Gympie Show.

A non-urgent update; It still hasn't rained!!!! and BTW sometime
over the weekend some body should get to be my 50,000th
visitor... can you imagine that... I can't.


Have you ever experienced a country towns annual Show? Due in
part to Gympie's location we have the first Show on the long trek
up the coast of Queensland, over the next 3 to 4 months the
traveling show people who provide the side show alley component
of Shows everywhere will set up their wares and rides in dozens
of towns both small and large between here and Cairns in NQ.

Chainsaw sculpture has become a popular art form and this very
Australian piece was a perfect start to my visit to the show.

By chance rather than choice I was confronted by side show alley
as soon as I entered, while the youngsters find this an appealing
place to be it isn't my favourite area, never has been.

The rides on offer today make the old "merry go round" seem a little
insipid so perhaps it's just a matter of what was available when I
was young?

The wood chopping area is a big part of the Show in Australia and
always draws a big crowd.

Well... yes.. a little, but as they offered no clue as to what they
offered in the way of treatment... I moved on without a visit.

Some of the quite large crowd inside the main pavilion to look at
the exhibits there.

There were two portrait artists available for those who felt their
faces worthy of recording.

As with all the Shows in Australia they are venues for the
agricultural produce from the area to be exhibited.

The main grandstand was pretty well packed as it offers the
best vantage point to watch the show-ring events and the
grand parade.

Local retailers of everything from Cars and Trucks to Farm
machinery and home equipment take advantage of the 3 day
Show to display their wares to the public, today, Friday, was
a public holiday in town so it was a very busy day.

There is a strong equestrian influence here, this magnificent
beast (the horse was nice too) caught my eye (several times.)

As did the now almost obligatory motor cycle stunt riders, not that
I am for one instant decrying their talent and bravery... Stupidity??

As you can see the sky got more and more threatening looking,
it's just about part of the tradition that it rains during the Gympie
Show, but this year the drought will probably win out.

I have a confession to make.... I have never ridden on a Ferris Wheel...
it's not that I'm particularly afraid of heights, it's more just one of the
many things I've never got around to doing... next lifetime maybe??