Brian (pictured right) considered it a lovely thought, especially for Leonie who had a long relationship with the society through the auxiliary.

“I have been associated with the Pastoral & Agricultural Society (P&A) not in a big way, but over a long time,” Brian said.

“Fifty five years I’ve been having little bits to do over there, various committees, the fat lamb section, the fat cattle section and the sheep section and in the pavilion, broadcast the trots there for years … just anything they wanted I just did it; spare parts man. 

“I think it’s just the longevity of my association! Because there’s lots, lots more people that have done a lot more than I have for the P&A.”

Brian said it was a thrill to receive the membership award because he believes the shows play a very important role in regional and rural communities.

“They are the lifeblood of country towns,” he said.

Society president, Graham McKenzie, said Brian’s award was well deserved.

“Brian Baldwin, he’s been there a long, long time, and … we don’t give away honorary membership very easily,” Graham said. 

“Leonie Mather first started to work with the show as far back as 1964 or 1965 and she’s been there all along and that’s a great effort.

“And of course both of those people it just didn’t matter what happened or when you needed them they were the two you could go to and they would always put their hand up and it was great to be able to honour them … these two people were well and truly deserving of it.” 

The memberships were presented at the Show Society’s Friday luncheon.