The Agriculture Horticulture and Pastoral Society in Kyabram is a small but dedicated group of volunteers who work towards organising a handful of headline events on our calendars.
One married couple have been around for 16 calendars worth of events, and they’ve just been honoured for their dedication to the society.
In a heartwarming surprise this May, Greg and Jenny Ross were honoured with life memberships of the AH&P Society, a testament to their dedication to both the organisation and the Kyabram community.
“We never expected it,” Jenny said.
Greg was caught equally off guard.
“We were totally surprised and very gratified that people think we’re ready for it,” he said.
“I think our 16 years is not a long time, so I’d never considered it a possibility.”
They each have worn various hats throughout their time, including Greg’s stint as president in 2015-16 and as a groundskeeper, along with Jenny’s time as treasurer.
And this all after they never intended to join in the first place.
It all started with Greg’s love of motor engines; cars, trucks, farm machinery — you name it, he has it in the shed on their Wyuna property.
He joined the Vintage Engine Group in Kyabram, which met at a shed on the Kyabram Showgrounds.
Eventually, the AH&P Society was low on volunteers and needed help organising events, so members sought help from groups who used the showgrounds.
But it wasn’t until 2009, after Greg and Jenny had hung up their farming gear entirely and sold off their land, Greg said he saw they needed a helping hand.
“From my perspective, I could look on and see many of the people that were giving their time to the show society and looking after the grounds were all busier people than me — they were farmers.
“I recognised they would welcome a hand.”
Jenny saw joining the group as a way to get involved with the community.
“I just saw it as an opportunity to help out, and I’d been looking for something to be able to give back and found that was the best way for me to do that,” Jenny said.
Over their 16-year journey with the committee, Greg and Jenny have weathered the society's triumphs and challenges. In return, when faced with the heart-wrenching loss of their daughter Lisa to cancer, the committee rallied around them, offering unwavering support.
“Our show society is a pretty close-knit group, and when someone is struggling, they were very good with us,” Jenny said.
It’s a sentiment shared by Greg.
“They were our support in many ways, so there’s an emotional connection there — it’s become a little bit of a family,” Greg said.
And if there’s one thing that has remained a driving force for the couple to continue their dedication to the society, it’s watching people with smiles on their faces walk through on event day.
“I get the most joy watching the families come through the gates together,” Greg said.
“And at the end of the rodeo — it might be 11 o’clock at night, to see mum, dad and the kids all get up off the seating and head for the gates to home — as a family — that brings a bit of joy to me.”
This year, the veteran volunteers are joined by a crew of fresh faces hoping to drive the Kyabram Show into its next era.
Greg said he hoped there continued to be a focus on the region’s agriculture, while also engaging a younger audience in these community events.
“My goal is to keep our agriculture here in Kyabram. Keep the colour here at our shows,” Greg said.
“The importance of an agricultural show many years ago was that all the exhibits put on at the show were just as important as anything else.”
And Jenny wants to help keep putting smiles on faces.
“Agriculture is changing, but we’ve got to keep the joy at our events,” she said.
