New face to guide showgirls

When the competition was established in 1962 it wasn’t the done thing for single young women to travel to, and stay in, Sydney alone – it was expected an older, more experienced woman in the form of a chaperone, was needed to look out for them.

Today, modern young women might dismiss the need but as numerous state showgirl finalists will agree their chaperone at Sydney has often been a welcome support.

For the past 17 years the role of chaperone for The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Competition state finalists in Sydney had been filled by Jennie Ramsey, who stepped down from the job after last year’s Sydney Royal.

This year Jennie, who works as a receptionist at Sydney girls’ school Loreto Kirribilli, handed over to a new chaperone, Greta Lane, a former Sydney Royal finalist and product development manager for the Northern Sydney Institute part of TAFE NSW, based at St Leonards.

Jennie was introduced to the showgirl competition during the years she worked for Westpac, which was a sponsor during the 1990s.

Her roles at Westpac were numerous, including relieving branch manager in towns across the State, in public relations, and as manager of the branch at the old Moore Park Showground in the late 1990s.

While Jennie’s best known as showgirl chaperone, before she took on that role she was a judge for the 1996 Sydney final alongside the first Sydney Royal Showgirl, Margaret Mackay (nee Pennefather), Dungog, and Rear Admiral David Holthouse, Braidwood.

That year Condobolin Showgirl Lee Cobb as selected the winner.

Jennie continued as final judge in 1997, with gardening writer, Trish Dixon, Cooma, and again Rear Admiral Holthouse, to select Moree Showgirl, Penelope Tomlinson, as their winner.

Jennie’s first year as chaperone was 1998 – the first year at Homebush for Sydney Royal.

During her years as chaperone Jennie guided close to 300 young women on their journey towards the final in the Amphitheatre at Sydney Showground, offering advice and support, and ensuring all arrive on time at events, and return safely to their accommodation during their week-long Sydney Royal experience.

“I saw my role as being a guide for these young women to help them enjoy their Sydney Royal experience,” she said.

“It turned out I really had no idea what I was getting myself into and it was harder than I expected – suddenly I had all these daughters to look after, 24 hours a day, looking out for their needs and wants – and I loved the whole experience.

“To see the girls on the first day and then by the end of the week how much they’d grown was a remarkable experience.

“Then to see the winners come back the following year to hand over, you just saw how much they – and their confidence – had grown throughout the whole experience.”

Looking back on her time as chaperone, Jennie said she loved every “exhausting” minute of it.

“There were plenty of fun times and great experiences – I’ll miss the job but hope I can continue a link with the showgirl movement in the future,” she said.

“I used to receive thank-you cards from both the showgirls and their parents each year, and this still happens – it’s a lovely reminder of the many friends I made during those years.”

New chaperone, Greta, hails from Dubbo and was the 1997 Dubbo Showgirl, who went on to the 1998 Sydney Royal as a finalist – Jennie’s first year as chaperone.

At the time of winning a place in the Sydney final Greta was 23 and working in her family’s real estate business in Dubbo as well as studying for a Bachelor of Business (Tourism) through the University of South Australia.

“Jennie was an amazing support for me during my Sydney showgirl experience – she got on so well with all the girls, was easy going and approachable and ensured we were all focused on enjoying our time at the show, which was the first at the new showground,” Greta said.

“I saw Jennie as somebody to look up to, and I remember thinking her role as chaperone was a role I’d like to do some day.

“You set many personal goals when you’re young, and being the showgirl chaperone was one I set, but one goal I didn’t really think would ever come true.”

A few years after her Royal experience Greta headed to Sydney to explore her career opportunities, and worked with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) which runs Sydney Royal for three years before taking up a position with a private educational provider, and finally TAFE NSW.

As part of her role with the North Sydney Institute, Greta works with students on career pathways and while visiting Loreto last year ran into Jennie who suggested she apply for the chaperone role.

“I felt honoured to be given the opportunity to become the showgirl chaperone, and the seven day experience provided me with an amazing opportunity to again work with the RAS, to meet 15 showgirl finalists and to connect with many people from rural and regional areas so passionate about agriculture and wanting to educate others on their area expertise,” Greta said.

“I embraced the chaperone role as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an opportunity to bring new life into the chaperone role.”

Greta saw her role as not only a support for the showgirls but also a mentor.

“I wanted to give the girls a chance to see how being a showgirl finalist can open many doors, to embrace the opportunities offered to them, and make them think about where they take this experience – perhaps onto Rural Achievers or stewarding ,” she said.

“As a previous state finalist to then being the showgirl chaperone it was about demonstrating how to make the most of every opportunity you are given.”

Greta’s aim was to create a seamless transition for the competition’s organisers, the RAS, from Jennie’s years as chaperone to her year, and ensure everything ran smoothly.

She’s also brought a modern touch to the job, creating a Facebook page for the finalists in an attempt to engage the finalists using social media in the lead-up to their time in Sydney, as well as during their week.

This involved sharing relevant information and updates before Sydney, and once there sharing daily pictures of each day’s activities.

“I wanted the girls to have plenty of memories of their time as a showgirl finalist to look back on,” Greta said.

She also introduced daily reflection sessions to discuss what each finalist enjoyed most about activities, what could be improved, and what was their main takeaway which was also done via social media.

“Ultimately I wanted the girls to have a fun and a memorable week,” she said.

Greta said the showgirls also provided her with encouragement throughout the week.

“I loved hearing what they had already achieved – which is impressive being still so young – and where they hope their careers will take them,” she said.

Among the weeks’ highlights for Greta were her second visit to Government House (her first being as a finalist) and meeting the new Governor of NSW, General David Hurley, and his wife, Linda, along with the visit to Westmead Children’s Hospital.

At the showground, joining the showgirls as guests of the RAS president, Robert Ryan, and his wife, Suzanne, and the Governor (as official patron of the show) for the official Sydney Royal opening was another memorable experience.

“To see the best of the best in agricultural exhibits on the main arena is such a spectacular event is impressive and something to be proud off,” Greta said.

Another special experience was the District Exhibits, where the showgirls met the volunteer teams.