FORGET Royal Melbourne, it’s all about Swan Hill Show, say two amusement ride operators in town for this weekend’s main event.
Elwin Bell and Paul Watkins travel to shows around Australia and say Swan Hill can always be counted on to bring in a profit because local people are keen to support their own town.
They’re expecting big crowds at the Swan Hill showgrounds over the course of the weekend.
“People want to support and retain their country show,” said Mr Watkins,
“It’s a community event, that’s what the show is all about.
“The old country shows will keep battling on.”
The two men agreed the success of the metropolitan shows like the Royal Melbourne, the Royal Easter Show in Sydney and the Ekka in Brisbane, hinges on the talent fostered by the smaller country shows like in Swan Hill, a show now in its 120th year.
“All the cakes and chooks, they all run to win the big country shows,” Mr Bell said.
“The big city shows wouldn’t be anything without the small country shows.”
Mr Watkins has travelled to Swan Hill at showtime for over 50 years, and told The Guardian that its a challenging era for the amusement ride industry.
“There’s radio, TVs, phones now,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot more competition these days.”
But nothing can simulate the stomach dropping whoosh of a show ride and Mr Bell says the rides available at Swan Hill Show are just good as any at last weekend’s Royal Melbourne Show
“We’ve got Midnight Madness, Zipper, No Limits and Freak Out,” he said.
“Melbourne hasn’t even got a Zipper.”
The Swan Hill Show opens today at 9.30am and closes after the fireworks at 9pm. The gates open again tomorrow at 9.30am.
For more on the Swan Hill Show, pick up Friday’s paper (October 2).
