Whether she’s knitting poppies, chasing grandkids, or scouting the best farm animals at the Show, Maxine Wylie’s 35-year journey with CAHRS is a story of true community spirit.
Maxine’s love for the “Ag Show” started in the town of Corrigin, where the annual show was the social highlight of the year. Growing up on a farm, she remembers the excitement of wearing a new handmade dress and dragging her parents into the pavilion to see her schoolwork proudly displayed on long sheets of brown paper. This passion for student participation followed her into her career as an Early Childhood Teacher; after noticing a lack of school displays at the Canning Show years ago, Maxine volunteered to bring them back herself, eventually joining our committee in 1997.
In a history spanning over a century, Maxine holds the distinction of being our first female President. It’s a role she stepped into with the same practical, community-first mindset she’s applied to everything else—from her career as an educator to her decades of volunteering. For Maxine, leadership has always been about building relationships and sharing knowledge with anyone who wants to get involved.
Before retiring three years ago, Maxine spent her career in Early Childhood Education, leading networks of teachers and working on the Education Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
That sense of practical contribution carries over into her personal life. She doesn’t just “hobby”—she works with purpose. You’ll find her:
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With the RSL Poppy Ladies: Knitting and assembling displays for public spaces.
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In the Archive: Researching family history.
- Family Time: Spending time with her grandkids
While she has seen the Show evolve over three decades, her heart still belongs to the traditional roots. You’ll likely find her:
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In the Paddock: Catching the sheepdog mustering, shearing, or milking demonstrations.
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At the Forge: Checking in with the blacksmith to admire the historic craft.
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With the Community: Helping coordinate the vibrant events that bring Canning area to life.
The Patch Picks
The Kitchen Must Have: Her Tupperware Super Chef Chopper. It’s a time-saver that keeps the onion tears away (she even bought one for each of her kids!).
The Garden Secret: She swears by her Cyclone branch ratchet cutter, calling it a total game-changer for pruning without the exhausting manual effort.
Local Rec: Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. She loves their use of sustainable, ordinary items to tell classic stories and how they engage kids before the show even starts.
Golden nugget of advice
Keep a sticky note pad in your car console.
It’s a classic reflection of her organised, “daily list” personality. She uses it to jot down ideas the moment they strike or to remind herself of tasks to follow up on later.
Quick Fire Round
- Favourite movie: Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. For Maxine, it’s less about the plot and more about the memory of going into the city for a special lunch with her family to see them.
- Favourite books: She’s drawn to wartime stories that blend historical facts with a bit of fiction and romance.
- Favourite Season: Maxine finds something to love in the colors of most of the year, but Winter is a different story. Between the rain halting her daily plans and the ‘profuse’ growth of weeds, she’s much happier when the sun is out and the garden is behaving itself
The “Ultimate” Wedding Chocolate Cake
The result of testing “a million” recipes for her brother’s wedding. Reliable and easy to double. It’s now their go to family recipe.
Inspired by Maxine’s story? We want to hear from our community! Please share your ‘golden nugget’ of advice, a local gem or a recipe you can’t stop making! Please share below.
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