It's Show Day at Bushy Park this Saturday

Chainsaw artist Eddie Freeman will appear at the Bushy Park Show.

THE 146th Bushy Park Show will be held this Saturday between 9am and 4pm at the showground on Gordon River Rd, Bushy Park. Program co-ordinator Alison Hennessy said all the old favourites would be on offer and the organisers are hoping for a good crowd.

"The demonstration program is set to provide lots of interest and variety with demos scheduled through the day to include leatherworking, cooking easy family-friendly meals, growing unusual vegetables, basket-making with willows, and old woodworking/automotive/metalwork tools," Mrs Hennessy said.

An exhibition of Tasmanian oast house photographs by Pen Taylor will be a highlight, as well as displays by Derwent Valley Arts including woodchip art for children, portrait-drawing, displays of ceramics, paintings and sculpture and music at intervals by a string quartet.

Jed Gillian will demonstrate basket-making.

"Elsewhere on the grounds there will be plenty to entertain the public with performances by Set3 Circus group and later a circus skills ‘have a go’ workshop for anyone who wants to try," Mrs Hennessy said. "Members of Ali White’s Derwent Valley dance groups will perform and Pandara Kelpies will be doing demonstrations of rounding up sheep and even two demos of duck herding!"

Woodchopping events will start at 10am and further up the grounds Eddie Freeman will be carving a sculpture with his chainsaw. A silent auction will be conducted for one of his pieces. There will be vintage cars on site and at lunchtime show-goers can enjoy the annual the Pollie Peel-Off - the potato-peeling competition involving state and federal politicians and local councillors.

Animal competitions will, as usual, be an important feature of the day with cattle and sheep judging and handling, as well as an equestrian competition including mini horses, while an animal nursery and the informative Snakes Alive will attend with their pit of Tasmanian Snakes.  A pet parade will again be held with categories for all pets with their owners.

Live music will be provided in the afternoon by guitarist and vocalist Sharn Hitchens, while a variety of food and beverage sites will entice the public with their aromas, and the New Norfolk District Football Club will run the bar. Trade sites and sideshow entertainment for children will be in attendance.

See leatherworker Tania Burbury at the show.

The competition program includes home industries, with sections for children as well as adults, and there is a separate schedule for jams, preserves, brewing and honey.  Thanks to sponsors, there will also be prizes for overall section winners.

"If you have something you have made, please bring it along and enter - we would love to see lots of participation from Derwent Valley and Central Highland residents," Mrs Hennessy said.

Tickets are available at the gate on the day. Adults $7, Child $3, Family ticket $18 (two adults and three children aged 5-16). Accompanied children under 5 are admitted free. Disability parking will be available and anyone holding a Companion Card will have free admission. 

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS – Bushy Park Show, February 15,  9am-4pm
(Official Opening by Show Patron, Christine Downie, Village Green: 12.45pm)
(Raffle Drawn, Village Green: 3.15pm; Auction Winner of Trout Sculpture: 3.30pm)

Traditional Events
Equestrian: 9am 
Cattle Judging: 9am
Junior Handling: noon
Sheep Judging: 9.30am
Woodchopping: 10am-3pm 
Mini Horses: 10.30am
Pet Parade: 11.15am 
Chainsaw Racing: 3pm
Home Industries Open: 11.45am

Traditional Skill Exhibitions – Around Grounds – All Day
Blacksmithing
Heritage Woodworking Tools - mortise and tenon join: 10.15am, 11.40, 1.40pm; saw sharpening:  10.40am, 12.40pm, 2.40
New Norfolk Spinners
Eddie Freeman chainsaw sculpturing: all day
Pandara Kelpies - sheep herding and duck herding: 10.30am and 1.45pm
Sharn Hitchins: musician: noon-4pm Beside the Styx Shed.

Jeltje Gillian will demonstrate

Demonstrations – Shoobridge Shed
Growing Unusual Vegetables: Derek Jones 10.30-11am
Leatherwork: Tania Burbury 11.10-11.40am
Cooking Easy Family Meals: Jeltje Gillian easy chicken curry 11.50am-12.20pm
Pollie Peel-Off - Potato Peeling Competition: 1-1.30pm
Cooking Easy Family Meals: Jeltje Gillian tomato and red lentil soup 2.15-2.45pm
Basketmaking with Willow: Jed Gillian - all day

Village Green
Whipcracking (Ricky Cooper, 9yrs): 9.45am, 10.15, 10.45
Dancing: Industrie Perfoming Arts Dancers 11.15am-noon
Set3 Circus Performance: 12.15-12.45pm
Circus skills "have a go" 1.15-2.15pm
Whip cracking (Ricky Cooper) 2.30 & 3pm

Other Activities- various locations on grounds
Kids Corner (0-6yrs): 10am-3.30pm
Derwent Valley Youth Future Action Team (6+ years): all day kids games near oval
Derwent Valley Arts: Exhibition plus children’s activities. Styx Shed.
Pen Tayler Photography Display: Oast Houses of Tasmania. Styx Shed.
Snakes Alive: all day
Animal Nursery: all day

More information including competition schedules and entry forms is available on the new website at www.bushyparkshow.com.au, on Facebook, or by calling 6286  5156 prior to Show Day.