The Gulargambone Show will go ahead on the same day as the Coonamble Rodeo and Campdraft next year, after the show committee decided against trying for a different date.

The Committee agreed via text after their Annual General Meeting on 15 August to accept the Saturday 7 June date set by the Agricultural Societies Council (ASC), also known as AgShows NSW.

Show President Angus Beveridge said the committee had discussed alternative days to avoid losing numbers to the rodeo.

“AgShows NSW suggested an alternative date of 3 May, but we thought that was a little bit early for us,” Mr Beveridge said.

“A lot of our stewards and volunteers and workers are busy putting that season’s crop in.

“We did also look at the weekend after the one the Coonamble Show has potentially moved to [13-14 May], but the group did not recommend that weekend because we’d be clashing with another show in the Western ASC group.

“They try to coordinate shows so things, especially the Showman’s Guild in regards to rides and attraction, don’t have to travel too far to the next show. They’re always moving in a nice-flowing sort of way.

“At this stage we’re going to stick with the June long weekend.”

Shearing action at the 2024 Gulargambone Show. PHOTO: Lily Plass

Dates for all shows in NSW are set each year by the ASC in consultation with the Showman’s Guild, and follow a number of routes branching out from and leading back to the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Since the date for Easter changes every year, ranging from March 22 to April 25, the dates of the shows also shift around the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

The ASC schedule does not account for rodeo and campdraft events.

That led to the clash between the shire’s biggest events, with the Coonamble Show originally scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 June, the same week as the rodeo, which traditionally runs over the long weekend.

Mr Beveridge said the Gulargambone Show can still be a hit.

“This will be a first for us,” he said.

“The long weekend will be a challenge, but we’re thinking that perhaps with things like our junior judging it will assist us with school kids being home on holidays.

“In our sheep section, we do have exhibitors from our Coonamble area, but we think that they can probably come and exhibit their sheep in the morning and be able to attend the rodeo in the afternoon.

“There’s also the very popular working dog competition and working dog high jump plus many other attractions that can keep people entertained and involved who perhaps aren’t into rodeos.”

The Coonamble Show Committee is still waiting to confirm a move to 13-14 May.

They have approval from the ASC Western Group, although the committee will need the NSW Government to revise of the public holiday on the second day of the event.

Contact has also been made with the Showman’s Guild to determine whether the sideshow rides and stalls can adapt to the change.