Yeppoon Show Society says 'yes'
YEPPOON and District Show Society's president says the coastal show "scored a winner" over the Diamond Jubilee long weekend when the 58th two-day annual show survived "the first round" of its clash with Rockhampton Show over dates.
Brian Dorey said despite cold and wet weather, the Yeppoon Show had emerged close to an all-time record in gate admissions.
He said the show's management committee had taken a calculated risk "when confronted with the Rockhampton Regional Council's decision to grab the weekend".
But they had told the then Rockhampton councillors over the table: "We're not afraid of taking you on. We are confident we have captured a different market and we can hold it."
And so it proved, Mr Dorey said.
"Given better weather on Saturday night, the overall record gates of 2010 would have been smashed," he said.
"The show committee has proved its ability to take on opposition and come out a winner, thanks to the massive patronage from the coast and Rockhampton, the exhibitors, competitors, sponsors and helpers."
Mr Dorey said it was sad the showmen at the Rockhampton Show had "fared little better on the weekend than the midweek days of the year before, despite all the huffing, puffing and disruption over date-changing".
"I believe the showmen get charged about $25 a foot frontage for the space they take at Rockhampton Show.
"That might be the problem," Mr Dorey said.
"Yeppoon Show charges $3 a foot - which is under review to be updated next year," he said.
Mr Dorey said the Yeppoon Show Society now planned to "knuckle down to secure its market share for the 2013 Yeppoon Show".
