Over the years the list of past Committee members of the Wodonga Show reads like a Who’s Who of Wodonga. The foundation Committee was formed in 1947 and the first Show was in March 1948.
Charlie Pollard, M.B.E. foundation President. Charlie was also Shire President for three terms, and the Pollard Archway was named for him.
Robert Richardson, President from 1949 to 1961. Dealing in stock he was known to arrange the walking of stock from Roma, Qld, to Wodonga for sale. He was at one time Captain of the Rural Fire Brigade and President of the Turf Club for more than 30 years.
Jack Hamilton-Smith, President 1962 to 1974. Jack was a horseman, a breeder, rider, exhibitor and judge. Hamilton-Smith Drive was named for him.
Dot Lindsay, Secretary 1950 to 1959. Apart from all things administrative for the Show Dot’s passion was dogs which she bred, showed and cared for.
Nance Sumner, Assistant Secretary 1950-1992. Nance came on board to help her friend Dot Lindsay. Together they worked from Dot’s home apart from the occasions when the Show Society would rent a shopfront close to Show time to take entries. Nance used the old fashioned cut and paste to prepare schedules, cutting up the old schedule, making amendments and pasting into a new arrangement to take to the printer.
Ernie Mann, foundation member. Ernie started the Mann family business in 1920, which expanded in size and products over many years.
Bert Reuss who took over from Eddie Schulz the job of Head Steward of the Horticultural Pavilion and held the job for 30 years. In early days possums tried to take bites out of the exhibited fruit and vegetables overnight. Bert stopped that by sprinkling the produce with pepper.
George Coyle, a Committeeman from early on. His specialty was sheep and dairy cattle. George was Chief Steward for the Sheep Pavilion and was a generous and regular donor to the Ladies Auxilliary of which his wife Blanche was a foundation member.
Wodonga Show Society Committee still works hard all year to plan the Show which will be on Saturday 17th Mar 2018.