There's 100 days left till the Bellingen Agricultural Show and the volunteers who make it happen are hard at work.
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The office in the showgrounds is now open on Wednesday mornings from 9am to 12pm and preparations are in full swing for the 2019 Show, which will be held on Saturday May 25-26.
It's the longest continuously operating community event in Bellingen and its organising body, the Bellinger River Agricultural Society, has been in existence since 1881.
Newly appointed show secretary Geoff Adams said the two-day festival of fun only happens every year due to the combined efforts of over 200 volunteers who put their heart and soul into it, and that they're keen to hear from anyone who is able to help.
"Rest assured you won’t be asked to shoe a horse or corral a raging bull or anything beyond your capabilities," Geoff said.
"We have a job and a time frame to suit everyone. Show volunteers will get support and assistance from a committed and passionate bunch of people and above all have fun."
Show Society vice-president Susan Maunder, who has been helping with the show since 2011, is responsible for coordinating the volunteers who staff the gates.
"We have about 90 spots on the gate roster over the weekend," she said. "We have three gates open and the volunteers do two-hour shifts. I like to put plenty of people on the gates so they're not struggling by themselves and so they have a good time."
Another area where many hands make light work is the setting up and taking down of the Pavilion exhibits, which occurs on the Sunday prior to the show and the Monday after it.
Generally about 20 adults of reasonable fitness are needed for these two days.
"People who are fit enough to do carrying and bending," Susan said. "But it's not too hard, we've got trolleys for moving the heavy stuff."
Each year, a Volunteers Day barbecue lunch is held a few weeks before the show and this year it will be on Sunday May 5.
"People get their rosters and information about who they're working with and what they're doing. They also pick up their free pass to the show, wristbands and name badges," Susan said.
She added that although they "always say yes to new volunteers at any point", ideally people would put their name down before Volunteers Day. "The earlier the better," she said.
To play a part, drop into the show office any Wednesday morning or email your interest in volunteering to secretary@bellingenshow,com.au or call Geoff Adams on 0498 483 915.