From the pages of the special 8-page commemorative edition pull-out, inside the GC&M News March 29 edition. To read the pull-out in it’s entirety, click the link above.
LIFE member of the Maleny Show Society, Margaret Wild, will turn 100 years in October 2022. Margaret and her family have been connected with the Maleny Show since 1949 when her husband Laurie (pictured below with John) competed with two horses “Darlene” and “Jewel”. They were jumping horses but also were great sporting horses. Margaret volunteered countless hours helping out with cooking, catering and judging cakes, jams etc. She was still volunteering into her 90s and sponsors the Laurie Wild Memorial Junior Six Bar event along with family in honour of Laurie who passed away in 1995. He was a great support to young riders and volunteered on the grounds and in the horse ring up until his death.
It was only natural that the Wild children would also become part of the Maleny Show family following the examples of their parents. For some years a rodeo was run in conjunction with the Show and Laurie supplied many of the cattle. It took the family to do the mustering while Laurie was transporting cattle into the showgrounds and then to have them returned home again after the event.
I have been ring steward for around 30 years, and it is a blessing to have the support of my husband Bob and sons Scott and Greg, their families, and the large extended Wild families.
Most years there are around 20 family members from four generations who are part of the Maleny Show. This generational volunteering in the horse ring can be seen in other families like the Hankinson and Ferriday, and also a lot of the ring stewards continue to volunteer year after year.
It is wonderful to see the younger generations being involved and out there enjoying themselves and giving to the community, even though they just see themselves as going to the Maleny Show.
Main image: Kayrene Corkin and family helpers in main ring