PHOTO GALLERY: Elmore Field Days 2015

THE enduring success of the Elmore Field Days is a testament to the hard work and dedication of an army of volunteer workers who toil tirelessly to ensure the event goes smoothly.

Committee member Ged McCormick said up to 500 people donated their time to the field days each year, from catering and bar staff to parcel pick up workers and car park attendants.

“The whole organisation is built on volunteers and it’s still predominantly run by unpaid staff. An event like this wouldn’t be viable without volunteers,” he said.

“The footy club supplies the straw for people to sit on which is given free to them by the farmers and then we’ve got people who bring their machinery along and make it all happen – again, all volunteers.

“Every aspect you can see around the place, there’s a volunteer involved somewhere.”

Mr McCormick said volunteers continued to donate their time to the event year after year because they could see the benefits for their community.

“People are happy to volunteer if they’re happy to see something coming back into their town,” he said.

“We’ve still got some blokes working here as volunteers who were working at the very first field day.”

Elmore Field Days’ reliance on volunteers and community focus is its point of difference to similar agricultural events around the country.

“In those other events they’re lining someone else’s pockets. The only way they can make it viable is making it expensive for the exhibitors,” Mr McCormick said.

“Having volunteers means you can have an event that’s cost effective for the exhibitors and not too expensive to get in for the patrons.”

Volunteers nominate an organisation of their choice which the Elmore Field Days then pays for their time.

About $34,000 is distributed each year to clubs and other groups in the Elmore/Rochester/Goornong/Colbinabbin area in compensation for volunteers’ work. 

Ivan McKenzie is one of those volunteers who has been with the event since day one. 

He started as a car park attendant at the first field days in 1964 and among other things has worked as chief steward, public relations officer and committee president. 

From floods to drought and howling winds, Mr McKenzie has seen a lot of different things during his time working at the event, but the volunteers’ enthusiasm is ever present.

He said he was pleased that the next generation of farmers was as keen to help out as their parents were. 

“A lot of the younger ones have come on now and taken a lot of the workload which is great to see,” he said.

Enduring favourites

A LOT has changed at the Elmore Field Days in the 51 years since 1964 but one thing has stayed the same – attendees’ appetites. Catering committee member Chris McCormick said chicken sandwiches, salad rolls and egg and lettuce sandwiches were enduring favourites of the field day crowds. This year pulled meats are on the menu for the first time.

FEEDING the more than 30,000 visitors to the Elmore Field Days each year is no mean feat. An army of catering volunteers work tirelessly throughout the event to keep exhibitors and attendees satisfied. There are 11 food sites at the 154 hectare venue.

By the numbers:

300 volunteers

1080 eggs

150 kilograms of chicken

60 kg of ham

1500 rolls

450 loaves of bread

55 kg of coffee