Gympie Show 2018. Gympie Show Society Vice President Warren Smith has added his voice to that chorus, saying âwe need to do everything we canâ to make sure the Show doesnât miss a second consecutive year.
âIt has been a tough couple of years but the support from the Gympie Community generally has been outstanding,â Mr Smith said.
âCOVID wiped out last yearâs Show, and almost wiped out the Show Society. Had it not been for a great management crew and team of volunteers, as well as our casual staff, and grants from the State and Federal Governments, along with our Markets, we would not be here.â
The shock resignation of Gympie Show president Graham Engeman two months before this yearâs Show is due to be held has been described as âa blowâ by stalwarts and volunteers.
Mr Engeman reportedly resigned from the position he had held for the past two years at a meeting on Wednesday, citing concerns about the ever growing red tape that had to be navigated.
The Gympie Times attempted to contact Mr Engeman but had not had a reply by time of publishing.
Manager and committee secretary Deb Brown said Mr Engeman had been the focus of a lot of pressure and his departure was âa blowâ but it would not derail the 2021 event.
Gympie Show Society president Graeme Engeman.
But Mr Engeman was firm in his commitment to bring the Gympie region a show to remember when it returns on 12 May, after last yearâs edition was cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic.
âThe intention is to have a show, and as much as possible a proper show,â Mr Engeman said yesterday ahead of a monthly Show Society meeting.
âIt was always âIf weâre going to do the show, weâll put on a showâ. We wonât have any entertainment in the main pavilion, but weâll have lots of entertainment in the main ring.
Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew OâBrien named Deb Brown Citizen of the Year for her work with multiple groups including the Gympie and District Show Society, Gympie Jump Club and Matty Hillcoatâs Truckies Day Out in front of a healthy crowd gathered inside the Pavilion. Deb Brown, winner of Gympie s Australia Day Awards Citizen of the Year 2021.
Ms Brown said she was more than a little surprised to hear her name called at the top of an impressive list of Citizen of the Year nominees.
âIâm absolutely humbled to tell you the truth, I probably never expected to even get nominated,â she sad.
Deb Brown, winner of Gympie s Australia Day awards Citizen of the Year 2021.
âItâs an honour. Itâs kind of baffling, it hasnât really sunk in yet,â Charlee said following the ceremony.
âIt was an amazing ceremony, it was just such an incredible honour truly just to be here and then to win the award.
âI knew I was nominated but you never really think youâre going to win, I was a bit surprised.
âI really want to make a difference in the world. I donât know what Iâm going to do with my life once I graduate, but I do know I want to make a difference.