After announcing the 2020 Inverell Show will have gate prices, the Inverell Show Society was hit with questions and some backlash.
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Garry Brown, of the Inverell Show Society, wanted to clearly explain why a gate price is necessary this year.
Mr Brown started by saying the Inverell Show Society runs the annual show, but did not own the showground itself.
"[We] have to pay a fee of $6500 for the showground for the week. We pay $4500 for power and for water for the week. Ribbons cost $2500 this year because we are using up all our old ones as well as new ones," he said.
The prize money for this year's show, across all events, sits over the $15,000 mark and entertainment will cost the society more than $18,000.
"With all the smaller costs added in, the show costs around $55,000 to produce. Sure we get money for rent off the sideshows, they arrive Sunday before the show, plug into our power for the week and then negotiate with us a price for the show.
"Yes we charge entry fees to events but this does not look like covering the cost of the events. So we have to charge a gate fee. Last year it was free because of a government grant which paid the gate fee.
"If we do not charge a gate fee we would not have a show next year it is just that simple," he said.
The gate fees are set at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the show society in June. This year, because of the drought, and extenuating circumstances associated with drought, the show society reduced it's gate charges by one third.
"This year it costs $10 for an adult to come to the show and they can be entertained for the whole day, cheap compared to a bottle of coke at a service station for $5. We hope to see your support for your local show," he said.
Since 1868, for more than 150 years, the Inverell Show Society has hosted the local show. The first show was held on the banks of the Macintyre River behind what is now Coles.
In 1873 it was moved to Kamilaroi Park which is now a sporting oval.
The current location, where the show has been since 1914, is the Inverell Showground on the Tingha Road on the edge of town.
The show will run from February 28 to March 1. Visit www.inverellshowsociety.com.au for a full schedule of events.
