Record crowds and biggest ever fireworks display for Kelmscott Show

Record crowds and biggest ever fireworks display for Kelmscott Show

1174
Prizes are a little different today. Mark Read and Sean Burke from Lucky Numbers at the 2023 show.

A record number of revellers flooded through the Rushton Park gates at the weekend for the Kelmscott Agricultural Society’s biggest Show to date.

Society president Daryl Dawes said while they were still waiting on exact attendance numbers, preliminary estimates are showing more than 16,000 people came in support of the Kelmscott Show – roughly 2000 more than the past two post-COVID boom years.

Up to 7000 people secured a spot to see the biggest fireworks display the show had ever produced on Friday evening, thanks to sponsorship from the City of Armadale.

This year was the first that entry prices included a concession rate – a move that Mr Dawes said was in recognition of cost-of-living pressures, and which was well-received by the community.

Mr Dawes said feedback from show-goers had been “overwhelmingly positive”.

“The atmosphere was great, and everything ran smoothly even though we had a lot more things going on this year – such as the gardening workshops, and the mounted games which were back for the first time since 2018,” he said.

“I just want to thank everyone for coming and supporting the show. By supporting us, they also supported the dozens of community groups who helped put on the show.”

Around $40,000 in ticket sales will be donated to local groups who volunteered their services and time over the weekend.

Congratulations to all major prize winners from the Exhibition Hall, who dazzled with their creativity and dexterity.

H.D. Mutton Memorial Trophy: Liz Bussell

KAS Perpetual Trophy: Peta Gallagher

City of Armadale Trophy: Liz Bussell

KAS Trophy: Angelica Menpes

KAS President’s Trophy: Nola Hindley

KAS Trophy most points by a student Years 7 to 12: Indiana Kazimierczak

Seadragonz Perpetual Trophy most points by a student Years 1 to 6: Denzel Kazimierczak.

The Kelmscott Show is proudly sponsored by Examiner Newspapers.

Photographs – Richard Polden.