General News
18 October, 2025
Dimboola Show celebrates 140 years of community spirit
CELEBRATING its 140th year, the 2025 Dimboola Show is shaping up to be a day to remember.
With equestrian events starting at about 9am, there’s also scarecrow decorating, messy play, tiny goats, rock wall climbing, cooking demonstrations, and a wide range of amazing food available.
That’s just a small taste of there being something for everyone at the Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
Dimboola P & A Society president, Harvey McKinnon, said this was his “sixth or seventh year” in the role and he was thrilled to see the show survive and reach another milestone.
“We’re still alive,” he said.
“That’s the big thing. I haven’t been around for 140 years, but a lot of these little things are dying.”
He was happy to list some more of the other attractions on offer – face painting, inflatable laser tag, animal nursery, model train display with interaction, kids craft, cake judging and a grand parade.
The expectations were high, but he also wanted to talk about some of the more fun events.
Sheaf toss, Guess the weight of the wood, and a duck dive all promise to be entertaining, but one event, especially, was expected to be enjoyable spectator theatre: Human sheep drafting.
“It's a new event,” Harvey said.
“There are teams of three people, and they've got to move three sheep out of the pen from about 15 sheep, and draft them into a single pen.
“They've got to walk them out without using their hands or clapping or anything like that.
“It's pretty difficult, but it's funny.”
Side Show Alley will have rides for everyone, with The Zipper as the main attraction.
With the food on offer, there are different times provided by different groups: luncheon from 11.45am (by the show), afternoon tea (CWA) and then the evening barbecue (Dimboola Progress Committee and Lions Club).
There’s poultry and fleece on display, Miss Show Girl, whip cracking, and a goods and services auction near the end of the day.
With the pet judging, there is a $10 first prize on offer in each section (kindly donated by Australian Wool Network Pty Ltd). So, groom the dog or the cat, fluff up the chook and the duck feathers, and bring them down to the pavilion on the footy oval.
Entries are free, and if you have a pet that is a bit different, it can be entered in the most unusual pet section.
AWN will also be displaying live sheep pens, and the CFA, police, and ambulance will have a static display.
Finally, a grand parade will highlight the dozens of classic cars on display, tractors, bikes and machinery.
The official opening will be at 1.45pm by Hindmarsh mayor Ron Ismay and 17-year-old singer, Matilda McKinnon, will be worth waiting for near the end of the day; this year’s show promises to be the biggest and best yet – it will be the place to be on Saturday.