Tom Venning (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about the many fantastic country shows across my electorate of Grey, representing over 92 per cent of South Australia. Since the beginning of the show season, I've attended country shows in Crystal Brook, Port Lincoln, Kadina and Whyalla, and they've all had a remarkable turnout. The Crystal Brook and Copper Coast shows celebrated their 146th and 154th years respectively, an amazing achievement for each community. The Crystal Brook Show was filled with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who make it all happen. The Port Lincoln Show, which has been running for over 110 years, had a huge turnout. The Copper Coast Show has grown in attendance from around 800 to 6,000 people over the past few years, which is an incredible accomplishment for that community—for my community. The 54th Whyalla show, South Australia's biggest show outside metropolitan Adelaide, hit a record number of attendees, with over 12,000 people on the Saturday. It's a true testament to the strength, community and popularity of our country shows. Amid the perfect weather and high community spirit, the Port Lincoln Show had an excellent talk about the harmful algal bloom. These events are the lifeblood of thriving communities and absolutely essential for holding us together during these tough times. I want to congratulate presidents on their efforts. Country shows simply could not happen without the hundreds of dedicated volunteers putting in the work to ensure their success.

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