Back in ’97 — that’s 1897 not 1997 — the Brookfield Pullen Vale and Moggill Farmers’ Association was formed at a public meeting held at the Brookfield Hall.
A meeting of this Association in 1905 suggested that a “Show Society” be formed to publicise the district and all its produce. The Show Society would be drawn from members of the Farmers’ Association, with Mr Hughes as its first President.
The Show began as a one-day event in 1906.
In 1910 the Show ran over two days, was opened by the Governor of Queensland, Sir William McGregor, and was considered only a little less important than the RNA Exhibition.
Early Brookfield Shows attracted high-quality exhibitors in the Dairy Section. Local breeders such as Cardell and Sinnamon of Moggill, W & D Carr of Long Pocket, Job Hayes of Brookfield and T Burton of Indooroopilly were prominent exhibitors. Equestrian events, trotting and hack classes were popular. Grand Parades provided spectators with a lot of enjoyment.
The last Show held by the Brookfield, Pullen Vale and Moggill Show Society took place in 1926. However, regular horse events, sports meetings, fetes and dances continued to be popular.
A Public Meeting was called in 1953 to consider local talk of another Brookfield Show. Feeling that this might be a little ambitious, a Country Fair was held on 6 November, 1954, with further Fairs in 1955 and 1956. These lead to the new Brookfield Show Society being inaugurated at a Public Meeting on 18 September, 1956.
The first President of this Society was another Mr Hughes — Mr Graham Hughes — who lived in Kenmore and passed away late in 2002.
The old Show Society handed over to them their bank balance of approximately £450.0.0 ($900) and the Country Fair Committee gave their funds of $784.
The first of the new Shows was held on 6 July, 1957. It included a programme of ring events, not surpassed by a single day at any Queensland Show which pleased all those interested in horses. There were poultry, goats, side-shows, stalls, machinery, car displays and refreshments.
In 1980, with the innovation of a Friday “District Day”, the Show began to run for three days, and that’s how it runs today.
We have had more than our share of rain — how many wet days have you been to? But that’s just been part of the fun and the Show always goes on.
As always, the Show is organised by a band of enthusiastic volunteers. In the week before the Show they always wonder why they do it, but they do. It’s their contribution to our heritage, and it’s your heritage too.