KERANG and District Agricultural Society member Lorraine Morris said she was “floored” to be awarded a life membership with the Victorian Agricultural Shows.
Mrs Morris has been involved in agricultural shows since she was young, going with her father to help him show his sheep, cattle and horses.
“My dad was heavily involved in the shows, and he always told us when we were young that we have to give back to our communities and enforced that in all of us, so I suppose that’s why I have stayed involved,” she said.
“I got a heck of a shock when they announced I was a life member – I didn’t in my wildest of dreams think I would get a life membership.”
Mrs Morris has spent the last eight years on the VAS board since she was first elected in 2017, was president and secretary of the Northern District Group for three years each, was treasurer and secretary of the Kerang and District Show, and is now the Kerang publicity and grants officer.
While Mrs Morris is taking steps back from her role on the Kerang Show Society committee for younger members to step up, she is still there to provide guidance and support.
“All show societies are feeling the same concerns about getting new members, so we’re very fortunate to have young members involved, and I’m hoping we will get more involved,” she said.
“My husband is a third generation show fellow and he’s also stepping back now, but he’s willing to help with anything that needs to be done – you can’t stay there forever.
“I’m here for them for anything.”
Mrs Morris has helped Kerang Show herald in the modern era and supported adjustments to pavilion entry fees to encourage bakers, knitters, growers and woodworkers to keep showing their wares.
“The show is the biggest event each year in Kerang, and things have really changed in how we’re able to run the show,” she said.
“There is no entry fee to enter into any of the pavilion categories, because for some things like cooking there’s a lot of cost, so if there’s no entry fee that can keep them involved.
“The prizes are judged on an aggregate, so you get points for each placing that get added up in each section, and the one with the most points is the aggregate winner.
“There is also the overall pavilion aggregate where all the points are added up across knitting, craft, cooking, photography, flowers, everything, for a bigger prize that is community funded by donations from organisations.”
Mrs Morris will keep busy despite her reduced role on the committee, with her show season calendar already booked up with homecrafts and cookery judging commitments.
“I believe I do the best thing for people who are entering by still giving them a piece of nice feedback and a bit of advice to improve,” she said.
“I find something positive, like they used the correct tin, but the cake is a little dry so check your temperature because you may need to turn it down a bit.
“I make it about learning so they can come back next year with an even better entry.”
