Colin’s involvement with the Molong Show Society stretches back to the late ‘70s when he first took on the secretary’s role, while Heather has been part of the show nearly her entire life.

“It was born and bred in me,” said Heather, whose mother and father too had a long involvement with the Molong Show.

“I started off in the catering when I was at school, they wanted girls to go around waiting tables and do the kitchen. So, I started there and then I was asked if I wanted to go on to the needlework and now I’ve ended up being in charge of the needlework for 35 years!”

“In the first year I was just a member,” said Colin, who is the current Molong Show Society President.

“Then I was secretary for — I don't know how many years — then went onto to be committee member, senior vice president and I've had two terms of president, about ten years.”

“I was an exhibitor years ago,” added Heather, “but you don't have time to do exhibits as well as all the other things so that had to go by the wayside”

For their tireless efforts and dedication to the show movement, Colin and Heather have been presented with a state award from the Agricultural Societies council of NSW.

“It came like a shot out of the blue, I can tell!” said Colin. “First of all, to get the letter saying we'd been nominated, and then the follow up letter to say you are invited to come to the Royal Easter Show and then the announcement of the winners!”

“It was wonderful,” said Heather. “We were very proud to think we'd been nominated to start with, and then we went on to win it, so it was a wonderful feeling.

“You don't look for the thanks; you do it because you enjoy doing what you do, but it is wonderful when people appreciate what you do.”

Colin and Heather were to attend the awards dinner during the Royal Easter Show in Sydney, but the presentation had to be cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.

“It is very much appreciated,” said Heather, who is pleased to be seeing younger members joining the committee and ensuring a good future for the local show.

“A country show gets the whole community together, it gets the townspeople and all the farmers in the area together, so it's a real gathering of community. It’s why I love the show.”