EXHIBITION READY TO IGNITE COMMUNITIES’ CREATIVE SPARK AS EVENT IS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT
Last year’s Canning Show was a triumph, with record-breaking crowds of over 10,000 smiling people as Canning Agricultural, Horticultural & Recreational Society (aka CAHRS) celebrated our 110th year of enriching the community. Whilst 2020 comes with a very different set of circumstances, we are pleased to announce the Canning Show 2020 this year is planned to be held Friday 6 & Saturday 7 November, preparing to evolve, involve and inspire!
A creative wonderland with community heart, the line-up and ticket details for the Canning Show will be announced closer to the event, as per usual, however we are excited to release the Exhibition Schedule Of Entries early. From 3-year-olds to teenager amateurs to experienced artisans, everyone is encouraged to have a go and start growing, baking, painting, photographing, sculpting, flower arranging and more. Get your creative juices flowing now and get ready to showcase your wares at the Canning Show. All entries will be exhibited at the event in November, with the best being awarded over $13,000 in cash prizes.
CAHRS CEO Dianne Begg comments, “All positive signs continuing regarding COVID-19, we’re looking forward to Canning Show igniting people’s creativity, pleasure and inspiration this year.” Whilst some changes will be made in the Show’s delivery, she adds, “It will remain fun, filled with exciting competitions, entertainment, and amazing value for money. With social distancing and safety measures to be considered, our team is working hard to ensure that every part of the Show will be the safest, most enjoyable experience possible.”
EXHIBITION
Schedule Of Entries launched
The Canning Show is one of the largest annual exhibitions in the State that showcases a wide array of arts, crafts, hobbies, creations and produce. Open to everyone, from talented amateurs to awarded artisans, the competition is there to celebrate, promote, reward, and encourage diverse passions and talents, plus inspire others in the community. This year we’re excited to announce the Schedule Of Entries earlier than usual, to take advantage of these crazy times giving people more time to be crazily creative and productive!
To kick start an incredible Show experience, everyone in the community is encouraged to showcase their iso-creations or further practise their arts. Whether you’re wanting your 5 year old to practise their handwriting or chocolate crackle making, a kid with ambitions to one day star on LEGO Masters or you want to put your quarantine baking experiments to the test, there’s something for everyone. From discovering your new passion to practising professionals looking for esteem and honours, everyone has a chance to get involved, inspire others and take a sweet slice of over $13,000 in cash, awarded to the best exhibits in the Show!
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW / DOWNLOAD FULL EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
KEY INFO:
- One of the largest annual exhibitions in the state that showcases a wide array of arts, crafts, hobbies, creations and produce, igniting communities’ creative spark
- Open to everyone, from talented amateurs to awarded artisans, the competition celebrates, promotes, rewards and encourages diverse passions and talents, plus inspires others in the community
- Over $13,000 in cash is awarded to the best exhibits, plus trophies, sashes, and other awards
- ALL entries are exhibited as part of the 2020 Canning Show; it’s by and for the community
- ANYONE can enter, no matter where you are from, your age or level of experience
- Independently judged by experts in their field
- Over 650+ Classes to enter, covering Youth; Fruit & Vegetables; Flowers; Home & Dairy Produce; Honey; Home Cooking; Sewing, Knitting, Crochet, Toys & Dolls; Handicrafts; Hobby Ceramics; Painting & Drawing; Photography; and Industrial Arts
- Numerous special classes celebrating the ‘International Year of Plant Health’
- Entry and exhibit drop-off instructions will come closer to the event, with our staff working on ways to maximise everyone’s safety
CANNING SHOW
Key event details announced thus far
DATES: Friday 6 & Saturday 7 November 2020
LINE-UP: Exhibition and 2 nights of fireworks confirmed, plus a diverse line-up of fun for the whole family to be announced in due course
VENUE: Home of the Canning Show; Cannington Exhibition Centre & Showgrounds
TICKETS: Presale tickets to be announced closer to the event
Sitting at my new temporary ‘office’ desk at home takes adjustment. Like everyone else, I am learning to live a safely isolated lifestyle and discovering the benefits of having time at home. Apart from the obvious and practical things like cleaning out the shed, there are opportunities to seize whilst being restricted, including thinking of new ideas for the development of Canning Exhibition Centre & Showgrounds, the evolution of the Canning Show and CAHRS events that will positively impact more people’s lives in brighter days to come.
A few updates since last we spoke include:
CANNING SHOW AND EXHIBITION
At this stage, it is not wise to jump to conclusions as to whether the Canning Show will run on the planned date of 6 & 7 November, but I recommend that you continue to prepare and create your Exhibition entries. Have a go at the fantastic craft challenge by making an article featuring an insect, spider, snail or creepy-crawly.
The Canning Show Exhibition schedule of entries will be given an early online launch this year and will include some special items specifically designed to celebrate the International ‘Year Of Plant Health’, the theme for 2020, with a number of classes now being announced.
INSECT HOTELS
Applauding the world focus of this very important topic, the Show is hosting a special competition suitable for all ages and skills levels; to build an insect hotel. The winners will be the homeless bees and bugs of your garden. After the Show, the hotels can be set up and become home to very happy insects that will propagate your flowers, fruit trees and generally make your garden a better place.
On a recent trip to Bunnings, I did discover that the shelves of seeds and vegetable seedlings were bare. I think perhaps that everyone has already heard how much fun it is to exhibit flowers, fruit and veg and the Show, and have decided to give it a go nice and early. I hope the insects (that currently don’t have anywhere to live) are able to do their work in time.
RECYCLING MATERIALS
We also need to re-think our attitude towards recycling materials used for handicrafts. Traditionally we have expected handicraft items to be made using new materials, but, with art and craft supplies in high demand as parents rise to the challenges of homeschooling, this year we encourage and welcome items made with repurposed materials. Please think carefully about the materials’ previous lives and don’t use items that are not clean and safe. Fabric can easily be re-used if it has been thoroughly washed. Consider what might be suitable if you want to use containers that have been used for storage, if they held chemicals, for example, make sure they are very thoroughly cleaned first and never use treated pine for crafting.
AGM UPDATE
Following the annual general meeting, I am pleased to advise that Ray Porter has been returned as President and Maxine Wylie as Vice President. Ray, Maxine and the other members of the Committee of Management guide the direction of CAHRS. They are a valued part of the team committed to working together to achieve the best possible outcome and ultimately return to normal operations with the least possible disruption or loss. Day by day, the staff continue to manage the venue, looking after the essential maintenance and operational tasks, as well as preparing the plans for re-opening.
VENUE DEVELOPMENTS
Also at the AGM, details for the new venue developments were on the agenda. The members that attended the meeting voted with confidence on the plans and endorsed support for progression to the next stages of planning. We are currently reviewing these, guided by a commitment to enriching communities with perhaps different needs to those we identified pre-COVID-19.
MEMBERS TRIP
Thank you for your support and I am excited by the prospect of seeing you all soon. A spring-time bus trip to Penguin Island is just what we need. Keep posted for confirmed dates of this event and others when normal service is resumed.
THANKS
This is a troubling time for many. Our organisation is made up of 100s of wonderful volunteers, members, friends and family, who put their heart and soul into giving back and inspiring others. We wish them all the happiness and health we can during these challenging periods, as well as everyone all around the globe. Now, more than ever, we all need to band together and look after, respect and help each other as best we can. Our very best to all, and we look forward to opening the doors to the public again as soon as safely possible!
On behalf of the Committee, Members and staff, I wish you a safe and happy Easter.
Dianne Begg
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CAHRS
As a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching the community, the safety of Cannington Exhibition Centre & Showgrounds patrons, members, event organisers and staff are always of utmost importance to everything Canning Agricultural, Horticultural & Recreational Society (CAHRS) does.
As such, in response to the quickly evolving COVID-19 situation and eventuating uncertainties, it was with a heavy heart that a few weeks back we had to temporarily postpone all events until the end of April. With the continuing escalation of COVID-19 infections and safety protocols, this was then extended til further notice.
We have been and will continue to closely monitor the situation, only making fully informed decisions on reopening when we have greater confidence in the safety of our stakeholders – from the public to our hirers, coordinators, clubs, societies and events.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but please be assured that our staff are still working, planning how to return in ways that will provide much-needed relief, enjoyment and services to lift the community at a time when we will need it more than ever. With the COVID-19 situation hopefully under control by November, these plans include a huge Canning Show, celebrating the community in new ways.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR…
EVENT ORGANISERS
CAHRS has been working with all upcoming events in the next few months to reschedule events in the next 12 months. Please inform your stakeholders, including cancelling events on social media. Any payment towards your booking will be rolled over to your rescheduled booking. Contact Afra on 0401 453 285 ASAP to discuss, if you haven’t already been contacted and are unsure.
EVENT ATTENDEES
Look out for rescheduled dates in the future. Any questions, please contact the event organisers directly (via Facebook).
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
We will be processing EFT refunds for your remaining, cancelled classes. If these haven’t already been processed, please email your bank details to enquiries@cahrs.com.au so we can refund you ASAP, or call on 0432 447 398 to discuss.
THANKS
This is a troubling time for many. Our organisation is made up of 100s of wonderful volunteers, members, friends and family, who put their heart and soul into giving back and inspiring others. We wish them all the happiness and health we can during these challenging periods, as well as everyone all around the globe. Now, more than ever, we all need to band together and look after, respect and help each other as best we can. Our very best to all, and we look forward to opening the doors to the public again as soon as safely possible!
MORE INFO ON COVID-19 & SAFETY
- Government Department of Health: https://www.health.gov.au/
- 24hr Coronavirus Health Information Line: 1800 020 080
Introducing Sarah Capone. Whilst we’ve appreciated her lending her time and growing skills to CAHRS/Canning Show/Cannington Exhibition Centre as a volunteer for almost a year, Sarah’s generosity to the community doesn’t stop there. In between this, her job and life in general, Sarah also volunteers her time as a firefighter.
In between fighting fires and enriching the community, we grabbed this budding community hero for an interview, coinciding with the beginning of our own search for new volunteers (including a Marketing/ Communications / PR relevant internships now being offered here).
How and why did you get involved in firefighting?
When the Banjup fires hit in 2014 I was only fourteen and felt helpless as I fled my home. In 2016 I joined Jandakot Volunteer Bushfire Brigade, giving me the ability to do more for my family and my community. My dad was already a member of the brigade, so the process was a lot easier as I started attending meetings and training sessions almost straight away.
It’s a volunteer position that obviously has some serious risks – what do you gain from it?
In the brigade I have met many different people from different backgrounds and different skills; members, other brigades, career firefighters, other emergency services and community members. My communication skills have benefitted a lot when communicating between all these different backgrounds. And of course the feeling of wellbeing from helping others – from people to animals.
How has the whole situation, with Australia seemingly on fire, affected you?
It has been an extremely busy fire season, particularly over east. Although members from our brigade have joined task forces and have been deployed to help our follow firefighters, it has still been tough to hope for things to get better. Watching footage of the fire and seeing the devastating effects on wildlife and residents breaks your heart. But it has also been extremely heart-warming to see so many business and people from all over the world taking part in raising awareness and raising funds for the crisis.
Tell us about the actual experience of fighting a fire, and what goes through your mind?
Your mindset definitely changes; your brain is switched on from the minute you get the call, to the minute you return to station. When you get to an incident, your brain goes through a checklist of what’s already happened, what is happening now and what will happen soon. You don’t tend to second guess yourself; you remember your training and trust your crew. I trust my crew leader to never put us in a situation that we can’t handle. You are never in your comfort zone at an incident, but you learn to be okay with that and trust yourself.
Can anyone apply to be a firefighter / what makes a good one?
Almost anyone can become a volunteer firefighter, there isn’t one way to be a good firefighter; we have single mums, police officers, paramedics, tradies, those with grandkids and even students. If you are interested, then I urge you to get in contact with your local brigade.
What sort of training do volunteer firefighters undergo?
This is dependent on the service you volunteer with. At my brigade there are several requirements to pass before you’re allowed on the fireground as a probationary firefighter, including two full-day courses, assistance in three hazard reduction burns and a skills assessment. We also attend training twice a month, one in conjunction with a general meeting, for two hours.
You also volunteer at CAHRS – tell us about that experience and what you’ve gained/learned?
Working alongside the Events Officer has made me realise the passion I have for events and has made me realise that I want to work towards having a career in this area. Here, I have learnt so much about general day-to-day jobs, working in an office as a team, and creating a huge event like the Canning Show. Being at two volunteer workplaces, both have allowed me to prioritise the other when required, with flexible hours if I need. It’s great to see that support from both sides.
What would you say to other people who have never taken up any volunteer roles, but are considering doing so?
Go for it. You will never regret volunteering, but you might regret not doing it. Spending your spare time helping a community is rewarding in many ways – the work volunteers do is always appreciated from those who see the change they create. Volunteers are welcomed in all industries, so you don’t have to do something as risky as firefighting: plants trees, volunteer with the Salvation Army, volunteer at a hospital, or CAHRS/Canning Show/Cannington Exhibition Centre… You can go anywhere!
As a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing back to the community, CAHRS – Canning Agricultural, Horticultural & Recreational Society – relies heavily upon the involvement of its members to help shape and conduct our activities and events. At this point of the year we say thanks, but we also ask for the community’s support in return.
With membership renewals due soon, before committing your money, thought it pertinent to recap what $25/10 bought our members in 2019, as well as a few highlights these memberships helped provide others with…
LEARNING
Access and subsidised fees for CAHRS special interest groups, including sewing, knitting, crochet and craft.
Invitations to the Canning River Gardeners meetings, talks and outings, including Kings Park, Perth City Farm, Total Green Recycling, seed swaps and the art of bonsai.
We also engaged with this being the International Year Of Indigenous Languages, leading to enriching discoveries occurring via numerous programs.
All of these groups are open to new members.
VIEWING
We held our first-ever free family movie night in July. Despite terrible weather, it was great fun, and is on the calendar for 2020.
TRAVELLING
Our annual social outing saw members taking a bus trip to New Norcia. Show volunteers even got a free ticket, including a fascinating tour.
EXPERIENCING
The magic of the Make Smoking History Canning Show included two fantastic, record-breaking days/nights, filled with fireworks, animals, local talent and much more.
ACHIEVING
Many of the amazing Canning Show Exhibition entries came from our members, contributing to the wonderful 2,000+ exhibits displayed at the Show. Many of them also stewarded and helped set up, inspiring over 10,000 people passing through this year’s Show gates.
STRETCHING (THE DOLLAR)
Prizes galore were distributed, including over $13,000 of prize money for the Canning Show Exhibition. Free early bird tickets to attend the Canning Show were also a hit.
SHARING
Sharing is caring. Over 70 volunteers helped throughout the year. These people helped the Society’s successful, happy, and incredibly well-placed position grow from strength to strength. If this included you, THANKS!!!
Thanks also to Victoria Park CWA and Station Street Men’s Shed for helping us run events throughout the year.
DONATING
Thanks to the generous people that donated their exhibition prize money back to the Society, or rounded up entry fees by a few dollars. However great or small the amounts, the sentiments were genuine, kind and greatly respected.
LOVING
Everyone experienced “I loved that” moments. A few from our tireless office staff included;
Robyn: Loved handing out the prize money at the Make Smoking History Canning Show. Especially watching the little children’s faces light up when they discovered they’d won $5.
Aarom: Loved getting a nickname. After being stuck in his chair from dawn to dusk managing our marketing and communications, Aarom earned the nickname Magnet. We hope it sticks!
Sarah: Loved volunteering. Sarah also discovered that you can win prizes for laying eggs (not personally, but the chicken type). Sarah now loves winning prizes at the Canning Show.
Jenny: Loved everything; Jenny just loved everything about the Canning Show, and has done for decades.
Afra: Loved growing strawberries in the office garden. Never in the history of CAHRS has any plant received the love and nurturing those strawberries did. Sadly they didn’t win first prize, but look out 2020…
Memberships are now due
If you connect with any of the above, please send in your membership application or renewal now so that you can do it all again in 2020.
Want to play a greater role?
Members interested in nominating for a three-year term on the Committee of Management must be financial members and need to lodge their nomination by Tuesday 21 January.
To end the International Year Of Indigenous Languages…
Fae a’ o’ us, Tae folk we haud dear – gie it laldy.
On behalf of the Committee, Members and staff, I wish you the merriest of Christmases.
Dianne Begg
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CAHRS
Recently our Canning River Gardeners group (one of the many groups we run that are free to members of CAHRS) took a trip to Total Green Recycling, who are one of the leaders in providing complete sustainable e-waste solutions in WA.
Our Events Coordinator, Joanne Reavell, put together a few interesting facts from this visit:
- In 2018 they recovered 2356 tonnes of e-waste which accounts for 500,000 items diverted from WA landfills.
- They have also refurbished over 50,000 items.
- Old computers and TV’s contain a lot of gold (!) and copper, which is now being reused, saving the need to dig it out of the ground, which takes 5 tonne of soil to be removed for every 100 grams of gold!
- They take phones, computers, network infrastructures, batteries and lighting and electrical items.
- They save 62% of E- Waste from landfill and employ 40 FTE staff
- Want to help make a difference? Please sign this petition to get government to stop E-Waste going to landfill
A GREENER SHOW
Also, inspired by a desire to leave less of a negative environmental imprint on this earth, last year CAHRS put into motion a new Single Use Plastic Policy. We’ll be continuing to focus on this for this year’s Make Smoking History Canning Show, so we look forward to having more people at the Show this year, yet having a more positive environmental impact!
Policy as follows:
This policy sets out CAHRS commitment to eliminate single use plastics at events hosted by CAHRS, including the Make Smoking History Canning Show.
As event organisers, CAHRS is committed to playing a key role in educating and guiding its event staff and audience on single-use plastic free practices. This includes considering whether single-use plastic items are needed in the first instance and promoting reusable alternatives.
- At any event hosted by CAHRS, event staff, contractors and vendors will be required to work to eliminate single-use plastics.
- CAHRS encourages use of recyclable, re-usable or compostable products. Products such as paper bags, re-usable bags, paper/bamboo straws, cups, plates and cutleries and containers.
- Single-use plastic such as plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles and disposable cups, plastic utensils and balloons may eventually be banned from the Showgrounds.
- Food vendors will be asked to consider selling drinks that are not in plastic bottles.
- Food vendors/stallholders who meet these requirements may be given preference when engaging services.
- Event materials are to be reused where possible (including event signage and promotional banners and flags);
- Bottled water is not to be provided, sold or distributed by CAHRS. Alternative, free access to water will be provided;
The policy applies to all attendees, volunteers, staff, stallholders, food vendors and entertainers. The policy will be recommended to venue hirers to adopt.
Our CEO Dianne Begg gets to the bottom of exhibiting at the Make Smoking History Canning Show, including her Top 10 Tips to get you entering with a smile!
110 years ago, the CAHRS minute book started recording the important details of the Canning Show. Surprisingly, they are mostly the same items we concern ourselves about today. It’s quite comforting to know that people have pondered over how to make the community’s most important annual event stronger and better, and never took the easy option of saying “let’s not bother this year”. It just proves the love and respect we all have for the Canning Show.
To celebrate, a strong Make Smoking History Canning Show is lined up for 2019. This includes two nights of amazing fireworks shows, twilight greyhound racing, a range of new, diverse and quality stage and sideshow entertainment, lots of free kid’s activities, and, by popular demand, the kids mega-sand pit, haybales, mud kitchen.
So are you going to bother exhibiting this year?
Occasionally Canning Show Exhibition champions tell me that they won’t bother entering the Show this year because they have holiday plans or haven’t had time, or maybe they have lost their Canning Show Mojo (or is that ShowJo???). If your creative ShowJo is challenged, remember that it’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. Another reason not to enter the Show: exhibitor shaming! An example is being told that entering a handmade item in the local Show is a bit old fashioned, or even nerdy. If peer pressure is putting you off having a go at entering, don’t be afraid; thousands have already done it and they are proud and happy.
Here’s my top ten tips for the would-be exhibitors:
- Your creation needs to be the best on display on the day, not the best in the world.
- Read the Exhibition Schedule Of Entries carefully.
- Ask questions. Phone, email, Facebook message, call into the office and ask to speak to a steward.
- Stick by the rule. eg. if it says present 3 roses. Don’t present 2 or 4 – you will be disqualified.
- Make sure your exhibit is clean and well presented.
- No bugs. Do not enter flowers, fruit or vegetables that have disease or bugs. They won’t be accepted.
- Exhibit in a class you’ve never tried before – just for the fun of it.
- Encourage kids to enter. Youth Champions are invited to attend the Presentation & Awards Evening dinner to receive their certificates. It’s a great experience for them, and can inspire future generations.
- View all the exhibits when they are on display, and plan your next creation.
- Set a goal to exhibit annually. You’ll get better each year.
Huge thanks to everyone who has already signed up as a volunteer for the Canning Show. It’s amazing to have you back. If you plan to volunteer for the first time – congratulations on making a cool, community minded decision. Volunteers are the pump action of the Show. If you have any ideas, suggestions or tips about how to make volunteering roles better, talk to our volunteer co-ordinator or office team. And if you have friends, family members or community minded people you think could be an asset to the volunteering team around the Show, please put them in touch with us!
Canning Show Presentation Evening will deliver glitzy trophies and special awards, with gorgeous food, a great atmosphere, sassy entertainment and a few surprises on Saturday 9 November. If you win a Champion award you will be given a special invitation to join us on Presentation Evening but if you don’t want to take the risk of missing out you can purchase your tickets now.
Best of luck to all exhibitors.
Dianne Begg
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CAHRS