Show off for first time in 102-year life

For the first time in its 102-year history the Dinninup Show will not be held this November.

The show was cancelled by the Upper Blackwood Agricultural Society, which followed the lead of the Perth Royal Show in cancelling its 2020 event.

Society president David Corker said the cancellation was sad and extremely regrettable.

“It wasn’t even cancelled during the war, so very sad that this is the first time in over 100 years we’ve had to cancel the show,” he said.

“It will give us an opportunity to come back stronger and better next year.

“While I understand all the time and effort that goes into preparation for exhibiting at the show and it is most unfortunate that it won’t take place, those folks are very welcome to come back next year into a show that is hopefully bigger and better then ever.”

Much of the programming from the 2020 edition will carry over to the 2021 edition, with the theme of the show remaining Horses in Action. The winner of the competition to design the show program cover, eight-year-old Georgie Walker, will still receive her prize and her artwork will be displayed on the cover of the 2021 show program.

Shire president Richard Walker said the cancellation was disappointing, but not unexpected.

“We have to accept that these decisions need to be made in these extremely unprecedented times,” he said.

“We were a little anxious about where things were going when the Royal Show was cancelled.”

Cr Walker said he hoped the cancellation would galvanise the community to have a more significant show next year.

Mr Corker said hosting an alternative event had been considered by the society, but it had decided not to proceed.

“It’s a pity because it would have been nice to at least have provided something, but the overwhelming sentiment of the meeting was to play it safe,” he said.

“It’s one of those things about protecting the community.”