Clucking And Weaving: Easter Show Goes Back To Its Roots

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday March 19, 2008

Paul Bibby

IT WAS a typical Easter Show scene. Faced with an indignant-looking rooster running towards him, Jason, 5, issued a startled scream and ran to the safety of his mother's legs.

"Help, he's chasing me," the youngster shouted as the bemused Gallus domesticus ducked for cover.

After much coaxing, the boy offered his imagined foe a handful of pellets, and minutes later the two were friends.

"Most of the city kids have got no idea what farm animals sound or smell like - they've only seen pictures," the manager of the show's farmyard nursery, Alisa Nye, said yesterday.

"I hate to think what they'd do if I told [them] what will eventually end up on their plate."

Many of the youngsters who charge into Olympic Park tomorrow may believe chickens enter the world in nugget form, but organisers are determined they will leave with a different impression.

This year the show is returning to its agricultural roots.

Organisers have changed the layout to encourage showgoers to get among the traditional sites, smells and sounds and have introduced a revamped program for the tens of thousands of school students expected to attend. This includes a student passport that gets stamped at every agricultural feature and can be redeemed for prizes at the end of the day.

The chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society, Peter King, said: "There may have been a perception that we were straying from the core agenda of supporting the agricultural industry, but I don't think anyone will be left with that perception this year."

Educating youngsters may be front and centre, but there has been no cutting back on the events geared purely toward entertainment.

Alongside the rides and showbags will be live music and Xtreme Korruption, which features a precision driving team, and a highwire motorcycle act.

EASTER SHOW 08

March 28-April 2 Sydney Royal Horse ClassicDaily Xtreme Korruption car and motorbike stunt show

March 20 Hotrod display

March 21 Bull Riding Spectacular

March 26, 29, 31 Grand Parade

March 27 World Cup Showjumping

March 29 Sheep judging

April 1 Cattle judging

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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