During the School Holidays, in anticipation of the annual Grenfell show, climbing the big pepper tree in the Hospital grounds which had a grand view of the showground, on the Thursday not too much happening, Friday from the view point was plenty of activity all day with the sideshows setting up early and ring events underway, running back home to report there’s a Ferris Wheel and an Octopus, Merry Go Round and much, much more to my big brothers.
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Saturday morning arrived, out of bed very early, mum had bought new jumpers and trousers for us boys especially for the show.
All decked out in our new clothes, out came the box brownie for the photo album, money burning a hole in my pocket from collecting and selling old newspapers to Chris Mendham Butchers, selling drink bottles to Paddy Fanning, even collecting dead wool (much to dad’s disgust) and selling to Eric Hald.
Mum would give us permission to take off about 10.30am through the gate at the Alexandra Street entrance to look at the dogs that were chained on the southern fence beside the sheep pavilion, then into side show alley.
Octopus first then the Ferris Wheel, in to have a look at the quarter man, then the monkeys riding the Shetlands, a scrumptious dagwood dog with lots of sauce running down the front of my new jumper, back on the Octopus, up to look at Bill Gee’s chooks, then a quick run through the Pavillion.
Check to see if mum had won a prize in the preserves section, then down to be entertained by Roy Bell up on the board with his troupe and drum then into the tent to watch the boxing, very exciting.
A ride on the dodgem cars then back to Roy Bells tent, the pocket just about empty, watch Barney Hayes beat Turkey Gee and Tom Hazell in the trots, still enough money for another dagwood dog, more sauce on the front of the new jumper.
Watch the gadget man demonstrating and selling all the different, unusual gadgets, out of money now time to go home.
What great memories of the Grenfell Show back in the early 50’s.