THERE was an air of excitement as Home and Away stalwart Ray Meagher returned to his hometown of Dirranbandi on Saturday.
The icon made a slow walk through the showgrounds as attendees of the local show, many of whom had made a special effort to see ‘Alf Stewart’ in the flesh, frequently stopped him for autographs, photos and to show off their best Alfism.
The Gold Logie winner and once promising rugby player reflected warmly on his time growing up in the small community in south-west Queensland as he officially opened the 94th annual show.
The tone changed as he took a stand for rural Queensland, to great response from a roaring crowd.
“Politicians on both sides of the spectrum should hang their heads in shame,” Mr Meagher said.
The acting veteran expressed his dismay at the lack of water infrastructure funding for drought-stricken regional Queensland.
“Surely we can take water from the places with plenty to the places with none. It is an absolute disgrace…for God’s sakes, water the joint,” he said.
A staggering 2500 people, including 80 guests who were delivered courtesy of a charter flight organized from Brisbane, attended the show on Saturday.
The Bruce Scott Trophy – the show’s most coveted prize, which is awarded to a different section each year – was won by Eric Tighe and dog Maxi, Inverell, for taking out the Fletchers International Open Dog Trial.
The show included all the makings of a quintessential agricultural show including cattle, campdraft, sheep, wool, yard dogs, ring events, stockhorse, poultry, as well as an art, craft and horticultural pavilion.
The day culminated with the open-air drought concert, headlined by James Blundell and Mick Lindsay.
Some proceeds from the concert will be donated to statewide domestic violence hotline, DV Connect, and rural mental health organisation, Tie Up The Black Dog.
Story and pictures by Andrea Crothers
