Show went on with Judy Show went on with Judy

People NOLA GREEN

A BURST water main, no fireworks, sprinklers showering the horse events, a computer, five kids and a road with no name – what do these have in common?

Judith Davidson, that’s what; they have all been part of the busy life of the retiring secretary of the Collie Agricultural Society.

Judy joined the Ag. Society in 1987, four years after she and her husband Ashley arrived in the district.

Apart from two years away at Boddington, she has been a fixture at the showgrounds ever since, in spite of having a 70-kilometre round trip to get there.

She will step down from the executive at next month’s annual general meeting to take things easier for the sake of her health.

The week of the Collie Show has been a hectic time for Judy for 34 of the past 36 years, but things like the burst water main on show day made things even more fraught.

“We had to rush around and find a way to get it fixed,” she recalled.

“And then there was the time the arena was all set up for the horse events, with the horses and riders out on the field when the sprinklers came on.

“Everything and everyone got wet, and we had to find someone from the shire to come and turn them off.

“But the worst time was when there were no fireworks. People love the fire- works, and the team just didn’t show up.

“We had to tell the crowd he had mechanical problems, but the truth is he just forgot to come. People were so upset, as were we, but we got them for free the next year to make up for it.”

Judy became treasurer almost as soon as she joined the committee for one simple reason.

“I was the only one who could work the computer,” she said.

It was a flashback to her days working with the Public Works Department (PWD) at Pinjarra, when she scored an electric golf ball typewriter.

“They were a new thing, and I rang a friend at the PWD in Perth, to boast about having this up-to-date equipment,” Judy recalled.

“There was also a ledger machine in the office, but no-one knew how to work it, until I came along, they were posting by hand.

“The other girls couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw it working.”

Judy was born in Subiaco, and went to school in Nollamara.

She did callistenics (rhythmic gymnastics) which was a big thing then, and became involved with the scout movement.

“It was a family thing, in those days everyone would be involved.

"I had a cub pack for 10 years. They formed a guard of honour for me when I got married – one of the cubs is now in Federal Parliament, Senator Dean Smith.

“I became friends with lots of the kids and I still catch up with them.”

Judy met her future husband, Ashley, who was a policeman in Mandurah, through a girlfriend who was married to a policeman.

Ashley and Judy were married in the Presbyterian Church at Mt Hawthorn, and settled down in Mandurah, with Judy working in Pinjarra as she couldn’t get a job in Mandurah.

In 1983, Ashley left the police force and got a job at Worsley, so the family followed.

Later, they moved to a property in Buckingham, almost in the Shire of West Arthur, on a road with no name.

When they came back from their twoyear stint in Boddington, they were surprised to find Telstra had listed them as living in West Arthur, and began a battle to clear up the matter of their home address.

After years of living on the road with no name, they recently received a map showing the road is now officially Davidson Road.

While the show kept her busy, Judy was also active on the Amaroo P & C for 16 years, served on the school council and bus committee, and represented the school on the Roadwise committee.

With a round trip of 70 kilometres a couple of times a week to keep up with the duties of show secretary or treasurer, the travelling was taking a toll on Judith’s health, and on her pocket.

“The price of fuel going up has been getting a bit much,” she said.

When Judy started as treasurer, the office was in a separate old wooden building, but it is now at the pavilion, and air conditioned.

She has seen changes such as moving from a two-day show to a one-day show, the new office, toilets and a kitchen in the pavilion, and extensions to the pavilion.

“When the mines’ shift changes happened, we lost the cattle which used to be a big part of the show,” she said.

“We used to have a cattle auction which was a big drawcard, but the guys couldn’t bring the cattle in because they were working.

“The last couple of years have been difficult with COVID and major metropolitan shows with dates that clashed with ours, causing problems getting rides and sideshows.

“Young helpers are hard to get.

"We had a junior committee, but they grew up and weren’t replaced.

“I’d like to think the show has a future, I don’t want to see it go. Everyone tells us it is good.

“We have monthly markets. You would think the show would be booming, but we need new young people. I will stay on the committee, but not as secretary, it is a lot of work,” Judy said.

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