Community & Business
26 June, 2026
Surprise new Show Society President
Resident of Oakey for 18 months and local coffee van owner Kimberley Hammett is the new President of the Oakey Show Society, in an outcome even she would have been surprised by before the Society’s Annual General Meeting last week.
As guest chair for the election of office bearers Stephen Clark tripped over his words in the Greenwood Hall, it looked like the position of President would remain vacant.
That was until at the side of the room next to where the Champion was sitting, two people had a brief, whispered conversation, which went like this.
Person 1: “If you be President, I’ll be Vice President”.
Person 2: “Okay.”
Those two people are Sam Kennedy and Kim Hammett, who, true to their word, are now Vice President and President of the Oakey Agricultural, Pastoral and Rodeo Society.
Kim Hammett is still a relatively new face in town, but one that has become familiar to many in a short space of time.
She owns and operates the Ground Me coffee van business, which runs out of the former Oakey Men’s Shed site behind Oakey Gym & Fitness Centre.
Having moved from Brisbane in December 2024, and only having been in Oakey for one Show, Kim is not your average newly-appointed Show Society President.
“It happened by a comedy of error,” she explains.
“It was nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Sam said to me “You be President and I’ll be Vice President and Betty (Richter, Treasurer) kept eyeing me off.
Although her Ground Me coffee van has been operating for only a year, Kim has already become an integral member of the Chamber of Commerce and has shown a willingness to get involved and serve the community.
As just one example, she threw open her doors to host a Chamber of Commerce networking event at Ground Me’s home on the corner of Cory and Bridge Streets on Monday night.
It’s hoped that Kim’s background in insurance will prove invaluable at a time when Show Societies are struggling to raise funds to pay insurance premiums.
Oakey has not hosted a Rodeo at the Showgrounds since 2023 for this reason.
Vice President Sam Kennedy is an experienced local volunteer, having run this year’s Oakey Australia Day Working Group.
Also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Sam helped set up last year’s Santa Fair event and made sure things ran smoothly.
Kim and Sam will be supported in their roles by experienced Show Society Treasurer Betty Richter, and hard-working Secretary Dallas Hawley.
