CECSY UPDATE SEPT-NOV 2019

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