Showtime: Taking a look at Wonthaggi's chooks

WHAT’S great about the annual Bass Coast Summer Agricultural Show?

Is it the carnival rides and the other entertainment and attractions that surround the horses, cattle, dogs, chooks and pavilion (usually) events that are iconic activities of any country show day?

Or do you like to see the horses parading and jumping?

Perhaps it’s the woodchop, the typical show-time food or the showbags?

Whatever it is you like about the local show, the most important thing about the show is the virtual handful of people who run the show, and take responsibility for the various sections, effectively the ‘shows’ within the show, that make up the spectacle.

Among them are life members of the Wonthaggi & District Agricultural, Pastoral & Horticultural Society, husband and wife team, Michael and Coral Jones.

They take responsibility for the excellent poultry show which makes its return, after two years out for COVID, at the Wonthaggi show this Saturday, January 14.

“The entries are starting to come in now in good numbers; from the local area, from the Latrobe Valley, Churchill, Lang Lang, San Remo… all over,” said Michael this week.

“We’ve also got a few to enter ourselves, along with other family members.”

In the pecking order of country poultry shows, it’s a pretty good one at Wonthaggi, they say.

“We always try to get a good judge and we’ve got a good one this year, Secretary of the Warragul Poultry Club, Ken Bjorksten, a senior member of the VPFA Judges Panel.”

Most of the entries come from the ‘Soft-feather Large’ chickens including the traditional breeds in sections including: Australorp, Ancona, Sussex (any colour), Langshan, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock (barred), Plymouth Rock (any other colour, Leghorn (black), Leghorn (any other colour), Hamburgh (any colour), Wyandotte (any colour) and Silkie (any colour).

The Soft-feather Bantams are also popular, with a good sprinkling of waterfowl, including Muscovey, Indian Runner, Khaki Campbell, Mallard and Saxony ducks.

Rosettes are offered for the following champions in each division and overall: Champion Bird in Show, Reserve Champion Bird in Show, Champion Bird Junior, Reserve Champion Bird Junior, Champion Hard-feather Bantam, Champion Hard-feather Large, Champion Soft-feather Bantam, Champion Soft-feather Large, Champion Waterfowl, Best Eggs and Best Novice.

“We were one of the first shows to offer an egg category which a lot of shows have adopted now,” said Michael Jones.

There’s prizes for the best duck eggs (1/2 doz), best chicken eggs in large brown, white and tinted sections, and several sections for Bantam eggs.

And the Wonthaggi poultry shed is very fortunate to have a generous sponsor of long standing, Green Valley Grains.

Show needs your support

Michael and Coral Jones have been associated with the Wonthaggi show for a lot of years now and Michael believes annual shows generally are important to rural and regional communities because they remind us of our heritage and because they’re something a little different from the usual run of sporting and cultural events or simply going to the beach.

“Away from a particular interest in football, cricket and the other sporting and community events, agricultural shows appeal to the broader community whether it’s the horses, the poultry, the carnival rides or something I’m going to miss this year, the craft, cooking and produce in the pavilion.

“I always love going in there. We’ve got such a lot of talented people in the community; whether it’s photography, art, cooking, preserves or in the garden,” said Michael.

“But shows have struggled in some areas, mostly because there’s not enough people helping.

“If you like the show and want to see it continue, you’ve got to get involved.”

The show has been slightly modified this year after missing two years for COVID but it’s back this Saturday, January 14 and hopefully going from strength to strength again.

Whatever you do, don’t miss visiting the poultry shed where you will see a fine array of chickens and waterfowl. Maybe you’d like a few chooks to lay eggs at your place.