For more than 100 years a ‘must see’ attraction at any Sydney Royal Easter Show is the District Exhibits displays of produce.
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Nowadays these giant dioramas can be found in ‘The Dome’ at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.
While they attract the admiration of almost everyone who visits the Sydney Royal Easter Show, the District Exhibits are a great source of pride for the communities who make up each of the traditional five ‘courts’ in NSW and South East Queensland.
While each display attracts the votes of the public, leading to The People’s Choice Award, behind the scenes judging is a serious business, with experts spending many hours examining the produce in intricate detail and awarding points for the quality of the contents.
However the success of these exhibits is very much about the selfless volunteers committed to making them happen.
The Central District (which takes in Bellingen Shire) is the most successful of the districts in the history of the competition, which began in 1911.
Central District has won the prestigious District Exhibit Shield Perpetual Trophy a staggering 29 times, including an almost uninterrupted domination from 1973 through to 1998 when the Sydney Royal Easter Show debuted at Sydney Olympic Park.
Central District includes townships and surrounds from Gunnedah and Narrabri in the west, through Armidale and on the coast from south of Coffs Harbour down to Gosford.
“Central District has always taken a great deal of pride from our District Exhibit displays at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and we have had phenomenal success,” Central District Court organiser Diana Lisle said.
“However there is always a lot of work involved and these displays can never come together each year without planning. If there is anyone in our district who is willing and able to volunteer their time, carpentry skills, muscle, ‘know how’ and enthusiasm, we would love to hear from you.”
Diana can be contacted on 0429 799 083.
