The sound of chainsaws rip through the air, competing with the music and rides in sideshow alley for volume. The smell of cattle and horses galore mingles with the scent of dagwood dogs and fairy floss.
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The Bega Show has come and gone again for another year and for many it’s an annual family event full of joy and laughter.
In the pavilion, as in the various competition arenas, the weekend is a showcase of the incredible breadth of local talent and produce we have in the Bega district.
Outside of those arenas...not so much.
With the exception of successful Bega export Rhys The Trickster Davies, where were our local musicians and entertainers? There are certainly copious numbers of them given the wealth of talent at local venues week in, week out.
Where were our local food and coffee vans? We know there are plenty of those as well, not one of them represented among the hot food and cold drink options available to showgoers that we could see.
Full credit to the local clubs and community groups manning the kiosk and emptying the rubbish bins, but why is it year after year we hear the same niggles at showtime of local musicians missing out and local foodies not getting a spot?
Perhaps none of them applied to be part of the show weekend, perhaps there wasn’t room on the schedule. Perhaps the organisers didn’t make the approach or maybe need to promote themselves as an outlet for local talent more.
Whatever the reason, should the Bega Show extend the showcase of local produce, livestock and craftsmanship to the market stalls and street performers as well? A worthwhile discussion we suggest.
Meanwhile, it’s not news that sideshows and showbags are designed to rip punters off. It doesn’t seem to turn us off though – the Bega Show’s in town, why not drop some dollars on the plastic ducks or the $10-for-five-minutes rides!
However, when this reporter’s showbag turned out not to even have its advertised branded contents, that rip-off became a bit too much to ignore. I know I’d get more value for my $10 at the local supermarket lolly aisle, but hey it’s show time.
But arriving home to divvy up the sweets between my two girls only to discover a bag full of the cheapest generic lollies that bore no resemblance to what was clearly posted on the wall behind the carnies really got under my skin. Buyer beware.
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
