Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The show society movement is the biggest volunteer movement in the Commonwealth of Australia, and the show societies contribute about $1 billion to the Australian economy. I am blessed to have seven country shows in my electorate: Ipswich, Rosewood, Marburg, Lowood, Esk, Toogoolawah and Kilcoy. I look forward to working with the Ipswich Show Society with the millions of dollars that we're investing in the show society for their evacuation plans and upgrades to the necessary facilities that they have there.

Last weekend, I was pleased to attend and, of course, sponsor and assist the Kilcoy show society with their biggest and best country show they've ever had. I want to congratulate the president, Susan Pratten; senior vice-president, David Moffett; junior vice-president, Alastair MacDonald; secretary, Lisa Kirkman; and treasurer, Tracy MacDonald.

Last year, the Kilcoy show society was so successful in their show that they contributed $2,000 extra at the end for local organisations. I want to thank all the sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers who assist all of the country shows in my electorate. The talent, skills and abilities from showing cattle and horses, through to the quilting, painting, crafts and crocheting is there and on display. I want to thank all of them for what they do. It's a magnificent contribution to our local community. This is the lifeblood of rural communities, and I'm pleased to represent a rural and regional electorate in South East Queensland.

See this speech in context