This year I was more involved in the Royal Bathurst Show than I have before. It is known as “The Country Royal”.
Mum’s family have always been involved in shows, with my Grandfather entering fruit and being involved in huge displays at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in the 1920s and the Lithgow Show from the same time. My uncle then continued the tradition, being Chief Pavilion Steward at Lithgow until the early 2000s. Mum used to judge Needlework at various shows while she was a dressmaking teacher.
I used to enter items in the Needlework section at Bathurst as a kid and Mum always entered. Then, I seemed to get slack for many years, as I wasn’t doing much craft. About six years ago I started to enter things again.
Last year I offered to help in the Needlework section and was able to do so for the first two days of preparation, before we headed off to Baradine for Scrub Stitchin’.
This year, the timing allowed me to help for the full two weeks before the show started. Yes, it takes two weeks to get it all ready. When you wander around, looking at the exhibits, you have no idea of the work that goes on behind the scenes. I know I certainly didn’t.
So what happens?
As it turned out, the lady that has previously been the Head Steward of Needlework was unable to assist this year. So Muggins me was Head Steward for Needlework. Remembering, all I had helped with last year was receiving entries and putting them in their sections. There’s nothing like a steep learning curve.
Day 1 - Easter Tuesday - Most days start at about 8.30am. Clean the pavilion display areas, set up tables to start to receive entries in Art, Junior Art, Craft, Photography and Needlework. It looks rather drab to start with. Our pavilions are listed on the State Heritage Register, but that doesn’t mean they are flash. They are rather rustic inside. Others were busy bringing in display cabinets for Cooking, Lego, Lapidary, Apiary, etc. Shelves were brought in to display Horticulture and Produce. Hessian was attached to those shelves to screen below them. Screens are set up for Photography.
Day 2 - Wednesday - Receive the majority of the entries. Lots of entries, and covered up for the night. Nearly ready for judging on Saturday. Tick off all the entries to the Judging Sheets, making any adjustments as required.
Day 3 - Thursday - helped as a Steward with the judging of the Craft and Junior Art. This gave me an insight it what was involved, as I had no idea. Junior Art has so many entries from all the schools. I’d hate to try and judge them. In other sections, Open Art was judged.
Day 4 - Anzac Day - Show Free Day.
Day 5 - Saturday - Needlework Judging Day. It was really interesting seeing how this is done and listening to the Judge’s comments. She is very experienced and we are lucky to have her. I learnt so much about the process, and also about stitching in general. She commented that the standard of work this year was very good. What was disappointing was the miniscule number of entries in the Junior Textiles section. Hopefully, next time some schools can be contacted to encourage more entries. After the judging we started to attach prize cards and get ready to prepare the display, by laying cloths over the display stand area. We hung the quilts on the top rail.
Day 6 - Sunday - Started to set up the display. We hung items on the catwalk rail and worked our way down. I admit to initially being stumped as to how we would display things on the sloped section, but with guidance from the Chief Steward, we made good progress. There really are some lovely item that were entered. Particularly in the knitting and crochet. All done and covered up, ready for the Friday start to the show. In other sections, Photography was judged.
Day 7 - Monday - Helped set up the Photography section, attaching prize cards and starting to attach to screens. A huge job, and not completed in the day.
Day 8 - Tuesday - Show free day for me, as I had other commitments. In other sections, Lapidary and Apiary was judged.
Day 9 - Wednesday - Receiving entries for the cooking, which was judged that afternoon. I was not needed in the afternoon. I had thought of watching the judging, but it was cold and I had plenty to do at home.
Day 10 - Thursday - Show free day for me, as we had things to do in the morning and were going to Katoomba in the afternoon. At the show, the Preserves, more Baking, Horticulture and Produce were being judged, with entries brought in during the morning. Mesh screens were put in place to keep the public from touching the exhibits.
SHOW DAY 1 - Friday - in at 7.30 am to uncover all the Art, Craft and Needlework exhibits in the pavilion. Had everything ready to go at 9.00 am. Now for the public to come in and admire all the entries and have no idea as to what had taken place to get it all ready. How it should be.
I did enter some items this year. Yes, stewards are allowed to enter.
I entered two Wall Hangings, receiving a 1st and 2nd place, due to there being no other entries. I also received a 1st with my patchwork basket in Any Other Patchwork Article.
My Natures Journey quilt received a 2nd in Multi Technique, commercially quilted. My Doiley Quilt received a 3rd in that section. I forgot to take a photo. You can see the winner of this section, which also won Champion Patchwork, in the photo further up, hanging next to my Natures Journey. It had excellent piecing and lots of needle turn appliqué.
My Twister Quilt received a 2nd in Machine Pieced, all own work. You can see the winner behind. It was all HST, with perfect points, and huge.
My Knitted Beanie received a Highly Commended against some really beautiful ones.
I also entered my little Bag from our Scrub Stitchin’ kit a couple of years ago, in Tote Bag, but it was outclassed.
Mick and I had a good look around on Friday.
SHOW DAY 2 - Saturday - we had other commitments, so weren’t able to attend.
SHOW DAY 3 - Sunday - The show finishes at 4 pm and then we get stuck into pulling everything down. Tables are set out and entries are laid out by entrant, ready for them to be collected on Monday.
FINAL DAY - Monday - An early start at 7.30am, continuing to get entries organised for their owners to collect. For Needlework, it wasn’t too difficult, but for some sections, such as Junior Art, there are so many entries to collect. In the cookery section, sadly most of the entries are disposed of, as they are well and truly stale by then. Entrants come in in dribs and drabs, so cabinets are emptied, all the covers for the display areas are put away, and the place generally put to bed. Finally, any entries not collected are delivered to the show office to be collected at a later date. All done and dusted by 5.30pm. A huge day.
So, as you can see, it is a lot of work, with only a small band of volunteers, generally of retirement age. I was the second youngest. They are really trying hard to recruit more helpers for next year, as one of the stalwarts is retiring, along with her knowledge accumulated over many years. I do hope some others step up, as it is really rewarding.
