Bendigo not-for-profit EJ’s Drill Dance Club has traditionally sold six-dollar showbags as a club fundraiser, but has struggled to break even in recent years.

Club president Louise Threlfall said disappointing site positions at the show also contributed to the decision.

“We felt we had a prime position but were relocated a few times and had people not knowing where we were,” she said. 

“It has got so difficult that we have gone from selling 3000 showbags to just 800.”

Ms Threlfall said paying between $450 and $600 for the club’s site resulted in a large outlay before they began selling.

“You pay per metre and then extra for power and ticket entry for workers,” she said. “The most we like to charge (for a showbag) is six dollars. So we either cut back on (showbag items) or put the price up. The financial risk is not something we can sustain.

“Funds raised by the club to are used to pay for team members to attend the Australian Championships.”

Bendigo Agricultural Show Society site manager Kevin Hyde said it was disappointing that EJ’s Drill Dance Club didn’t return.

“I wish that local group could have kept going. It was a bit of an icon for Bendigo, having the only local club selling showbags,” he said.

Mr Hyde said he had helped manage show sites in Bendigo for 20 years. 

“The showbag stalls have been in the same place the whole time, everybody has the same position. That group didn't apply to come back,” he said. 

“From our side there was never any intention to stop them from coming. I believe they were put across the road (for a space reason) one year but were moved back the next year.” 

Mr Hyde said he worked hard to accommodate local groups and organisations on the show’s site.

“It's a shame because they’re a small group who has done a lot of work. The more local people we get involved, the better,” he said. 

Ms Threlfall also said the contents of the club’s showbags were a factor.

“(Some) parents don’t want their kids to have (junk food) and we have chips, soft drinks and lollies in our bags,” she said. “We changed some options last year and gave people a (choice) in drink and reduced the lollies, which helped.”

Ms Threlfall said there were no hard feelings towards the Bendigo Show.

“They tried to contact us this year and there are no hard feelings with them,” she said. “We had some loyal people who would visit us each year, so it’s really important to thank the community who supported us.”

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