Social photos: Coonalpyn Show celebrates 80 years
See who has been seen out and about in the Murraylands this week, thanks to Genuine Support Services Australia.
At the show was Member for Barker, Tony Pasin; Emily Spinks of Field with her daughters, Mackenzie and Rhue; Brydee Martin of Culburra with her daughter Hazel; Agnes Sim dancing with the RSL Mt. Gambier Blue Lake Highland Pipe band; Baden Lloyd of Lonsdale, Sculpture for Corro Creations; Johno Schmerl of Coonalpyn; Marleen and Bill Dunthorne; Nick McBride proud winner of best men’s chocolate cake and Jess Doyle of Strathalbyn. Photos: Glenn Power.
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The Coonalpyn Show celebrated its 80th birthday on Saturday, October 18, bringing together locals and visitors for a special day that captured the true essence of country life.
Among the special guests were Marleen and Bill Dunthorne, who lived in Coonalpyn for 65 years before moving to Murray Bridge.
Marleen now in her 80s, was at the very first Coonalpyn Show in 1945 — and even won a prize as a four-year-old.
“I fondly recall walking with mum to the showgrounds, collecting wildflowers along the way.
"Then we found a small tin and finally we tied a blue ribbon around the tin – mum got that from a family friend as we passed her house,” Ms Dunthorne said.
“It was a simple bouquet of beautiful, colorful native flowers - and I won the flower competition that year.”
Also at the show Zoe Rook and shearer, Zack Richards, of Manawata, New Zealand; Andrew McLeay; Jacqui McLeay; Ros Watts; Best Trade Stand, winner Brad Williams of Emetts, Murray Bridge with runner up Kyle Challinger of Swan Farm Machinery; Luke Beresford of Rockleigh; Julianne Wandel of Culburra, and Elva Broeckelmann of Coonalpyn; Emily Spinks with her daughters, Mackenzie and Rhue; and Pat Jacobs and Val Lewis both of Coonalpyn. Photos: Glenn Power.
The show also welcomed international visitors, including New Zealander Zack
Richards, who’s working in Australia on a shearing visa.
“Aussie shearers earn nearly double us New Zealanders - but I must admit Merino sheep are much tougher to shear,” he said.
Crowds enjoyed a variety of attractions — from tyre bowling and cartoon drawing to crop and field exhibitions, sculpture displays and the ever-popular shearing
competitions.
The pavilion’s flower displays were a highlight, judged by experts with more than 76 years of combined experience.
Entertainment came from the RSL Mt. Gambier Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band, while food stalls, horses, steam engines and trade displays ensured there was something for everyone.
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