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Humphrey B. Bear will make two special guest appearances at this year’s Port Elliot Show.

The Port Elliot Show Committee have confirmed that the much-loved bear will perform in the main marquee which is located at the southern end of the main arena on Sunday at 11am and 2.30pm. Humphrey will have the whole family amused with his antics as he presents his dance routines to the sounds of some very popular kiddie’s songs. There will be an opportunity for a ‘meet and greet’ with the lovable bear and even a chance to sneak a picture with him after his performances.

Don’t miss Humphrey B. Bear on the Sunday at this year’s Port Elliot Show which will be held on the last weekend of the school holidays – Saturday October 11 and Sunday October 12 at the Port Elliot Showgrounds.

For the first time in our 145 year history, the Port Elliot Show is making tickets available online! Skip the queues at the gate and head straight into the fun! Buying online is simple, quick and means you won’t miss out on all the entertainment, competitions and family activities our show has to offer. Single Day and Weekend Passes are available. Ticket sales will also still be available at the gate via Cash or EFT.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS today and get ready for a fantastic weekend at the Port Elliot Show!

Please note: online ticket sales will only be available through our ticketing partner Ticketebo – please ensure to only purchase tickets through the official ticket links.

A Fundraising BBQ was held to support Nic Tremaine from Kangaroo Island. Nic is the President of the Parndana Show. He is taking 12 months off to cycle solo and unsupported around Australia to raise money for and promote awareness of Dementia. His aim is to cycle over 40,000 kms and raise $1million. you can find more about Nic’s ride at Distance 4 Dementia. Nic has already completed 9,587 kms and has raised $11,481. He arrived in Victor Harbor today (19/3/25) and met up with George Bennett, a member of the Goolwa and District Bike User Group, who rode with him to the Port Elliot Showgrounds where he was welcomed by Members and friends of the Southern Agricultural Society and the Southern Fleurieu Historical Museum. A total of $1, 041 was raised at the event.

A cheque was presented to Nic by the President of the Southern Agricultural Society, Rosemary Sage.

Photo is of Carol Cary, Michael Scott, Nic Tremaine, Jayne Rayson and Rosemary Sage.

Steve Rogers has stepped down as President of the Southern Agricultural Society Inc after 15 years many years of service to the Society. Steve served as President of the Society over a period of 15 years from 2010 to 2024 and prior to this he served 3 years as Vice President and was involved in the Beef Cattle Section. His leadership has seen the Port Elliot Show grow to become a huge success and it is now the 3rd largest country show in the State.

Michael Scott, the President of the Southern Country Shows Agricultural Societies Council of SA, gave a speech, and presented him Steve with a Meritorious Service Award for his outstanding service to the Society. Our secretary, Carol Cary, presented a gift of an Akubra Hat and a voucher from Mr Menswear, Victor Harbor, to express our thanks to him for his years of dedication and hard work. on behalf of the committee and membership.

At our AGM, which was held on the 28th February 2025, a new committee was elected. This will be led by our new President Rosemary Sage, Vice President 1 Neville Hall, Vice President 2 Deane Perry, Secretary Carol Cary, Treasurer Jayne Rayson.

The Southern Agricultural Society Inc., “Port Elliot Show”, was first held in 1869 and this year was the 143^rd show, missing only 11 years since its inception due to floods, fires, two World Wars and Covid. The Show aims to promote the interests of agriculture in the district and provide a platform for residents and other interested parties to display their hobbies and talents.

The two-day event is recognised as the third largest Country Show of the 48 Shows held every year across South Australia, with an attendance in 2023 of 14,000 visitors.

Products and Services required to run the Show are sourced from a wide range of local businesses, while a vast number of volunteers, most of whom are local, are on-site over the show weekend.  The Show is thought to be the largest Private event held on the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula, and is a credit to all involved, while highlighting the wide range of talent of the organisers.

We estimate that approximately 100 extra volunteers will be needed to run this year’s show. Specifically, these people will be Covid Marshalls who will be required on the grounds at all times while the show is open and at times during the week before.

We also need volunteers who will be “checkers”, counting those entering and exiting the grounds or pavilions to ensure that we do not exceed the number of visitors allowed at any one time.

Obviously, we don’t expect people to be on duty all day, so rosters will be available to let people know when and where around the grounds, their assistance is required.

Hence, if you are a Covid Marshall or willing to be a “checker” during the show, or willing to volunteer with any other activity, please let us know by contacting me as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Gayle (VP1 / Secretary)

How often do we say, Mum/Dad/Grandma/Pop used to make the most delicious this or that and I wonder how they made them or what happened to that special recipe?

What about special family times around the meal table when hilarious things would regularly happen e.g. stories, jokes, favourite radio programs on at the same time, a family member’s odd behaviour or even when parents rule was always strictly enforced!!!

Don’t let those wonderful memories and details be lost forever. Instead, record them for yourself, other family members and perhaps later for the album to be passed onto their loved ones.

Enclose details of such recipes, new and old, even if handwritten and containing butter stains, adding to their character.

Importantly, recipes will NOT be tested as judging will be based on the album’s presentation only.

Why not include photos, names and other items that might help tell the stories and add to the album’s content and presentation. Importantly, where appropriate explain whom/what you are referring to, so anyone else reading your album in the future can easily put details into context.

Please download the full flyer here for more information.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:57):. I rise in this matter of interest today to talk about agricultural shows and in particular on this occasion the Port Elliot Show. The Port Elliot Show was held recently on 7 and 8 October. It is a two-day show and it is a feature show now for the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Many years ago, my hometown and others in the district had shows as well. Unfortunately, we have seen a shrinkage of shows, but both the Port Elliot Show, the Strathalbyn Show and the Yankalilla Show are still very good successes and attract a lot of support.

I want to congratulate the whole committee. I know that the chair and all of the committee work very, very hard throughout the whole year. I particularly congratulate Gayle Garrett, the secretary. Having had my wife and children involved in a lot of different committees, I know it is the secretary that ends up having the heaviest role in background support to the requirements of the committee to get the shows happening each year.

Unfortunately this year, as it turned out, I was not able to attend the Port Elliot Show, but I did appreciate the invitation. However, since the show I have talked to a number of people who have said that this was one of the most successful agricultural shows that they had been to and that they thought that particularly the Port Elliot one this year was an outstanding success.

Unlike last year, when I was able to attend and a decision was made, because it was such a wet year and a wet period at that time, to cancel it, the weather was superb for the two days, and it was reported to me that they had extremely good crowds. I understand that those who had stalls there were also pleased with the day.

The Port Elliott show was established in 1869; it has been going for a very long time, and I am confident it will go for a long time into the future. One thing that did disappoint me was the cutting of funding through the primary industries minister, the Hon. Leon Bignell, to the shows right across South Australia. I think, from memory, it was around $40,000 a year that PIRSA was making available for these shows – an incredibly small amount of money in the big scheme of things, but that money was distributed across country South Australia to assist with the running of these shows, to assist with supporting trophies and other requirements of each individual show.

When you see the exorbitant waste the government is guilty of on a regular basis here in the parliament – reports that we read in the media and information we receive from colleagues – for it to be penny pinching and cutting $40,000 from the shows is just unacceptable.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: Some of the ministers would spend that sort of money just in business class fights overseas in one year. But that money is important and, as we head towards the election, I will be calling on the government and the opposition to reinstate that small but very important amount of money.

We need to keep the social fabric of our country strong. Shows are one of the ways of doing that as they bring the community together with the agricultural sectors and those who are involved in horse events, and the like. When I was younger, I used to help with my father-in-law’s stud, because he was always keen to support the Port Elliott show, and I remember going down there and grooming and leading the cows through the shows at Port Elliott, which was always a lot of fun. Sometimes we came back with some great ribbons for some of the best cows in the herd.

It brings young and older people together, and gives kids the chance to have a bit of fun with their families. It is time that there was a refocus on the importance of these shows and just what they do for country South Australia, particularly in our area on the Fleurieu Peninsula, where we have the advantage of being able to offer city people the chance to bring their children and families to experience country life.

A lot of that does occur, with people travelling from Adelaide to Port Elliott and other shows on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and I wish them much success into the future and encourage the hardworking volunteers on the committees. It is an enormous amount of effort they put in to continue that, but these shows are important to country South Australia and to all South Australians.

Plans are well in hand for a terrific show this year to celebrate our 140th Anniversary. All of our indoor and outdoor sections will again be run, with Literary being reintroduced into the indoor section.

Memberships – Adults and Juniors
Become a member of the show society for a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for juniors and receive show book information earlier than it is released to the public. Contact our Secretary for membership forms (details below).

As usual volunteers are needed to ensure the smooth running of the event, so if you are interested please contact our secretary, Gayle on secretary@portelliotshow.com.au or M: 0419 494 275.

It is such a pleasure to be able to report on “THE BEST PORT ELLIOT SHOW YET”. Saturday and Sunday saw superb weather albeit Saturday started with a very cold Southerly wind, dark grey skies and drizzle, but by 10.30 a.m. the skies started to clear and by 11 a.m. the weather could not have been better for the weekend.

6-7 rings for The Dog Show on Saturday saw some beautiful animals on display and involved in competition and visitors took the opportunity to walk onto the oval and around the rings to see the animals “up close” and speak to competitors about any breeds they may have been interested in.

The Horse Show on Sunday was terrific with the show jumping section this year stealing the show. The talent and power shown by these beautiful animals is amazing. The Hacks and Show Hunters were great to watch with animals groomed to perfection and riders looking equally impressive. Those youngsters in the encourage sections also put on a display they can be proud of, as I’m sure their mums and dads were on the day. It was terrific to see a harness section take to the oval on Saturday albeit as yet only small entries. The side saddle on Sunday was also another popular section for spectators to watch.

The exhibits around the grounds were terrific with a record 900+ indoor entries (excluding photography numbers). The Basham Pavilion (home to most of our indoor exhibits) with the new white paintwork and display cabinets was a pleasure to visit with room for people to move around easily to view all items, the quality of which was of a very high standard. The Michael Scott Pavilion was home to Art and Jnr Art and there were some great works on view. The Woodwork section also located in the Scott building provided a record number of entries with some beautiful pieces of a very high quality being shown. Once again the Photography on show in the Higgins Pavilion was captivating with 500+ beautiful photos on show. There is no doubt that there are some very talented photographers on the Fluerieu Peninsula and I must commend the junior entrants as well, as their work was of a very high standard.

All outdoor exhibits were equally impressive with increased numbers in beef cattle where some very impressive animals were on display. Sheep, and poultry, were also a hit with visitors as were the amazing display of Utes of all types and ages on the oval, with again a large number of entries. The scarecrow section also saw some quality exhibits. The miniature goats, at the show for the first time this year were also very popular.

The variety of goods for sale through the trade stalls on site was extensive be it food or goods, and the continuous entertainment around the grounds over both days was very entertaining.

The Southern Fleurieu Historical Museum which is housed in the Coote Pavilion was visited by many show patrons who enjoyed the displays of historical agricultural/farming equipemnt of the area and the new “Farm Shed” building housed a selection of tractors of truly historical significance, as well as other museum items. If you haven’t been into the museum area as yes, don’t miss it, it really is special with not only agricultural displays but costumes from times gone by and a marvellous dairy display. To be noted is the fact that the SFHM won the 2017 SA Legendairy title this year.

An apt description of the 2017 show: “What a Beauty!”

Gayle – Secretary, Southern Agricultural Society Inc.