History
When
the gates open for the 2008 Swan Hill-Murray Downs Field Days at the Murray
Downs Reserve on Tuesday May 6 and Wednesday May 7, it will be an important
milestone for the event as it will be the 20th opportunity for the local farming
community and the general public to view a diverse range of farm machinery,
equipment, general interest products, and much more all in the one spot at the
one time.
The Swan Hill-Murray Downs Field Days (or Swan Hill Field Days as they were known then) were first held at the Ken Harrison Sporting Complex in Swan Hill as a one day event in 1988 and featured exhibits from approximately 30 local businesses, which were viewed by a few hundred members of the local farming community and Local Government personnel.
Today, the Field Days are held at the Murray Downs Reserve over two days in May and feature the latest farm equipment and machinery, products and services, from more than 200 companies and attract crowd numbers in excess of 6000.
The focus has also been broadened to include a range of general interest and craft displays to that there is something for everyone at the Swan Hill Field Days.
So how did the Field Days begin? Well, they were the brainchild of Bill Pask from the former City of Swan Hill, Department of Primary Industries Officer at the time Col Smith, and local Swan Hill businessmen Reg Packer, with administrative support from the City of Swan Hill.
As the Parks and Gardens Manager for the City of Swan Hill, Bill wanted an opportunity to demonstrate best practice turf care management, Col Smith was looking for an opportunity to assist small irrigation farmers with knowledge, equipment and advice, and Reg Packer thought a horticultural Field Day would be a good idea.
The three came together and the Swan Hill Field Days were born, however they did not get off to a great start - with rain teaming down from 8 am in the morning until shortly after lunch, numbers were lower than anticipated so the Committee decided to ask each of the exhibitors to remain for a second half day to enable more people to visit the Field Day.
They
did, the people came, and the rest is history.
One of the original Committee members, Reg Packer, is still actively involved in the Field Days today as President of the Organising Committee.
In 1993, with the Field Days growing into a two-day event and attracting around 100 exhibitors, they engaged the services of Swan Hill Promotion and Development Corporation to help coordinate what was fast becoming a major event on the Swan Hill calendar.
With a capacity site in 1994 and 1995, and limited room for expansion at the Ken Harrison Sporting Complex, the search began for a new home for the Field Days which resulted in an offer from the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club to provide an area opposite the Club in which to stage the Field Days for a 10 year period.
As a result, work began to develop the site late in 1995, and when the Field Days opened in May 1996, the new home of the Field Days won the support of both exhibitors and the visiting public.
This year will the 12th time the Field Days have been held at the Murray Downs Complex, and like all events the Field Days don’t just happen.
A not-for-profit event, the Field Days are organised by a Committee of volunteers, many of whom are members of the local Agribusiness community who recognise the value of maintaining a successful event like the Field Days.
Each year the Organising Committee spends countless hours planning and preparing to ensure that each year the Field Days are bigger and better than ever. And with only nine members, that is no mean feat.
Current
Committee Members are Reg Packer (Swan Hill Chemicals), Angus Gawne (Emmetts
Farm Machinery), Ashley Scott (Scott Electrical), Dave Hogan (Murray Downs Fire
Brigade), Craig Neill (Kleenheat Gashouse), Matt Gill (Rural Finance), Paul
O’Loughlin (Swan Hill Rural City Council), Julie Slater (JLS Consulting), and
Dianne Pumpa (Swan Hill Incorporated).
One of the major differences between Swan Hill and other Field Days is their unique blend of exhibits encompassing farm machinery and equipment for the horticulture, viticulture, rice, livestock, broadacre, dairy, and other niche farming enterprises that operate across north-west Victoria and southern NSW.
Benefits to the Swan Hill region are enormous – there is the economic contribution made by both Field Day exhibitors and visitors, the promotional opportunities to market the region across Australia (and indeed the world with their website) as a diverse and thriving agricultural centre, and the community contribution the Field Days Association makes both financially and by providing a fundraising opportunity for local Service Clubs and sporting organisations.
There are huge economic benefits derived from the Field Days when machinery and equipment sales are added to the food and accommodation monies spent by Field Day exhibitors and visitors.
Each year the Field Day Committee spends thousands of dollars promoting the May event to the farming community including television, radio and print media advertising, a website, and a range or media releases, all of which help position the Swan Hill region as a diverse agricultural region with lots to offer.
And the community is a big winner as well. Indeed since their inception some 15 years ago, the Field Days Association has provided financial support to the Spastic Society of Victoria, the Red Cross, the Murray Downs Rural Fire Brigade, Swan Hill and District Rural Women, Swan Hill Junior Soccer, community radio station SMART FM, Swan Hill Chaplaincy Committee, Chances for Children, Friends of the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement, and others.
While the Swan Hill Lions Club, CWA, Speedway Riders, Murray Downs Fire Brigade, Koraleigh Fire Brigade, Woorinen Football Club, Ultima Pre-School, Swan hill Motor Racing Club, Beverford Primary School and the Swan Hill Football and Netball Clubs have all raised vital dollars through their involvement with the Field Days.
Students from schools across the Swan Hill region are able to visit the Field Days at no charge, making it a great learning experience, with many schools choosing to incorporate a visit to the Field Days into their curriculum program.
From a tourism perspective, the Field Days has always tried to do its bit to ensure that those who are visiting Swan Hill to work at the Field Days also get to sample a taste of what the region has to offer in the hope that they will return with family and/or friends for a holiday.
Over the years the Annual Field Day exhibitor dinner has been held at the Murray Downs Homestead, the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club, the Swan Hill Town Hall, the Oasis Hotel Motel, the Swan Hill Club, the Federal Hotel, and has included trips on board the MV Kookaburra and PS Pyap.