THE commitment to Wagga Show runs deep for the Hamilton family with Robert Hamilton being named the third member of his family to take on the role of president.
It's an almost unheard of feat and demonstrates a love and affinity for the show and all that it brings to the community.
Mr Hamilton was elected show society president earlier this year. He follows in the footsteps of his father Bruce Hamilton, who was president from 1999 to 2003 and his grandfather, the late Henry Hamilton who served as president from 1977 to 1980.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 show in Wagga didn't go ahead. However, this year Mr Hamilton is hoping the event, on September 10 and 11 will be better than ever.
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Together with show society stalwart Jenny Hodges, who is senior vice president, they have some big plans for 2021. Mrs Hodges, has a family commitment to the show too and her late husband John Hodges was secretary, manager of the show society for 13 years.
Everything from equestrian events, to bustling trade halls full of arts and crafts, side show alley and a range of activities for school-aged children are likely to feature later this year.
"My vision is to make this show bigger and better, we have people in the community who really appreciate this event," Mr Hamilton said.
However, to achieve that goal he is putting the call out for people to be involved in the society and to put their hand up to help make the event a huge success for southern NSW.
He said the show ground was well located and there were plans to constantly improve it.
Mr Hamilton said he had fond visions of attending the Sydney Royal Show as young boy, aged 10 or 11. He remembered the huge crowds and the atmosphere.
He also believed that people wanted shows to thrive after seeing the absence of these events during the coronavirus outbreak.
For him it was a chance to give the community something to look forward to and enjoy.
It was also an opportunity to allow exhibitors to display their best livestock, arts and crafts.
Mrs Hodges said the success of Wagga Show was integral for those people who travel the country to provide sideshows and other attractions.
She said during the COVID-19 pandemic some of these businesses were hit hard due to the absence of community events.
And with Royal Melbourne Show scheduled for late September, October later this year, Wagga Show fitted into the calendar and was a good precursor event for those competitors and side-show alley operators who were making the pilgrimage south.
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Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
