Agricultural
16 August, 2023
Show secretary hands over reins
Since 2016 Marilyn White has been the face behind the window at the Pittsworth Show Society office, greeting people with their enquiries and nominations.
Last week was officially her last as show secretary of an event widely considered to be the best agricultural show on the Darling Downs.
Marilyn took over the position from Joy Vohland, and recalls her first show was quite daunting.
“That first show was very daunting as I had no experience and the learning curve was steep.”
Seven years later she has helped steer the society through the last few years where the trials and regulations of Covid changed the face of agricultural shows as we know it.
“In 2020 we held the last show in Queensland before the Queensland Health regulations effectively closed down agricultural shows.
“In 2021 I worked tirelessly with the help of our capable young President at the time, Jack Murphy, to jump through every hoop and the 170 plus pages of protocols we had to present to be able to hold a Covid safe show.”
With all the hard work that had gone into running the 2021 Show, it was disappointing that the outbreak of Covid on the Darling Downs led to the 2022 show being a livestock only show.
“I was beyond excited that we were able to run a successful and full Pittsworth Show again in 2023 although there is no doubt the running of the Pittsworth Show has changed remarkably in the past seven years and that has not just been a result of Covid.”
Covid did change many aspects of the Pittsworth Show and some of these changes Marilyn believes have been improvements including the moving of trade sites to outside the pavilion and Thursday judging has led to Pittsworth holding a packed two-day show rather than the one-day show prior to Covid.
The Pittsworth Show runs strongly through the Denning family with Marilyn’s grandfather, Stan Denning being a committee member from 1934 to 1942, and Secretary to the Show from 1951 until 1955.
Her father, Stanley Thomas Denning was Patron from 1995 until 1996 and her mother Betty Denning was Show Patron from 2015 until 2023.
Betty attended the show for many years until declining health forced her to relinquish her Patronship.
Stanley Thomas Denning and Betty Denning were awarded Life Membership of the Show Society in 1980 and 1986 respectively.
Marilyn said the secretarial role had been a busy and multi-faceted one.
“All of this is a team effort,” she said and “the friendships I have made through the show society are friendships that I know will endure well beyond the show office.”
She said she runs on passion and adrenalin in the lead-up to the show each year.
Past show committee member Kerry McIntyre recalled how once the fireworks started on a Saturday night, “Marilyn could relax, often sharing hot chips with her mother Betty and surrounded by her two daughters and grandchildren, but she was always back on the grounds early the next morning to help with packing and cleaning up.”
Working alongside Marilyn over the past eight years has been Show Society treasurer Carolyn Kohler and both agreed they had worked alongside outstanding committee members and with forward thinking presidents.
“Marilyn’s passion for the Pittsworth Show is undeniable and working alongside her has been a privilege and a learning experience,” Carolyn said.
In 2021 Marilyn was nominated for an Outstanding Achievement Award at the QCAS Awards in recognition of her time, energy and dedication to the Pittsworth Show.
Last Thursday night at the Pittsworth Show Society AGM, outgoing president Lindsay Lack presented Marilyn with flowers to thank her for her dedication and hard work.
“I am going to miss it all- the excitement, the deadlines, the friendships- but I know the time is right,” Marilyn said.
