BY ALEKSANDRA BLISZCZYK
Whittlesea Agricultural Society will host its first open day from 12pm to 2pm on March 14.
The society normally hosts the Whittlesea Show, one of Victoria’s largest two-day shows, but due to the pandemic had to cancel its most recent event.
Now in its 163rd year, planning is already underway for the 2021 show, but Whittlesea Agricultural Society president Erica Hawke said the not-for-profit organisation was eager to welcome the community back on site next month.
“We decided that we would have an open day as a bit of a welcome back because we missed the show last year,” she said.
“We’re going to have our heritage precinct open for people to come and have a look at.
“We’re going to have the administration building so people can come in, have a look, learn a little more about what we do.”
Visitors will be able to meet and speak with society staff and Whittlesea Show superintendents.
There will also be food and goods stalls, an animal nursery, competitions and activities for kids, and a free sausage sizzle.
“[We’re] hoping some families can come, have a look around and get involved, [and] some people who might be interested in joining the society, or people who are just wanting to learn a little bit more about what we do – it’s open to everybody,” Ms Hawke said.
“Our aim as an agricultural society is to get people involved with agriculture, with farming.
“If we can teach them a little bit more about animals, property management, grasses, soil treatments, all of those types of things – if we can help them on the day with anything like that, that would be great.
“We can finally have people coming through and we look forward to sharing that with everybody.”
The open day will be at the Whittlesea Agricultural Society Administration Building, Gate 1 McPhees Road, Whittlesea. For more information, phone 9716 2835.
