Three local entrants have been selected to compete in the zone finals of the 2024 Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman.

Baradine, Binnaway and Mendooran show societies all have entrants going to the next stage of judging in the ‘Young Woman of the Year’, which culminates with the announcement of the overall winner of the competition at the 2024 Sydney Royal.  

The combined show societies winners were revealed at an evening event hosted by the Baradine P.A & H Association held at the town’s memorial hall on Saturday, 18 November.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show entered a new era in 2019 when its iconic showgirl competition was renamed after sixty years to Young Woman of the Year. 

The NSW Young Woman competition aims to find a young woman to act as an ambassador for rural NSW with her role involving many official and informal duties both at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and during travels interstate and overseas.

The four young women keen to represent their community were Emily King (Binnaway), Abygael Rushton-Butler (Mendooran), Zalia Curtis (Baradine) and Eleanor Ratley (Binnaway).

Master of Ceremonies, Margaret McKinnon welcomed the representatives from the Baradine, Binnaway and Mendooran show societies, last year’s Baradine Young Woman, Erin Tym and judges Billy Fisher and Louise Deans. 

During the judging process each showgirl undertook a 15-minute interview with a panel of three judges at Camp Cypress during the day, where they also attended a luncheon. 

Entrants were judged on personality, confidence, ambition and life goals, general knowledge, rural knowledge, presentation and speech. 

The evening included a brief on-stage presentation from each showgirl before the judging results were announced.

Former Sydney Royal Easter Showgirl from Baradine, Louise Deans said she was delighted to be invited to judge the competition. 

“This competition has been running since 1962 and I was privileged to be Miss Royal Easter Showgirl in the mid-1970’s,” Louise said.  

“The name may have changed in recent years to reflect cultural word correctness but the aims and values of the competition have not changed.

“It is not a beauty pageant and it never has been. The young women chosen are representing their local show societies and must show a general knowledge of local, national and international events. They really are young ambassadors.

“As we all know, it takes a certain amount of courage to allow yourself to be judged, especially at a local level. If you are chosen to go on to zone judging you will meet many young women from all over the zone."

"After zone judging you are then on your way to Sydney where opportunity awaits you; so many interesting people and places to see and experiences you would not normally have. You become guests of the R.A.S for the entire Royal Easter Show with lots of privileges to enjoy. You will meet many people from different walks of life and you will, no doubt, be interviewed many times.

“The personal growth opportunity is enormous. It really is an opportunity of a lifetime and you will carry that experience with you always, so treasure this special time and enjoy every moment.

“I have enjoyed today’s judging enormously and wish all the entrants the very best in their future endeavours. Congratulations to you all.”

The three entrants chosen to represent their communities and proceed to the zone finals are Emily King, Abygael Rushton-Butler and Zalia Curtis with Eleanor Ratley, Binnaway runner-up.