AN ANIMAL genetics officer and an alpaca breeder will represent Zone 2 in the final of the 2015 The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Competition in Sydney.
The Zone 2 final was hosted by Blacktown City Show Society with 11 showgirls competing from across the region. The dinner and interviews were held at the Blacktown Workers Club.
Camden Showgirl Kate Boardman, 24, is an animal genetics officer with Riverlea Piggeries Australia and is based at Corowa.
She holds a Certificate II in Agriculture and is also passionate about breeding and showing Angus cattle and Australian Stock Horses. In her spare time she enjoys competing in campdrafts, hockey and water skiing. Kate hopes to one day own a successful and sustainable farming enterprise renowned for quality stud cattle.
Hawkesbury Showgirl Amber O’Neill, 19, is enthusiastic about breeding and showing alpacas and aims to be the best breeder of alpacas in Australia. Having taken a year out from formal study, Amber has been working as a farm hand at Cranebrook High School, while also working with Lyn and Graeme Dickson at Warralinga Alpaca stud, Glossodia, and operates her own small stud, Alkira Alpacas, with animals agisted on a number of properties across the State.
Her aim is to complete a veterinary science degree specialising in camelids (camels, alpacas and llamas).
Amber is the current secretary of the Australian Alpaca Youth Group and was the convenor of the Hawkesbury Show Schools Alpaca Competition.
The final was judged by Agricultural Societies Council of NSW representative Christopher Cole, Parkes; JLT Insurance representative Anthony Gunn, Melbourne, and The Land’s markets editor Karen Bailey, Richmond.
The other Zone 2 finalists were: Albion Park Showgirl Aimee Austin-Fahey; Berry Showgirl Tessa McMahon; Blacktown Showgirl Dana Velasca; Castle Hill Showgirl Natasha Martino; Kiama Showgirl Georgie Picton; Milton Showgirl Meredith Woodcock; Nowra Showgirl Natalli Nelson; Picton Showgirl Kathryn Apps and St Ives Showgirl Natalie Hoskins.
