Well, it has been a long time coming, but we did it!
A very big thank you to the Hills Small Acreage Field Days committee, led by Greg Russell, for the huge effort in organising and running the inaugural HSAFD but an equally large thank you goes to all our members and those volunteers from the Hut, all of whom performed admirably throughout.
It was a successful weekend event, albeit demanding a great deal of time and effort. We had our ups and downs, but overall, it went off without any major catastrophe.
Greg will recommend to the Board that we hold another one in the Spring or Autumn of 2024. This proved to be a great foundation to build upon with so much learned and many sponsors and supporters who now share the vision. Greg and his team have established a great many solid relationships with so many equally committed to making this a regular event.
This effort has proved to me the adage: When we imagine Rotary, we can achieve anything!
What a weekend it was!
After four years of trying and three false starts, including one cancelled due to COVID only three weeks out from the opening, the inaugural Hills Small Acreage Field Days event was finally and successfully staged over the weekend of 24 and 25 September, 2022.
One valuable outcome is that we have now built up a substantial, professional photography portfolio to help us market the event in future. Photographer Peter Knights took some really great shots including some aerial ones, which go a long way to explain the concept and how Field Days differ from festivals, markets, fairs and even agricultural shows.
While not a catastrophe, not being able to offer free public parking onsite and having to position heavy vehicles and equipment on hard surfaces off the oval, the exhibitors and the public at large calmly accepted the inconvenience.
It should also be noted that the Echunga community also supported us when all attendees' vehicles were directed to park on the main street of town and in front of residents' homes!
There was plenty to see and do for all members of the family!
Greg, who provided the inspiration and the leadership for the event, worked
long hours scurrying about the grounds, checking on volunteers
and delivering supplies and equipment to exhibitors,
Crucial logistics planning and on field support to staff and exhibitors was provided by
David Hogan and John Norris, manning one of the mobile QRVs (Quick Response Vehicles)!
An impressive gallery of VIPs joined President Malcolm in welcoming Her Excellency,
The Honourable Frances Adamson, AC, Governor of South Australia (in the white hat),
to officially open the first ever Hills Small Acreage Field Days.
Her Excellency then did a "walkabout" in the company of Greg and Malcolm
to meet staff and exhibitors
Josh Teague MP, Shadow Attorney General, and President Malcolm
introduced Her Excellency to a "local".
Susanne once again stepped up to handle MC duties in her usual polished style
but this time also had Nic on a roving mic to interview some of the exhibitors
about the many product lines they had on display. He obviously found
something very amusing about drilling wells!
Michelle did an absolutely amazing job with the children's program. There were plenty of supervised activities and opportunities to get active. The hay bale mountain proved especially popular!
Annette Cass and Marcella Russell greeted every visitor with a warm welcome and smile! Entry Gate was probably the busiest place on-site but ticket sales and ticket taking ran exceptionally smoothly under Entry Supervisor Andrew Cass with the help of Tim, Ken P, Stephen and several others over the 2 days.
Important components of the Field Days were the Speaker (L) and the Demonstration (R) Programs.
PDG Dick acted as MC for the Speaker Program which he and Liz conducted very handily.
Nic performed the same role to wide acclaim in the demonstration area.
***
Kudos to Greg Russell and his intrepid team who successfully staged, what is by far, the most significant community event in the club's recent history.
For the record, here are the members of the team:
Greg Russell, Chair
Malcolm Horton, Logistics,/Site Support/Risk
Andrew Cass and David Hogan, Logistics/Site Operations
Dan Edmonds, Marketing
Nic Kentish, Speaker and Demonstration Programs
Ron Malcolm, Administration/Insurance Council and Community Relations
Michelle Lesiw, Entertainment and Children's Program
Pauline Annear, Finance
Let the record also show that every single member of the club stepped up to contribute crucial support in so many ways to ensure success,
We can all pat ourselves on the back for helping the Rotary Club of Stirling redefine its stature and reputation as an important player in the life of Stirling and the wider Hills community.
