“If it’s still around,” Alexandrou added. “It’s dying, but it can pick itself back up. A perfect example is South-East Queensland: they just ran out of money. It gets too expensive, especially since COVID.”
At the next display along, Dale Kneipp, 68, has been travelling from Northern NSW to the Easter Show to see the regional displays for decades.
Dale Kneipp from the Northern District at the Royal Easter Show.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Last year, for the first time, he was asked to help create the Northern Regions display.
“I said my bloody oath. I think it’s an honour to be asked to help make the display,” he said.
This year, the Northern Regions display celebrates the 125th anniversary by featuring displays of years past.
Kneipp believes the district exhibits will stick around for a long time, in part because of future generations coming through.
“We got a younger fella up there, he’s only 16, he’s one of our best workers,” he said.
Dave Cullen from the Southern District at the Royal Easter Show.Credit: Wolter Peeters
At the next display, Dave Cullen, 70, of the Southern District says the atmosphere is “quietly competitive”.
For 12 years, Cullen has helped to create the Southern District’s display. Hours of gluing seeds and placing vegetables have made this year’s fairytale design, which the team hopes will help children get involved in learning about the region’s produce.
“I think it’s one of the big attractors of the show because this really brings the city to the country,” he said.
The Royal Easter Show opened on Friday and will run until April 22.
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