Thursday, 10 April 2025
Government House Sydney
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley

Bujari gamarruwa

Diyn Babana Gamarada Gadigal Ngura

In greeting you in the language of the Gadigal, Traditional Owners of the land on which Government House stands, I pay my respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

It was as true then as it is true today: best results come from a combination of hard work, good organisation, collaboration and teamwork—the ‘then’ was just over 200 years ago: the 5^th of July, 1822, to be precise, when the founding members of what was first called the Agricultural Society of NSW realised that challenges of agricultural in this still fledgling colony needed more than individuals trying to do their best.^[1] And it always helps if there is a little ‘royal oomph’!

Being individuals of action, a President, Sir John Jamison, was appointed, and Sir Thomas Brisbane, 6^th Governor of NSW, invited to be the Society’s inaugural Patron.^[2]

The Society could have been a branch of the learned Royal Philosophical Society established the previous year: not only did its Prospectus contain its Rules and Regulations promoting Agriculture, giving “a Reward for Improvement or Superiority”^[3] but included a quote from Cicero–in Latin, which I will skip over and go straight to the translation): “nothing is superior to agriculture, nothing more productive, nothing more enjoyable, nothing more worthy of free men”.^[4]

In many ways, I could stop there, and say ‘so say us all’, except noting that the reference to "free men" is not only outmoded, it never was the case. The pioneering work of Elizabeth Macarthur and other women was instrumental in forging the sector into a world class industry.

The First Show was held at Parramatta on the first Wednesday in October, 1823. It has been an annual event since 1882;^[5] wasn’t called the ‘Easter Show’ until 1908;^[6] and, although Queen Victoria gave her imprimatur for the ‘Royal’ prefix for the Agricultural Society of NSW in 1891, it wasn’t until 1918 that the Show as most people know it became the Royal Easter Show.^[7]

In 1901 the first of the now ubiquitous mechanical rides appeared, in the form of several carriages as part of the automobile exhibition;in 1907 the first of the now iconic Grand Parades was held; in 1917, with the conversion from gas to electricity, the Show opened for the first time at night; and, in the 1920s the various booths previously spread across the show were collected together to form the famous Sideshow Alley.^[8]

Finally, in 1998, the Show moved—after various stays in Parramatta, Prince Alfred Park in the city, and Moore Park in the East—to its current home in Homebush.^[9]

Throughout these changes—all integral building the great tradition of ‘going to the Show’ Australia’s largest annual ticketed event^[10]—at its heart is the exposition of the excellence of agriculture. Cicero had it right from the beginning.

Dennis and I spend a great deal of time visiting local shows throughout the State as well as various Ag schools throughout the regions. The pride we see with the ribbons on display, the signification of the hard and inspiring work that wearing the sashes represents, the conversations we have demonstrate a love of the land and a commitment to the words that we have to keep coming back to... ‘excellence in agriculture’.

Speaking of excellence, today provides an opportunity to mention Entry No. 3891 in Category 39 ‘Sultana Cake’—submitted by none other than ‘The Professor’, Mark Schembri, Official Veterinary Officer to the Royal Easter Show, and who is with us today.

Mark’s entry is a story of what excellence really entails.

A frequent entrant in Category 390 ‘Sultana Cake’, The Professor turned up a couple of years ago with his sultana cake baked to perfection in a round tin—in his mind already the winner! However, the entry criteria for that year, was a cake baked in a square tin. His entry was rejected at the threshold... going to show that even a genius can make a mistake. 

Undaunted, The Professor continued to enter his sultana cake year after year until finally, this year, he ‘did it’ … First prize. Having won the grand amount of $50, he says he is determined to come back again next year. 

This story is just one of the many wonderful stories that culminates this week at the Royal Easter Show, which is not only the showcase for everything that goes on during the year, but is only possible because of the tireless work of everyone involved—from the schools, to the local shows, to everyone out at Homebush—everyday of the Show and in the days leading up to it: the exhibitors, the workers, the judges, the stewards, the councillors, and the committee chairs—a veritable army of volunteers,  and together the true lifeblood of rural and regional NSW.

To John^[11] and the team from RAS: as Proud Patron, I thank you not only for bringing us the excitement of the Show every year, but also for all you do in advocating for, encouraging, and recognizing our rural sector. I also acknowledge the work of the Foundation, of which Dennis is Patron and espouses at every opportunity.

In celebrating the past and present of NSW agriculture, we also celebrate its future through the recognition of 23 inspiring individuals—the 2025 AgShows Young Women and RAS Rural Achievers finalists—whose talents, expertise, and dedication have already contributed so much.

To you: you are all engaged young people committed to the public spirit of agricultural and community improvement, you represent your communities and regions – across every part of our State – with pride, and encapsulate, as future leaders, the strength, vibrancy, and innovation of NSW’s primary industries and regional communities. The warmest of thanks and congratulations.

Now it is on with this Show… and see you at the Show!

[1] ‘Agricultural Society of New South Wales’, Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 12 July 1822, p/2, available here

[2] “We have great pleasure in announcing that His Excellency the Governor received the Deputation of the Society in the most flattering manner, and very condescendingly accepted the Patronage of the Institution; at the same time expressing his readiness to forward its laudable views, not only by his countenance and support on the spot, but likewise to the extent of his influence with His Majesty’s Government in the Mother Country”: ‘Assize of Bread…’, Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, 12 July 1822, p.2, available here. Within a week, the Society’s membership had grown to include “70 of the most respectable landholders in the Colony”: ibid.

[3] “That an Annual Shew of Stock, and Exhibition of Samples of Wool, Seeds, Implements, or any other Articles tending to the Improvement of Agriculture, shall be held at Parramatta, on the first Wednesday in October, to be open to the Public, [and] for Premiums to be given as a Reward for Improvement or Superiority”: Prospectus, List of Subscribers, and Rules and Regulations of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, Instituted on the 5^th July 1822, p.17; available here

[4] Prospectus, List of Subscribers, and Rules and Regulations of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, Instituted on the 5^th July 1822, available here. “Nihil est agricultura melius, nihil uberius, nihil dulcius, nihil homine liberi dignius” (‘Nothing is superior to agriculture, nothing more productive, nothing more enjoyable, nothing more worthy of free men’). The quote excises Cicero’s preceding clause omnium rerum, ex quibus aliquid… (of all pursuits from which profit accrues…). It also changes the original libero to liberi (‘a free man’ to ‘free men’). Cicero, Offices, book 1, 42, 151.

[5] ‘The Royal Easter Show: A Grand Tradition’, Australian Geographic, 24 February 2010, available here.

[6] Gavin Fry, Sydney Royal: Celebrating 200 Years of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, p. 282.

[7] ibid

[8] ibid, pp. 282-287

[9] Agricultural Society of NSW shows, in their various iterations were held only 13 times between 1823 and 1882: Bridget Brennan, ‘The Royal Easter Show: A Grand Tradition’, Australian Geographic, 24 February 2010, available here. The Agricultural Society of NSW disbanded, due to the Great Depression in 1836. They reformed in 1857, and the show moved from Parramatta to Prince Alfred Park in the City in 1869. From there, the show moved to Moore Park in 1882.

[10] ‘About Us’, Sydney Royal Easter Show website, available here

[11] Mr John Bennett OAM, President, Royal Agricultural Society of NSW