Daylesford Duo with Don and Mary Harvey

Raquel Stevens

The Daylesford calendar is filled with unmissable events, but none are as iconic as the annual Daylesford Show, celebrating its 150th year. Behind the scenes, this beloved event requires months of meticulous planning, spearheaded by two dedicated organisers, Don and Mary Harvey, who have been its backbone for years.

This year, Don and Mary will hang up their show hats and pass the reins to a new generation. They shared with me their insights into what it takes to bring the show to life, and what it will take to keep this treasured tradition thriving for years to come.

How did your love affair with agriculture begin?

Don:  I don’t know that I have a love affair with agriculture, but my father was on a farm until he went broke in 1935. I grew up on the fringe of Bendigo and I suppose just gravitated towards the land.

Mary:  I grew up on a sheep and wheat farm outside Ouyen. I lived there for my first 16 years, so very much used to a farming kind of life.

The Daylesford show turns 150 this year.  How has it evolved?  

Mary: It’s a bit difficult to say without being critical, but it was in the doldrums when we started. It was not doing well, losing money, and not attracting people to the show. With other people we have put a lot of effort into trying to revive the show by bringing in new attractions.

Don:  In the old days it was the one day of the year when the carnival people came to Daylesford. I had been involved showing flowers for more than 20 years, then I decided I needed to do something instead of just showing.

The show’s motto is “prosper the land, prosper all”.  Do you think it’s still relevant today?

Mary: It means that if the land or agriculture is prosperous, then everything else is prosperous as well.  We didn’t choose the motto, but it’s been around for a hundred and sixty years, so we’ve inherited it.

Don:   If you’re here for a hundred and sixty years, you’ve got to be adapting, and obviously we have for a hundred and fifty years.  I think we are trying to find a pathway that’s not entirely sheep and wheat, as it might have been in the 50s, 60s, 70s, when it was obvious that the town no longer had gold.

Mary:  We did have a big discussion about our logo, whether to retain it. It’s very old, and it’s got a steam engine on it. However, we decided no, we would keep it because we value the tradition of the show.

What’s a show without a competition? Which is your favourite event? 

Don: I came into the show through the flower side. My father showed dahlias in the fifties, and my mother was also very competitive.  Although it’s not fashionable, I probably am too.  I won the Jenny Fiume Award with three reds. Waratahs, rhododendrons, and camellias.

Mary:  I enter the cookery and some of the craft competitions.  I am a quilter.  I really enjoy those events.  Since being on the committee, I am usually a steward in those areas now.

Competition is open to juniors as well.  The bake-off of the carrot and sultana muffin recipe does sound delicious.

Don: The kids look excited when they come back after the judging and there’s a certificate, a little prize money, or the occasional rosette. It’s great to see kids running around with their certificates saying that they’ve won $8 or something.

Mary:  We’ve got several people really wanting to increase the number of junior entries because if the kids don’t support the show, then it has no future.  This year we have the 150^th Colouring Competition.  It’s open to all pre-school, primary and secondary students.

Competition encourages improvement, would you agree?

Don: In the old days you would see the breeds of cattle improve.  Then, what you’re producing from the land, your wheat, your corn, your turnips, are also getting better each year to show.  It can apply to anything today too.

There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes before show day.  Has anything gone wrong?

Don: We had a bit of a scheduling error years ago.  Let’s just say two stalls that were side by side, we didn’t realise that the stall holders were recently divorced. Things did get a bit tense.  (laughs)

Mary:  We also had an unexpected protest. We had the federal member, Catherine King, the state member, and the mayor open the show.  Then Councillor Jen Bray, arrived with some singing demonstrators.  It was a little bit embarrassing.

Have you ever disagreed about something while organising the show?

Don:  Mary might say that I am not pushy enough on more than one occasion.

Mary:  Don’s a bit laissez faire and I’m a bit hyper.  I’m always nagging him too.  Have you organised the stewards yet? (laughs)

If Don was a show animal, what would he be?

Mary:  Well, the Araucana is my favourite chook. It’s very attractive.  And they lay green eggs.

Don:  So, you have made me a female? (laughs)

If Mary was a show animal, what would she be?

Don: She would be one of the Irish Setters or a Golden Retriever. I’m sure something pretty.

Why is the Daylesford show so important to the community?

Don: It’s been around for 150 years. It’s a long history.  I remember as a kid, around 1952, walking with my family from the back of Cliffy’s up to Victoria Park.  I recall seeing the colours of the sideshow and pigs feeding. I still remember the smell of suckling pigs.  However, we have had to change.  Move forward.

Mary:  We now have one of the biggest dog shows in the state.  People love coming to see the dogs.  And all the fanfare that goes with it. People with their tents and tables and all their grooming brushes.

Don:  They do the same with the chooks.  Tart them up. It’s quite a sight to see.

Do you think they look like their owners?

Don: Oh yes.

Mary:  And the thing about the dogs, the owner’s outfits, it’s always polyester suits, actually pastel polyester suits.

Don: No it’s not.

Mary:  Yes it is, with knee length skirts.

You are handing over the reins after this year.  What will help the Daylesford show go on for another 150 years?

Don: My aim has been to keep it going and make a little bit of money.  We could introduce some new attractions.  I would really love to see a kitchen on stage where local chefs and cooks from Daylesford produce food in front of an audience.

Mary:  I think the competitions are important. There are people who’ve been entering competitions for 50 years.  There is something special about receiving a ribbon.

Well Don, it’s time to start organising those stewards, and Mary, perhaps you could find a pastel polyester outfit for this year’s judging. Wishing you both a fantastic final year as organisers and we look forward to an incredible turnout for the 150th Daylesford Show!

The Daylesford Show will be held at Victoria Park on Saturday November 23^rd. www.daylesfordshow.com. And it’s free entry for all Junior Competitions.  Remember, you have to be in it, to win it! www.daylesfordshow.com/junior

Listen to the podcast of Raquel’s interview with Don and Mary Harvey on the Hepburn Radio Soundcloud. There’s more on the podcast!

 

Raquel Stevens is a former Network Ten News Journalist. She has been a part time local for more than 25 years, and one day hopes to be a full time local.