IN PICTURES: Wagin Woolorama through the last 50 years

Its an amazing occasion and it deserves to be celebrated — 50 years of Wagin Woolorama. Countryman has done a deep dive into its archive to showcase pictures of the Wagin Woolorama, through the years. The iconic event was held for the first time in 1972, when, after a trip to the Dowerin Field Days local resident Malcolm Edward deemed that Wagin needed its own premier event. While the town had previously had the Wagin Agricultural Show, its strength was in its Merino sheep and wool industry. After a naming competition for school children, Peter Jenkin, then aged 9, and Mark English, then aged 10, both suggested the name Woolorama. They won $5 for their efforts and the name stuck. Mr Edward and some other forward thinkers moved the event to an autumn date rather than the previous spring date to avoid competition with other agricultural shows in the area. The idea split the Woolorama committee 50/50, but the now-late Eric Farrow had the casting vote and used it to change the date with the decision locked in, in early 1974. The first Woolorama attracted huge crowds and plenty of new innovations, earning the committee the satisfaction and motivation to make each year bigger and better. When asked what the key factors were in Woolorama’s success, Mr Edward said passion. For long-time Wagin locals Wendy and Arthur Pederick, Woolorama has “put Wagin on the map” and given it a “point of distinction from every other rural town”. “It is a chance for the town to work together on a single focus and pull together,” Mrs Pederick said. “There is so much input from the volunteers that make the event happen, and I think they are the real heroes of the show. “People are very selfless in the time that they give, they give their time and resources, skills and enthusiasm. “Everyone gets a buzz, we are only a little town but we can pull off a big event like this so well.” Mr Pederick has been involved with the event since the age of 17 and served as president from 1985 to 1988. He said he was extremely proud of the infrastructure at the grounds and, like and many other locals, was looking forward to the opportunity to reminisce and reflect on Woolorama. More than a decade after the first Woolorama, the town built its now-famous giant ram Bart in the Wetlands Park near the Shire of Wagin office. These days, Wagin Woolorama is the first large-scale agricultural field day of the calendar year.