Official Opening of the 78th Maleny Agricultural Show

I too acknowledge all our elected representatives. I thank the Show Society President for his invitation to me and Kaye to be part of this year’s Maleny Agricultural Show, the 78th to be held since the Society was established in 1922. We are delighted to be here.

The Maleny Show is and always has been a wonderful community event, bringing together people from the local area and further afield to celebrate the region’s agricultural riches and its people.  

This year the Show honours “one hundred years of ANZAC”.  So let us first give special thought to the men and women of the district who served their country in war and whose names are commemorated on Honour Boards and memorials in Maleny.   

The Show is a focus for all kinds of marvellous community activities, from the Show Ball tomorrow night to the opportunity for young people to build their life skills through participation in Miss Showgirl, Show Princess, Rural Ambassador and Charity Person.    

The heart of the Show is, of course, the variety of exhibitions, competitions and activities found all over the showgrounds.  They range from classics like equestrian events, wood-chopping, and the splendid Grand Parade that we have just witnessed, to the delights of the tomorrow’s Gumboot Ironman competition. 

The Show is a reflection of the region’s unique agricultural character, which encompasses both more traditional farming and smaller, high-quality artisanal food and craft production for which Maleny and district are well-known. I wonder, for instance, if there are any other places in Queensland that boast buffalo dairying among their agricultural pursuits!

Along with the serious business of competition, there is plenty of opportunity for fun.  Sideshow Alley is here, of course, along with a splendid entertainment program.  

I thank the Show Society Committee for the tremendous amount of work they have done in bringing to 2015 Show to fruition.

I thank wholeheartedly the Show officials, competitors, entertainers, sponsors and the many wonderful volunteers who make the show possible.  

Kaye and I wish the Show every success and look forward to seeing more of its attractions shortly. 

But for now it is my great pleasure to declare the Maleny Agricultural Show 2015 officially open.

Thank you.