Margaret McNeil once walked through floodwaters up to her knees to make sure her Shepparton Show entries arrived safely.
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A Brownie leader at the time, she was determined to deliver the children’s entries, a basket full of “hairy harries”, handmade creations featuring a face made from a stocking filled with sand.
“I had a basket full of these hairy harries, and I had to get them to the show,” she said.
“I thought, please don’t let the handle fall off the basket.”
It was a commitment that summed up Margaret’s lifelong connection to the show, having entered her first competition at just 14 and continuing to show for more than seven decades.
Now in her 80s, Margaret has been part of the Shepparton Show for 73 years and was made a life member in 1974, following in the footsteps of her parents, who were also life members.
Her first ever show entry was three Cornish pasties, earning her a second prize after encouragement from her high school cookery teacher led her to enter.
“I didn’t really think I would end up entering,” Margaret said.
“Getting that recognition felt really great.”
But the show quickly became a big part of her life.
While still at high school, she would walk from school to the showgrounds after classes to help in the Arts and Crafts Pavilion, climbing into display cases to help the ladies arrange exhibits.
Over the years, Margaret has entered everything from cookery and eggs to needlework, craft and art, collecting countless prize cards along the way.
One of her favourite memories came after she beat a champion cook with her snowballs.
“When they cut one in half, hers had an air bubble in it, and mine didn’t,” she said.
“She won all the prizes for cookery, but I beat her with my snowballs.”
Margaret has witnessed enormous changes to the show over the years, from the old army-hut Arts and Crafts Pavilion and grand parades to the evolution of the showgrounds and competitions.
While she has stepped back from many of her roles this year, she remains involved with the Ladies’ Committee and the Goulburn Valley Riverina Show Association.
As the Shepparton Show celebrates its 150th year, Margaret hopes to be there to celebrate, and, if she can find something to enter, perhaps add another prize card to her remarkable collection.
“I wish the show society all the best for this milestone,” she said.
“I look forward to seeing everyone there over the show weekend, and I better figure out soon what I’m going to enter.
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