Meet this year’s Showgirls

STEPHANIE loves polo, horse racing and most of all, showjumping. She’s studying a Bachelor of Business Innovation and Strategy and aspires to be one of Australia’s leading equestrian commentators.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. Grant Hughes is an iconic equestrian and business man. He is a tireless volunteer for our sport. He is warm, caring, hardworking, resilient and an exceptional role model.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about youth in ag, specifically, getting kids away from iPhones and into the real world. There are opportunities everywhere for young people to have a go at new things rather than worrying about how many "likes" they will get on social media.

How do you spend your spare time? I’m either behind a microphone commentating or on a horse. The big weekends, long drives and often crazy schedule is worth it for the amazing friends I make and experiences I have.

GEORGIA is a registered nurse and aspires to study midwifery at a post-graduate level. She plays both indoor and outdoor hockey and enjoys snorkelling and bushwalking.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. Jacinta Griffin – she’s heavily involved in our show society and the Agricultural Societies Council Next Generation Movement. She’s a great ambassador for the Bega Valley.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about empowering the community with knowledge about how to access good health and education resources.

How do you spend your spare time? I enjoy taking my dogs and horses down to the Kameruka River and having a swim.

BALLROOM dancing is listed among Dana’s wide range of interests, along with piano, baking, basketball and tennis. This Blacktown local is passionate about her community and hopes to one day start her own non-government organisation.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. The volunteers at my local St Vincent de Paul branch are inspirational. Week in and week out they devote their own time to organise visits to the disadvantaged.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. We need greater regulation around foreign investment in Australian agribusiness. We need to safeguard our next generation’s future.

How do you spend your spare time? I help run a charity in India which provides care for adults with intellectual disabilities. I also run a youth group through my local church which teaches teenagers leadership and social skills.

PHOTOGRAPHY, poetry and sketching are among Oliva’s skills. She’s studying a Bachelor of Construction Management to become a project manager. One day she hopes to return to the family trucking business run by her father Tony.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. The Mai-Wel group. They’re a community disability organisation which give people opportunities to get into the workforce. I really admire the volunteers who give their time to help with this organisation. 

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. The rising number of farmers with mental health issues. It’s important we continue to encourage and give support to those who need it most.

How do you spend your spare time? I love going bushwalking and kayaking. I also judge the cattle section of country shows.

WEST Wyalong Showgirl Catherine Worner is completing her Bachelor of Agricultural Science through Charles Sturt University, Wagga, and has been lucky to experience a number of developing agricultural regions including Indonesia, the Philippines and South Africa.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. Reg Rattey – he fought in the Second World War. I admire his bravery and courage and what he’s done for our community.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. Stopping the disappearance of small towns in the West Wyalong district. They’re disappearing due to corporate investors and absentee landholders buying up farms.

How do you spend your spare time? You’ll find me riding horses at campdrafts or on the farm doing odd jobs with animals.

COOTAMUNDRA’S Showgirl is a rugby union fan. She also enjoys soccer and horse riding, an interest which has extended to involvement with Riding for the Disabled.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. My mum – she has been the driving force behind my family and many community organisations and events in our community.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I believe in promoting agriculture to the next generation. The future of our industry relies on bringing new people in for the long term, and this begins with giving someone a start.

How do you spend your spare time? I love being outdoors and riding horses. I also enjoy growing and cooking produce from my veggie garden.

CAMILLA is studying to be a teacher and she hopes to do an honours year in special education. 

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. My grandmother – she taught me my manners.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about stopping mining on the Liverpool Plains. It’s some of the best agricultural land in the country and the idea of mining it is insane.

How do you spend your spare time? Riding my two horses, Leo and Wonky. 

HAVING spent years enjoying the announcement of Tenterfield Show’s Showgirl, Annabel always knew she would enter the The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl Competition. A primary school teacher by day, she restores furniture and upholstery by night. 

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. The Benevolent Society, Tenterfield. This year they are hosting a conference on domestic violence which also involves working with high school-aged girls to teach them violence isn’t okay.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about.  It concerns me how busy families (and teachers) are - it’s hard to find some quiet time to read a book and share a family meal. Nurturing children is as important as a quality education.

How do you spend your spare time? I enjoy going to the gym and doing fitness obstacle courses. I love baking and homemaking.

AT 24 years of age Caroline owns her own florist business called Flowers on The Mill. She cultivates a lot of her own flowers and has aspirations to become a flower farmer.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. My great uncle Gus – he’s 90 years old and still works on our family’s farm every single day. His love of the land is so inspiring.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about spreading awareness of the importance of buying local products. By buying local you’re keeping your community, and Australia, ticking.

How do you spend your spare time? I do lots of gardening and I spend a lot of time with my family working on our dairy farm.

GRACE is studying a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Teaching (secondary). She helps co-ordinate the National Indigenous Science Education Program which targets potential school dropouts and provides them with leadership opportunities in the classroom.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. Mark Liebich – our local mayor, show president and successful businessman. He’s grown the Grenfell Show to be what it is today and is passionate about getting everyone in our community involved.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about the educational outcomes of Indigenous and low socio-economic students. I don’t believe the family you’re born into should have a negative influence on your education but unfortunately it does.

How do you spend your spare time? I love to play netball, read books and go out with my friends.

BY DAY Collie local Camilla Kenny is NSW Health’s Rural Adversity Mental Health Program’s rural mental health coordinator. By night she studies a Masters of Social Work.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. 2016 Dubbo Local Woman of the Year Jane Diffey. She’s involved in the our local show society, advocates for the Early Childhood Intervention Centre in Dubbo and she established the charity Clare’s Angels to raise money and awareness of Retts Sydrome.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about mental health and working to improve literacy and awareness around this.

How do you spend your spare time? I enjoy being busy and engaged in my community which is why I’m involved with the Dubbo Show Society and showgirl committee and play touch football, tennis and hockey.

EMILY is a rugby union die-hard and fashion lover. She’s an active member of the Young Show Society, having joined the committee when she moved to town a few years ago. 

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. My dad, Steve Madge. When someone is in need of help he doesn’t shy away. He’s a hardworker and has contributed so much to the Harden-Murrumburrah community in a short space of time.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about flagging the need for drought assistance from government. There’s only so much we can do at a local level for our farmers and it concerns me the Federal Government isn’t doing all it can to help.

How do you spend your spare time? I’ve got a green thumb and an eye for design so I like pottering around the garden and sketching interior designs. I also love shopping. 

ASHLEY breeds, trains and competes with her Australian Stockhorses at agricultural shows and campdrafts. She’s already completed a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Laws and is currently completing her Masters of Laws.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why. Therese Argue – she’s a fantastic ambassador for women in our local agriculture industry.

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about. I’m passionate about promoting Footprint in Ag, a agricultural youth group i’m involved with on the Mid-North Coast.

How do you spend your spare time? You’ll find me with my Australian Stockhorses, my favourite of which is called Bobadil True Destiny.

UNIVERSITY student and real estate agent Gabriella would like to use her experience to carve a career selling sustainable agricultural holdings.

Name a local hero of yours and tell us why.  My Italian grandfather, Mario Giacobetti. He built a successful beef and banana enterprise from scratch without being able to speak English. He’s a great example of what you can achieve by getting in and having a go. 

Tell us about an issue you’re passionate about.  I’m really passionate about share farming because I really want to make farms accessible to young people.

How do you spend your spare time? I like to paint and train my four horses including a 10-year-old which I’m retraining and a two-year-old which I’m breaking in.