General News
31 March, 2026
Natimuk Show-ing the way forward
HELPING the local community bounce back with a demonstration of optimism and resilience from the January 9 bushfire, which burnt many homes in town, was the Natimuk Show on Saturday.
With attractions ranging from everything, including sheepdog trials, equestrian events on the oval, pet competitions, brass band music and a large range of stalls – including the regular Lions Club snags available – several hundred people turned up in the pleasant autumn weather to enjoy a day out of food, fun and community spirit.
Sheep shearing also featured, with 172 sheep shorn and the proceeds to fund next year’s prize money.
At the show opening, Natimuk A & P Society president, Robert Rogers, welcomed the crowds and
Vice-President, James McCredden added, “Thank you, everybody, for coming today – without your attendance, it’d be a pretty quiet show day”.
“We really appreciate everybody turning up and coming to the Natimuk Show to support what we do,” he said.
“We'd also like to thank all our sponsors.
“We've got quite a few volunteers, in all different things that they do, we really appreciate what they do for us. And of course, without our exhibitors – and many of you have exhibited today – thank you very much. Without your exhibits, the show wouldn't be much to look at.”
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism chair David Jochinke was handed the responsibility of officially opening the show, and he began his speech by reeling off three dates.
“April 1981, January 2011 and January 2026,” he said.
“These are times in this community where you've been tested, where the community's resolve has been asked of and the grit of people have come to the forefront. It's when you see the best of people, it's when you see neighbours looking after neighbours, mates looking after mates, and actually just getting on with the job of unfortunately rebuilding in those three circumstances.”
Mr Jochinke said, despite having travelled extensively, “there's nothing like coming back to the Wimmera and actually being a part of the community that we have built ourselves”.
He said the challenges faced would be overcome and would become part of the town’s DNA as tough times make for tough people.
“For me, the show is a representation of the community, showing their grit and holding strong,” Mr Jochinke said.
“It is the fact that we are celebrating the talent of the different people who are choosing to exhibit their wares, and I do congratulate everyone who's won, but also participating in that.
“But more so, it's actually getting out about having a chat to the neighbourhood, chatting to your next-door neighbours that you may not see every day, seeing people in the community that have stood up, and also encouraging others to stand up and be a part of what is a great community.
“I’d like to now officially open the 134th show.”
Various competition winners were announced, with a highlight being life memberships awarded to James McCredden and Cathy Isaacson.
Mr Rogers said afterwards, the show’s preparation had obviously been interrupted by the fires and also had to weather the current state of fuel prices, but he was happy with the final result.
“It was only perhaps in this last fortnight or so that we've had to pull into full swing to get things up and running again for the show,” he said.
“It's a family day out where everybody can get to enjoy themselves and have a good time and to put the exhibits in the show and compete against the other locals here in it, and have a bit of fun there that way.
“That was the way it worked out this year, and it was on a little bit smaller scale than what it had been in previous years, but that was understandable.”
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