Government House Queensland
2017 RNA Show ‘Ekka’ Week Reception
Minister Bill Byrne, representing the Premier; Leader of the Opposition, Mr Tim Nicholls; Justice David Thomas, our RNA President; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; girls and boys. Kaye and I extend a very warm welcome to you all: it is wonderful for us to welcome to Government House this afternoon such a fine cross-section of our Queensland community. The place is looking almost at is best: scaffolding does not mean extensions are underway, it means the exterior is being painted!
Kaye and I are already deeply, happily, into the Ekka swing of things this year. Between us, so far, we have hosted Miss Showgirl Finalists – and we welcome back tonight with congratulations our winner, Miss Jackson, and runner-up, Miss Zanetich (pron. Zan-eh-tesh), and the winner and runner-up of the parallel Rural Ambassador competition, Mrs McLennan and Mr Fogg. We have also attended the RNA Ladies Fundraiser, the Cabinet Dinner, the Schools Scarecrow Competition, the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network High Tea, and now we are hosting this reception.
We look forward very much to People’s Day on Wednesday, and tomorrow, we have invited to Government House students from St George State High School, which we visited in June; they are in Brisbane to exhibit their sheep and cattle. So that’s our Ekka programme!
These ‘Ekka encounters’ remind us just how apt is the RNA’s promotion of the Show as Queensland’s largest community event.
The hundreds of thousands of people who enjoy themselves in the showgrounds in the August sunshine are part of this community spirit, but that is by no means the whole story.
The Ekka also provides opportunities for community and charity groups to raise funds by, for instance, selling the famous strawberry sundaes, thereby transforming ice cream, cream and strawberries into recommended food groups – though only for the week!
The RNA’s ‘Friends of the Ekka’ program provides free tickets, via community groups, to Queenslanders who would not otherwise have been able to attend the Show.
The RNA takes the Ekka to children at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
The Ekka provides an opportunity for fierce but friendly competition among Queensland’s matchless producers of food and fibre, and also among the wider community in every arena from photography to preserves, from cake icing to scarecrows, and, indeed, map-making! (I mention this as my humble schoolboy maps, which I entered 55 years ago, are on display, I understand Mr President, in this year’s heritage section of the Showgrounds.)
We find ‘writ large’ in the Ekka the spirit of community celebration that is at the heart of local shows held all around Queensland.
It has been my great recent pleasure to experience this marvellous community spirit when opening shows including Lowood’s 110th, the centenary show in Gatton, and soon the 100th Wondai Show.
And the Ekka is, by far, the biggest undertaking of them all. Its unique blend of information, education, and recreation holds a special place in the hearts of millions of Queenslanders.
More effectively and beneficially than any other event, the Ekka bridges our State’s country and city identities, and showcases our agricultural and industrial prowess. These are industries so deeply and significantly enmeshed in our State’s vibrant history, that they delineate, in a substantial way, our contemporary spirit.
Kaye I heartily congratulate the RNA on the great milestone of its 140th Show.
We thank the RNA Council, Executive led so ably by Mr Brendan Christou, the staff, and the army of wonderful Ekka volunteers, for the enormous thought and effort they have put into this mammoth challenge again in 2017, creating that special Ekka magic for us to enjoy together – as the cohesive and appreciative community which we are.
Thank you.