Funding helps to support Queensland show industry

$2 million from the Queensland Government’s annual Show Societies Grants Program will support 129 local shows during 2022-2023 in being able to thrill, delight, captivate and connect communities across the state.

Funding will range from more than $5,000 for small show societies to $150,000 for the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland to conduct the Ekka.

The Show Societies Grants Program provides financial support for operating costs associated with conducting annual agricultural shows, and costs towards the construction and maintenance of showground assets.

Additionally, Show Societies who own their grounds may use up to 50% of their funding towards new infrastructure works that meet the required timeframe and program objectives.

Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies (Queensland Ag Shows) General Manager, Trevor Beckingham appreciated the Queensland Government’s continued support noting “The Show Societies Grants Program is vitally important in ensuring the local shows can be conducted each year, particularly for many of our smaller shows.

“I’m also extremely proud of our show societies. They have displayed outstanding resilience, and it has been refreshing to see how innovative our shows have been, to be able to deal with all the issues COVID has thrown at them.”

Announcing the funding at the Ekka, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland’s local agricultural shows were part of the States great lifestyle and always provides a boost to the community.

Deputy Premier Miles advised “the local show is so much more than just exciting rides, displays and friendly competition, it’s also an important social and economic event on the annual calendar for our towns, cities and regions.

“For so many Queenslanders, especially those in rural and remote areas, the local show is the time of the year when the whole community celebrates and showcases their produce, livestock and craftsmanship.

“The local show is woven into the fabric of Queensland communities and they are only made possible by the tireless efforts of the show societies and volunteers who conduct them.

“I know that some shows over the past 12 months were again impacted by COVID. Their return will have even more significance for those communities.

“I also know many show societies worked hard to successfully deliver their shows, implementing COVID plans, or even shifting their show dates in order to keep their communities safe, usually with limited resources.”

Allocations will be provided to show societies over the coming weeks to support their 2022-23 shows.

Images: Ekka