Forbes forester helps win Easter Show prize
From the Winter 2006 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
Alan Smith and the winning northern district produce exhibit depicting the life of early pioneers. Photo by David Barnes/Forests NSW Image Library
Standing before Sydney’s Royal Easter Show district produce exhibits, you have to wonder just how the hundreds of varieties of grains, grasses, wool, preserves, fruit, vegetables, wine, eggs and honey are kept looking their best for the two week display.
Forbes forester, Alan Smith, is an experienced exhibit designer with the answer.
“Displays often have secret paths builtin so the produce can easily be replaced throughout the show. A good display doesn’t need produce replaced,” Alan reveals.
Working with a team of ten people to design and construct the northern district exhibit ten days before the opening of the 2006 show, Alan was up against stiff competition from southern, western and central New South Wales and southeast Queensland all competing for an award.
This year, northern districts won the overall point score for quality of produce and were placed third in the display competition, taking home the prestigious HCM Memorial Shield.
The district exhibits have been the centrepiece of the Show for more than 100 years. In the face of this long history, Alan is a youngster, whose involvement stretches across a mere 13 years.
“Involvement in the exhibits tends to be a lifelong commitment with some people being involved for upwards of 60 years,” Alan said. “There is great camaraderie within teams and rivalry between competing exhibitors.
“We work hard, but also have a lot of fun along the way.”
NSW Department of Primary Industries sponsors the district produce exhibits and this year staged a neighbouring display focusing on innovative departmental research in the areas of seafood harvest, carbon sequestration, olive oil testing and Asian vegetable classification.
Communications, Maitland
