Mid North Coast show societies have welcomed new funding available to share the cost of running agricultural shows next year

Volunteers from Camden Haven Show Society, Wauchope Show Society and Kempsey Show Society are all considering applying for help using the NSW Government's $5 million Country Shows Support Package.

The package was announced on Tuesday, December 14 after a two years of disruptions and cancellations for agricultural shows across NSW.

Kempsey Show Society president Stewart Witchard said it's likely every show society which has had a cancelled event since 2019 will be trying to apply for the funding.

"We will definitely be putting in a submission for funding because we have had two years without an income, apart from $15,000 of Federal Government funding and our fixed overheads are about $20,000 a year," he said.

"We want to put on an excellent show for the community on April 26 and 27 in 2022 but all societies have increased running costs and a somewhat fixed income with ticket sales.

"We can't raise the ticket price of the community coming into the show but our water, power and overhead fees keep increasing every year."

Camden Haven Show Society president Greg Watson said his committee will be meeting in January to apply for the funding.

"Anything we can do to invest on the ground is of interest and upgrading of facilities would be great. We are going to put our hat in the ring," he said.

"We haven't had a show for the last two years which really affects what we can do in the community. This kind of funding is certainly a good thing and we will meet as a committee to discuss it."

Support package funding can be used for ensuring shows are COVID Safe, subsidising stall fees, equipment hire, upgrading show facilities or engaging locally based artists or musicians.

Wauchope Show Society president Neil Coombes said the show committee are still reading through the finer details of the grants.

"We will apply for it depending on what's available in relation to our gate admissions," he said.

"It would have to be a board discussion about what we would spend it on."

Agricultural shows and field days contribute more than one billion dollars to the economy annually and attract more than six million patrons, while being supported by more than 50,000 volunteers according to AgShows NSW.

AgShows NSW president Tim Capp said the funding is available to ensure the sustainability of agricultural show societies and the agricultural shows or agricultural field days they conduct.

"Through the Regional NSW support our NSW shows can plan their 2022 event to bring communities together, celebrate local agriculture, improve the local wellbeing and encourage past and new volunteers to be involved in one of the biggest events on their local community calendar," he said.

"Agricultural shows are an integral part of Australian culture and the most authentic and accessible display of Australian farming and regional life.

"Across the state over one hundred and thirty shows and field days have sadly been cancelled as a result of COVID-19. These cancellations impact the community, local economy, agriculture competition and the volunteers, who run in the hundreds and thousands.

"Funding of up to $15,000 will be available to small shows with an audience of less than 2,000 people across all event days, while medium and large shows can apply for up to $30,000 and $45,000 respectively.

"Shows are community driven, institutional events that in the recent past have been disrupted by drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19. This vital funding will help show societies hold their future events, the responsibility now lies with shows to apply.

"It's money well spent for governments to get behind our show societies who pour their blood, sweat and tears into these brilliant events which deliver so much for community, agriculture and tourism."

The $5 million Country Shows Support Package is part of the NSW Government's $200 million Regional Recovery Package. Applications close on Friday, April 29 next year or when funding is exhausted.

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