Oral History Participants

Interviewee 

Summary 

Key Association 

Lindsay Anderson 

Lindsay has attended the Show since he was four, showing and judging cattle. The Anderson family were awarded the President’s Medal in 1996 for 100 years for exhibiting. 

Cattle 

Jan Baker 

Jan was a Steward in Art, Craft & Cookery for 40 years and the Steward in charge of School Technology and Design and Open Woodcraft. She was awarded the President’s Medal in 2004. 

Art, Craft & Cookery 

Graeme Barker 

Graeme was the main arena commentator/announcer for close to 20 years. He was the ‘Voice of the Show’ and an accomplished jump rider. 

Main Arena 

Robert Beggs AM 

Robert was a past President (1990 – 1993) and a Councillor from 1977. He is a Merino sheep breeder and member of the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association. 

Wool 

Melbourne Royal 

Bob Bell 

A Melbourne Royal Honorary Life Member, exhibitor and Steward in the Dogs Competition and a Dogs Committee member. Bob was elected to Council in 1995. 

Dogs 

Wolf Blass AM 

The winner of four Jimmy Watson Trophies – three consecutive – 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1999. Wolf is a well-known figure in the wine industry. 

Wine 

Norma Buckland MBE 

Chaperone of the Miss Showgirl Competition for 37 years. Norma was awarded the President’s Medal in 1992. 

Miss Showgirl 

Ian Bucknall 

Ian first exhibited in the Sheep Competition in 1964. He has been a Councillor from 1986 and has held the position of Melbourne Royal Vice President to three different Presidents. 

Sheep 

Melbourne Royal 

Betty Burgess and Kay Kyle 

Members of the CWA, Betty has worked in the CWA Kitchen at the Melbourne Royal Show for 40 years and Kay for 12 years. 

CWA 

Michael Burston 

Michael joined Melbourne Royal Council in 1973. He was Vice President (1981 – 1988) and Director of the Board (1994 – 2003). He was involved in the Beef Cattle and Carcase Competitions. 

Beef Cattle 

Beef Carcase 

Melbourne Royal 

Tommy Carter and Dawn Rae 

Tommy started work for Hoadleys in 1960 and oversaw their showbags at Shows across Australia. Dawn worked with Tommy packing showbags. 

Showbags 

Bill Chambers OAM 

Bill was Chairman of Judges at the Melbourne Royal Wine Show for many years. He was awarded the President’s Medal in 1994. 

Wine 

Bill and Edna Chandler 

Bill and Edna are long-time Melbourne Royal Show Clydesdale exhibitors. 

Clydesdales 

Marjorie Chant 

Marjorie has a long-time family involvement with the Show as a member of a Show family in sideshow operations. 

Sideshows 

Harley Clappison 

Harley was the Director (CEO) of Melbourne Royal from 1971 – 1980. He established the ‘Royal’ magazine in 1977. 

Melbourne Royal CEO 

Mary de Crespigny 

Mary rode in her first Melbourne Royal Show in 1929 and has been involved with the Show ever since. She was awarded the President’s Medal in 1998. 

Garryowen 

Horses in Action 

Neil Edwards APM and Joan Edwards 

Neil is a long-time Chairman of the Woodchop Committee, Steward in Chief and a commentator. Joan is a Woodchop competition handicapper. 

Woodchop 

Valerie Fisher AO OBE 

Valerie was the Country Women’s Association (CWA) State, National and International President. 

CWA 

John Fox AM 

John was President (2007 – 2009), Vice President (1999 – 2007) and a Councillor from 1989. He was the General Manager of Rural Finance. John was closely involved in the Showgrounds’ redevelopment. 

Melbourne Royal 

Diana Gibson 

Diana has a long-time and close connection with Melbourne Royal through her grandfather (Councillor), father (Councillor) and ex-husband (Vice President). 

Art, Craft & Cookery 

Supporter 

Lawrie Griffiths 

Lawrie was stationed at the Showgrounds during World War II. 

Melbourne Royal Show 

World War II 

Ivan Heazlewood 

Ivan was a sheep breeder from Tasmania. From the 1950s, he exhibited sheep at the Melbourne Royal Show and was later appointed a judge in the Sheep Competition. 

Sheep 

Sydney Howard 

The Howard Family first provided the fireworks display at the Show in 1957 and continued to do so every year for 40 years. 

Fireworks 

Kevin and Lucy Hyde 

Kevin and Lucy are long-time staff members of Melbourne Royal. They commenced in the 1980s and have worked in operations, grounds, competitions, and catering. 

Melbourne Royal Staff 

Vicky Lawrie 

Vicky has been competing at the Melbourne Royal Show since she was 18 years of age. She has won the Garryowen six times. 

Garryowen 

Peter Leaver 

Peter was a long-time photographer for Melbourne Royal and the Melbourne Royal Show. 

Photographer 

Brian Leslie 

Brian is a cattle exhibitor and judge. He has been described as Australasia’s leading Dairy Auctioneer. Brian established International Dairy Week. 

Cattle 

Dairy 

Bill Mahncke 

Bill is a Clydesdale exhibitor who first attended the Show in 1953. He was awarded the President’s Medal in 1999. 

Clydesdales 

Adnan Mansour 

Adnan was the Melbourne Royal General Manager/Acting CEO. He was involved with the Showgrounds’ redevelopment. 

Melbourne Royal Staff 

Owen Matthews 

Owen was a demonstrator at the Melbourne Royal Show during the 1960s – 1970s. He had one of the most successful main arena attractions of the 1960s with his dressage act with the horse ‘Aintree Boy’. 

Arena 

Carol Mazurek 

Carol worked at Melbourne Royal for 43 years. She started in the Dogs Competition before moving to the Cattle Competition. 

Melbourne Royal Staff 

Kath Metherall 

Kath is a two-time Garryowen winner (1947 and 1949). She is a horse, sheep and cattle exhibitor and a judge. 

Garryowen 

Sheep 

Cattle 

Megg Miller 

Megg is a member of the Melbourne Royal Poultry Committee. She is a poultry industry advocate and is involved with the Australasian Poultry Magazine. 

Poultry 

John Moore 

John had a strong involvement with Melbourne Royal through the Victorian Young Farmers (VYF) and later through his advertising agency, which did the advertising for the Melbourne Royal Show. 

Victorian Young Farmers 

Tim Morgan 

Tim worked at Melbourne Royal over a 30-year period (1971 – 2006). He was involved with breed societies, rural youth, media and public relations, the Showgrounds’ redevelopment and Show operations. 

Melbourne Royal Staff 

Elma Murphy 

Elma was a staff member for 50 years from 1954. She worked predominantly with cattle and breed societies, particularly pigs and cattle. 

Melbourne Royal Staff 

Melissa Neal 

Melissa has been involved with Cattle Camps, Young Farmers and won the Rural Ambassador Award in 2014. She has been involved with the Beef Cattle Committee and is a cattle judge. 

Cattle 

Rural Ambassador 

Brian Parry AM 

Brian is a former Director/CEO (1981 – 1986). He was instrumental in forging higher level relationships with state government and presided over the Society’s ‘guest nation’ show, Japan on Show. 

Melbourne Royal CEO 

Glen Pate 

Glen and his family have a strong association with Clydesdales at the Melbourne Royal Show, particularly through Carlton & United Breweries. 

Clydesdales 

Peter Payne 

Peter is a former CEO (1994 – 2000). He focussed on updating the Show’s image, ‘back to rural roots’, year-round revenue, and early discussions about the Showgrounds’ redevelopment. 

Melbourne Royal CEO 

Neil Penny 

Neil bought his first lot of ‘chooks’ at age 12. He is a long-time poultry exhibitor and a Poultry Committee Member. 

Poultry 

Joy Potter 

Joy is a Melbourne Royal Councillor, Art, Craft & Cookery Steward, member of the Melbourne Royal Heritage Committee and Angus Committee. She was a Melbourne Royal Board Member (2007 – 2018) and has a long-time family involvement with the Melbourne Royal Show. 

Melbourne Royal 

Jack Rae OAM 

Jack has been a Melbourne Royal Councillor since 1971. He was the Ringmaster for 11 years and a member of numerous committees including Horse, Dairy Cattle, Showgirl, Poultry, Cats (Chairman) and Heritage. 

Ringmaster 

Gina Ryan 

Gina is a long-time cattle exhibitor and was involved with the Rural Youth Handlers Camps. She was awarded a President’s Medal in 2001. 

Cattle 

Jack Seymour AM 

Jack is a Past President (1999 – 2007) and Councillor from 1994. He was involved in the negotiations with government and implementation of the Showgrounds development. 

Melbourne Royal CEO 

Don Simpson 

Don is a poultry exhibitor who has attended the Show since 1933 and has been involved with Poultry at the Show since 1953. He was awarded the President’s Medal in 2003. 

Poultry 

Shirley Sleigh 

Shirley was heavily involved in organising the Art, Craft & Cookery Competition. She was awarded the President’s Medal in 2003. 

Art, Craft & Cookery 

Bruce Starritt 

A member of a well-known sheep breeding family, Bruce and his father Ray have judged at every Australian Royal Show. His father was Melbourne Royal President (1982 – 1986). Bruce has been a Councillor since 1999. 

Sheep 

Lindsay, Leonie and Mel Stott 

The Stott Family are known as being makers of the Show Dolls and Melbourne Royal Show stallholders. 

Sideshows 

Show Dolls 

Keith Urquhart 

Keith has been a Councillor since 1977, Chairman of the Horse Committee (1991 – 1996), a Stockhorse competitor, Farm Management Competition judge, steward, and demonstrator in the main arena with his stockhorse ‘Sandman’. 

Stockhorse 

Frances Wallace and Casamer Johnson 

Daughter and son of the late Frank Johnson, who was a freelance photographer who worked extensively for Stock & Land. 

Frank Johnson 

Allan Watson 

Son of Jimmy Watson and involved with the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy. 

Wine 

Hugh Wirth AM 

Hugh was a member of the Veterinary Panel from 1965 and Chairman of the Veterinary Panel. He was awarded the President’s Medal in 1998. 

Vet