It is the end of an era at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds as two stalwarts make changes.
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Grounds manager Rob O’Neill has left after 38 years, while the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society’s 17-year secretary Rod Bowles is taking a step back from his role.
Mr O’Neill started at the showgrounds in March 1980.
“It’s been 38 years but it doesn’t feel that long. It’s been a bit of a whirl, actually,” he said.
Originally, Mr O’Neill came down to Bendigo to help out at the showground’s oval.
“I’m a greenkeeper by trade and they were having trouble with the oval at the time,” he said.
In the early years, the oval was the priority, but over time Mr O’Neill’s role expanded.
“When I first came here it (the showgrounds) was principally a sports ground, with table tennis, badminton and basketball in the sheds,” Mr O’Neill said.
“They moved on to their own stadiums and so-forth, so this place needed another tenant. That’s where the market came in.”
Mr O’Neill had just clocked up 20 years running the Sunday market.
Mr O’Neill said that the highlight of his work was always the annual Bendigo agricultural show.
“The show has a great reputation and I had a great sense of satisfaction each year from putting it on, seeing so many people coming through and having a great time,” he said.
The agricultural show was also an annual highlight for Mr Bowles.
“It will be difficult coming this year but not being part of it as secretary,” he said.
Mr Bowles became secretary of the Bendigo Agricultural Society exactly 17 years ago on Friday.
He was taking a step back from the role but would still be on the committee. He would also continue roles with Victorian Agricultural Shows LTD and the Commonwealth Clydesdale Society of Australia.
Mr Bowles said that his proudest achievements included helping drive up the showground’s income and event attendance, as well as helping bring about new exhibition facilities.
“When I started here in 2001 part of it was doing a master plan for the showgrounds to identify what our potentials could be,” he said.
The society estimated that over 600,000 people were now coming through the gates each year.
“That’s a combination of the weekly Sunday market, where you might get anything like 8000 to 10,000 people on a good day, through to events like sheep and wool shows and the swap meet,” Mr Bowles said.
He thanked the community and his family for their support during his time as secretary.
Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
