KERANG kids and their parents braved cold, gusty conditions for a bit of festive fun last week.
Normally at this time of year Mal Patrick would be plying his trade on the agricultural show route but last Thursday and Friday his van was set up in the vacant lot in Fitzroy Street.
Starting in Mildura, the Wangaratta-based showbag seller has been spending a couple of days in each major town along the Murray.
“Doing this is completely different,” he said.
“Instead of doing a show a week we sort of do a run and try to fit in as many towns as we can.”
While in some places he gets permission to park at the showgrounds, all that is really required is an empty block of land somewhere central, he said.
“Once they know you’re here, people come.”
There were plenty of people turning up in Kerang for the range of toy and confectionary showbags on offer – from the $5 Bertie Beetle to the $20 “World’s Biggest” range.
“It’s been very well received,” Mr Patrick said.
“Kids love it and their parents can’t thank you enough.”
Describing himself as an “i-ti” (pronounced ‘eye-tie’), short for “itinerant”, Mr Patrick explained he was a different category of show worker to the “showmen” who run the rides and operate the knock ’em down and shooting gallery “joints”.
But like them, he loves the life.
“We enjoy our time on the shows; it’s a lifestyle,” he said.
“I’ve been doing it since I was 18 and I’m 72 now.”
