Show reigns supreme whatever the weather
THERE is certainly something special about a Townsville Show, especially if it rains! I had to take a SeaLink over a puddle on Ingham Rd it was so big.
Show day morn and it was off to the show to dodge puddles, horse poo and showbag carrying kids … well, it looked like the bags were carrying the kids; we couldn’t see the little ones!
It was an adventure simply arriving, first was Charlie on security keeping an eye out for questionable people ( we got through anyway), then the friendly girls in the ticket box, and Elaine from the Salvos, who launched herself at us for a hug.
I’m sure they were somewhere else, but the funhouse shape changer mirrors weren’t at the entrance ( the mirrors make me look better) and where was Shannons Chippies?
As we wandered, we ran into the Kennedy Regiment reenactment society, luckily not literally as they were doing bayonet practice.
Along with the military museum, it was a great display.
Then the rides, and that big one called Freak Out, which I did just looking at it. It was so fast if a kid riding it had spat his chewy out, it would have landed on the windscreen of the 11.30 Qantas to Brissy. Give me the Cup and Saucer any day.
But around the corner, tradition retuned, the wonderful axeman ( that “axe” not “tax” by the way). I truly wonder how they miss their feet.
One bloke came up and said: “Pricey, we have a spare axe, come in.” Sorry, no way!
He said he’d been doing it for 65 years, and never had a problem. I asked him his name, and he said “Tony Two Toes”.
How they stand on the log and swing the axe within inches of a paramedic is beyond me.
The journey continued to the camels, the dogs ( the ones on a stick with tomato sauce … let’s not talk toes again, I’m still shivering at the thought) the ducks, the motor bikes and then to one of my fave spots, under the grandstand for the arts and crafts, and they’re safer.
Wonderful artists to watch such as Sue Hollanby, the girls from the CWA, but sadly no flowers or veggies.
Remember the veggies grown at the prison reserve would be artistically placed against the wall? Sensational.
Not sure why they stopped, but the veggies the prisoners grew were fantastic. It may have been the deep holes they dug for the veggies … most of them finished south of Ayr.
Remember the last day of the Show in the afternoon, they’d give the veggies away, and naturally offered free delivery. The Show was simply great. Now a new show arrives today, the V8 Supercars, for the Watpac Townsville 400, or 423 if they get lost. Transporters today, Supercruise tomorrow, racing begins on Friday.
Happy Days. Ooroo!