The Annual
Bangalow Christmas Eve Carnival
CHRISTMAS
EVE CARNIVAL 1999 (from Heartbeat)
The last Christmas Eve carnival of the Century promises to be a special
and memorable night for the townsfolk of Bangalow. The particular emphasis of this year's
carnival is enjoyment for the kids - a safe and fun Family Night. The organisers have all
the usual treats in store - merry-go-round, the apex train ride, tug of war, buskers, live
entertainment, food stalls and much more. On a specially built stage in front of the Post
Office, one of the acts will be Cape Capella Choir and several bands including TANE.
The carnival committee is particularly excited with the preparations for the magic
cave. Santa Claus will be waiting to see each child as they make their way through the
magic Cave - he will greet each and every child and hear their requests. The Magic Cave
can be found at the RSL Hall and Santa's Helpers and Mrs Claus will be there to assist.
The Carnival is sponsored by the Bangalow chamber of Commerce and would not be possible
without the invaluable support of volunteers - too many to name individually. We would
like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Christmas and hope to see you all at the Christmas
Eve Carnival.
December 24, 1998. The miracle happened. The
afternoon tropical storm cleared and the stars shone. Something like 5,000 people turned
up for one of the Northern River's most highly regarded events.
Purely a locals event and a rare moment for catching
up with people around Bangalow, to briefly acknowledge those who have shared whatever
small part of the year with us.....
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The Bangalow Show
1999 was the 100th Annual Show
Contact numbers are: Show Office: 02 6687 1033 A/H: 02 66884322
BANGALOW
SHOW’S A WINNER (Heartbeat Dec 99)
Clear skies and sunshine, a superbly prepared showground and large
crowds made this year’s Centenary Bangalow show a roaring success. Competitors,
families and special guests came from near and far to view, enter and display their prime
stock, poultry and best crafts, creating record entries in all categories. It also
provided both our rural and urban families a great opportunity to meet, socialise and
connect in a very pleasant environment.
Friday nights Northpower Family Reunion BBQ was jam-packed and many old and familiar
faces were seen amongst the crowd. Included were seventeen of our previous Miss Bangalow
Show Girls who also took part in the Grand Parade, arriving on the oval in superb vintage
automobiles along with the Official Party.
The 100th Bangalow Show was ceremoniously open by two distinguished
gentlemen, Mr Doug Anthony and Mr Frank Scarrabellotti. Frank, who is 102 this year, has
attended every Bangalow Show since it’s inaugural in 1897. He entertained and
delighted the whole crowd with his enthusiastic vigour and wit as he recalled some of the
fascinating past events of days gone by.
Congratulation to our new Miss Showgirl Meredith Chittick, she now goes on to
represents Bangalow in the National Showgirl Quest. In the popular Optus Battle of the
Breeds, the ‘Female Pair’ winners were a Brangus Breed and ‘Bull Pair’
winners were Brahman. Invited top Melbourne Dog Judges had a difficult time selecting
‘The Best in Show’ canine due to the excellent quality of entries but in the end
the sash and trophy was presented to ‘Ochaye my Blue Heaven’ a Collie Rough
owned by Mrs J Thomas.The lucky winner of the Ansett Trip to Sydney for two was Ian
Campbell of Casino.
The afternoon and evening Rodeo events provided the crowd with some great amusement and
laughter as dedicated teams and individuals pitted themselves against each other in feats
of dangerous hilarity. Fortunately, only one finger was chopped during the
billy-fire-making portion of the Akubra Ironman Competition where political manoeuvres by
‘Don Page’s Party’, achieved a landslide win for another term.
A colourful finale of dazzling fireworks brought the final curtain down on a very
successful Centennial Show. The hardworking Show Committee and their generous sponsors are
to be congratulated for once again, doing Bangalow proud. Rick Lowe
BEST LITTLE SHOW ON THE COAST (Heartbeat
Nov99)
The 100th Annual Bangalow Show is shaping up to be a historic event not to be
missed. The committee and volunteers have been busy for months, now, organising and
preparing all those final details to make this years-centennial affair bigger and better
with many new attractions.
President Ron Weir who has been on the Bangalow Show Committee for 43 years, 23 years
as it’s President said, "Bangalow has been ’the best little show on the NSW
coast’ and people come from far and wide to attend this popular event". He also
added. "Much gratitude and recognition belongs to our sponsors who have given so
generously over the years. It’s because of their support, that we have such a full
and entertaining program".
FRIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS
The show kicks off at 9.00am Friday with a full ring program running throughout the day
in the Jarrett Arena. This is a great opportunity to see purebred Arabians, palominos,
quarter horses and stock horses up close and in action. Judging will be taking place of
all exhibits in the A&I Hall and the livestock sections around the grounds.
Competitions range from the very serious to the comical events where people pit their
individual skills and talents at everything from cooking, needlework and horticulture to
ceramics, art and photography. Remember much of the produce will be auctioned off late on
Saturday with a donation going to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
A special highlight on Friday evening at 6pm will be the ‘Northpower Family
Reunion BBQ’ catered by Bangalow Lions Club to welcome back many of our past
residents and previous Miss Bangalow Showgirls from between 1971 to 1997. The
‘Optus-World Battle of the Breeds’ double up competition will also be judged at
8pm in the main ring to select the Champion of Champions Male Pair and Female Pair.
SATURDAY IS FAMILY DAY
Saturday is always a big family day and have they got some great events lined up for
you. Horse riding and show jumping contests in the rings. The All Breeds Championship Dog
show with many entries on the polocross field. This year’s poultry and pigeons
competition has entries from as far afield as Queensland with a magnificent variety of top
birds on show.
A new attraction this year is the ’Storybook Living History’ with live
demonstrations and commentary on fire making with flint & steel, candle making and a
dog working ducks and chickens. Take the children along to Old Macdonald’s Farm
nursery where they can
feed the baby animals.
A delicious smorgasbord lunch or Morning & Afternoon Teas with home-baked scones
and cream cakes will be available from the Moller Pavilion for a ridiculously low price.
For those early starters, the Lions Club BBQ will be serving a bacon and eggs breakfast
along with steak and snags throughout the day at a stall conveniently located near the
liquid refreshment booth.
EXTRA SPECIAL OPENING, Saturday
The Grand Parade at 2pm will include the official party and previous Miss Bangalow
Showgirls being transported around the main ring in magnificent vintage cars for the
Official Opening by Mr Doug Anthony and Mr Frank Scarrabelotti, both old Bangalow boys.
This year’s Miss Bangalow Showgirl, selected from five lovely contestants, will be
also presented and sashed. The Junior Miss Showgirl and Showboy judging will take place
before-hand from 11am beside the Moller Pavilion. Be there for registration and support by
10.30am.
FUN AND GAMES AT THE RODEO
If you enjoy a good laugh, don’t miss the ‘Akubra Ironman Competition’
also called, The day in the life of a stockman. It’s a three member team event, one
member must be over 40 yrs old and another female. Competitors light a breakfast campfire,
boil the billy, dig a 3’ deep hole and erect a fence post. Complete an obstacle
course on a horse carrying a bale of hay including a fire jump and a bareback gallop. The
female must drink a can of warm beer and eat a cold meat pie. Then the post is chopped up
for the campfire before retiring to bed.
Luxury! When I was a kid?
If you think you are tough enough, make up a team (18 yrs or older) and contact
Steve Jarrett on 6687 1728.
Another very comical event considered by many to be more dangerous than hypnotizing
Tiger snakes, is the Wild Cow milking contest. A brave but foolhardy three-man team must
catch a wild bucking cow and try to control her while one attempts to obtain a squirt of
milk for the judges cup of tea. Contestants please bring your own band-aids.
A big favorite with the crowd is the Dog Jumping Contest. If you have a kelpie, foxie
or any other breed that can leap onto the farm Ute in a single bound, be sure to enter him
in this event. Each dog will be enticed, yelled at or pleaded with by their owners to jump
upon a tray-top Ute. Hay bales will be used to increase the height after each successful
round until we have our Olympic Canine Champion.
For those fearless youths from 5 years of age and upwards, there are the Poddy Riding
Contests. Riding a small bucking steer around a muddy ring is much more fun that those
mechanical bucking horses and a great opportunity to win some extra spending money.
Another fun event is the Bangalow Hotel Tug-O-War with $500 prize-money up for grabs.
Entries close at 12 noon Saturday. This is serious drinking money and rumour has it that
teams are in training discussing tactics over a few coldies at the local clubs. It was
also whispered that the girl’s Soccer team have a few sneaky tricks up their sleeves
for when they challenge the men’s team.
Sideshow alley will be buzzing as usual with all its popular fun rides, fairy floss and
dagwood dogs treats and don’t forget your show-bags.
The grand finale on Saturday evening will be a spectacular fireworks display.
Apart from its educational and agricultural significance, the Show is all about having
fun and we can unreservedly promise plenty of that commodity for all ages and all comers.
So bring the whole family along and have a great time.
BANGALOW CELEBRATES A LONG HISTORY OF BULL
AND COW CHAMPIONS
This refined art is displayed on both sides of the Main Street in humble reverence of
Bangalow’s 100th Annual Show. Champions from 1917 to 1994 have been immortalised in
the deft brushstrokes of 11 local artists. The painted portraits of these past Bangalow
Show prizewinners are for sale at $250 each. (Proceeds to the Christmas Carnival)
The names are glorious! Take Rebecca Ross’ "Kaloola Starbuck Betty" at
Escape or Joanna Bolte’s "Glenridge Agro Sonia" at Baskets, and the
artwork! Jodie Hopkins’ "Earl of Glenbrook" at The Bakery disturbs with
it’s deep haunting presence. Take a look too at Jeff Poll's painting of
"Earle" in Banjos and "Rosebud" in the Bangalow's Newsagency.
"Lady" at the CWA yielded 381kgs of butter in 365 days, proving that a lot of
effort has gone into this show! Conceived by Jane I’ons and sponsored by the Chamber
of Commerce, the work is dedicated to outstanding local historian, the late Sylvia Noble.
"A COW OF A CHRISTMAS"
The festive season in Bangalow traditionally opens with the Official Lighting of the
Fairy Lights in the shop windows on the evening of the first Friday in December. Two days
prior to this is the first fundraiser, "A Cow of a Christmas" Trivia Night. It
is to be fought out at the Bangalow Hotel on Wednesday 1st December at 6.30pm.
Prizewinners will have a choice of selected paintings by local artists. Wear red or green
or come as a cowgirl. You could win a Bangalow cow painting!
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