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Cardross community seeks a big Show of support

Posted on September 16, 2011

READY, SET, SHOW! Brodie Dalla Santa puts the finishing touches to his scarecrow ‘Robotman’ for last year’s competition.

By GRANT MAYNARD

SPRING is here, and for the resilient folk out Cardross way that means the event dubbed the ‘greatest little show in Sunraysia’ is just around the corner.

This year’s 10th Cardross Spring Show is being seen as having special significance for this small, rural community as it continues to recover from the devastating floods of earlier this year.

“The show is a fantastic opportunity for the wider Sunraysia community to demonstrate its support for our community,” the show’s spokesperson, Mary Chandler, said this week.

“We are encouraging everyone to make this the best year ever for what we are calling a ‘show of support,’ and help us celebrate the way the Cardross townspeople have bounced back from what was, for many, the worst experience of their life,” she said.

Already, the information and entry brochures are out for the show’s traditional precursor – the popular Scarecrow Spectacular.

“We are hopeful that keen entrants will make some very special scarecrows for Cardross this year,” Mary said.

The brochures can be picked up from all Mildura Rural City Council libraries as well as the Cardross Store, or in Red Cliffs at the newsagency, Foodworks, the post office or Lever’s.

Alternatively, those with email access can telephone Mary on 5024 1345 and she will forward a PDF copy.

Scarecrows may be traditional, whimsical or “a spitting image”… and can be constructed from absolutely anything, Mary said.

That includes, but is not limited to, recyclable items, scrap metal or other exciting items from dad’s shed; or clothes and other bits and pieces from mum’s cupboards

If you need inspiration, Mary recommends logging onto the Internet and Googling ‘scarecrow’ for some ripper ideas.

Section One of this year’s competition is sponsored by the Red Cliffs Club and open to an individual of any age.

Section Two, sponsored by Hydraulic Solutions and Pneumatics, is open to families, businesses, organisations or clubs.

Section Three, sponsored by Tasco Inland, is open to primary schools, kindergartens, play groups and registered child care centres.

The sky is still the limit as far as scarecrows go, Mary said.

“We are looking forward to a great variety of colourful and interesting entries once again,” she said.

First prize in each section is $200, with $50 for second.

The scarecrows will once again be erected along Dairtnunk Avenue, in the vicinity of the Cardross Hall. They will be judged on Saturday, October 1, and winners will be announced at the Cardross Show, on Saturday, October 8.

Meanwhile, the schedule for the show proper is also now available from the aforementioned outlets.

“We have so many competition sections to choose from again in 2011 – for adults, and senior and junior students… and once again we are asking would-be competitors to make this a good year for Cardross, a show to leave us with fond and lasting memories.”

A highlight of the show is the popular photographic competition.

“It’s time to start clicking,” Mary said.

There are a myriad of competition sections, for a wide range of age groups under the Open, and Junior and Senior Child categories.

“There is plenty of scope this year,” Mary said, “And we would like to be inundated photos,” she said.

“We want to stage our best photographic exhibition ever.”

The Open categories include ‘A Landscape in Black and White’ and ‘Sunraysia’s 2011 Flood Event,’ as well as ‘A Sunrise or Sunset.’

Junior section categories include ‘A Tree in Black and White,’ ‘Playground Fun’ and ‘Flower, Leaf or Twig Study.’

Meanwhile, the senior children’s section has categories including ‘My Favourite Hobby’ and ‘My Holiday Adventure.’

Full details of the photographic competition can be found in the show schedule that also includes all the details for a long list of other competitions including those grouped under headings including flowers; vegetables; citrus; cookery; jams, pickless and preserves; eggs, and art and craft.

The highlight of the cookery section is once again the iconic fruit cake competition.

The recipe is supplied, Mary said, but not the expertise!

The colouring competition is back for 2011, with this year’s study being a pair of frogs.

“We thought that was appropriate considering the number of frogs that sprang from who knows where once the drought broke,” Mary said.

The timing of this year’s show has created some headaches for organisers, with many of the most enthusiastic entrants – the students, both junior and senior from schools around the district – being on holidays.

It is the holidays that are at the wrong time, Mary says, not the show.

“We will be working hard to accommodate children wanting to enter the show this year,” Mary said.

We can store non-perishable competition entries in the hall leading up to the show, Mary said, but we would have to make other arrangements for entries like the cakes, flowers and fruit and vegetables.

“We are hoping our juniors will want to get creative on their break… consider their entries a kind of homework… only much more enjoyable.”

Any enquiries about this year’s show, to be staged on Saturday, October 8, from 9.30am to 4pm, should be directed to Mary on 5024 1345 or Dianne, after hours up until 8pm, on 5024 1141.

The show competitions display in the historic Cardross Hall will open at 11.30am.

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