INAUGURAL RIVERINA FIELD DAYS—WRAP

The decision to hold  the Riverina Field Days in Griffith at the Showgrounds was vindicated with a very successful event being held over the two days. With brilliant weather conditions the crowds turned out in force and gate takings on both days doubled that taken at Yanco last year and organisers were extremely pleased and whilst accurate numbers are not available those figures would equate to approx. 10,000 people. 

 

Over 250 exhibitors attended with more than 100 of those being “first timers” in other words businesses or people who had never participated in the field day  at Yanco (which I’d organised for the past 19 years).

 

Despite assertions from another organisation that there was not the room at the Griffith Showgrounds, we proved this to be completely inaccurate and did not use all the area available.   Such was the case that next year we intend to permit some public parking within the Showgrounds as well as exhibitor parking.

 

Both exhibitors and the public were unanimous in their praise of the organisation and facilities provided.  Exhibitors on the main arena were very complimentary of the site and wonderful grassed area.

 

There were mixed reports from exhibitors, as would be expected in this economic climate, depending on what they were selling.  Some reported excellent sales, whilst others will be waiting to see how their enquiries pan out over the next few weeks.

 

An Exhibitors’ Dinner held at the Coro Club on the Friday night attracted 120 Exhibitors who were high in their praise of the meal and the chance to get together with other exhibitors and enjoy a meal and a few drinks in a convivial atmosphere.  It is expected that next year’s dinner will see more exhibitors attending.

 

Major sponsor of the Riverina Field Days, the Wine Grapes Marketing Board, were thrilled with the overall support from the whole region with many farmers attending their Friday seminar on Drought Management at the Regional Theatre and then visiting the Field Days, with some returning on Saturday for another look.  They are looking forward to the 2008 event.

 

The Gate Prize competition attracted over 5000 entries and the winner of the weekend trip to Melbourne courtesy of AD Tours was Adele Rosa from Yoogali.  Second prize of a $300 voucher was Nicole Murray of Griffith and 3^rd prize of a $200 voucher went to Karen Babbs of Narrandera.  Both these prizes are redeemable at Clickstart IT or Connect & Go, Griffith.

 

The Rural also ran a competition which attracted 200 entries with the winner being Aileen Honeyman from Hay who won an accommodation package at the Quest Apartments in Wagga and tickets to the Forum 6 Cinema in Wagga.

 

Winner of the Power Farming Inventors’ Competition was Barry Bennett from Cobram.  Barry is a past winner of this competition and was runner up last year. His invention this year was his “Easy Feed Machine”, a feed machine that fits on a ute or truck tray and tandem trailer and is a one person operation from driver’s cabin  for feeding out all size bales. He picked up a 40 litre Engel portable fridge/freezer.  Highly commended was Roy Goldsby-Smith for his reconstruction of an old manual wheel chair into a 3 wheeled motorised disabled vehicle.

 

The display by the Griffith Aero Club was magnificent with two light planes and a couple of helicopters taking up a large area of the canal.  Their competition for a free instructional flight also attracted hundreds of entries and the lucky winner was Stephen Robertson of Goolgowi. Following numerous enquiries from members of the public, in 2008, the Griffith Aero Club are anticipating that they will be able to provide Joy Flights for members of the public with a helicopter able to take 4 persons at a time.

 

As organisers of the Riverina Field Days we are already planning the 2008 event and an aerial view of the Showgrounds provided by the Griffith Aero Club, which took several members of the committee on a helicopter flight over the area, has convinced the committee that next year we will be able to provide several areas within the Showgrounds for Public Parking

 

We have addressed some of the “teething” problems which we had and will also slightly redesigned the main arena and will also allocate small “general interest” site around the inside fence of the main arena.    A new map will be provided shortly.

 

A photoshop presentation is currently being made and by following a link you will be able to view many photos of the event.

 

The General Interest Area will also be re-designed and most of the sites will be either 6m x 6m or 12m x 6m.  Sites will still be available on the outside of the perimeter of the oval on both the northern and southern ends.

 

The layout of the Woodside Hall has had to be changed due to OH&S issues and four of last year’s sites will be lost due to having to have all exits accessible, however there will be other sites available at the back of the hall—an area which was not used in 2007.

 

 Dates for the 2008 Riverina Field Days are May 9 & 10 and any enquiries can be directed to Ffiona Beverley on (02)  6964.8811 or mobile 0428 630 057 or email riverinafielddays@bigpond.com