the local golf club, which provides access to part of its grounds and plays an important role in helping the event operate.
With the show schedule expected to be released soon, organisers encouraged the community to follow the Show Society’s social media pages for updates on competition sections, entries and event information.
After 162 years, organisers say the annual show remains what it has always been: a chance for the community to come together, celebrate local talent and enjoy a day out with family and friends.