ROLLING OUT: Cadia Valley Operations’ Kate Kramer and Alison Farrar help set up the feature exhibit at this year’s Australian National Field Days. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 1015field1
AFTER 12 months of highs and lows, Australian National Field Days organisers can breathe a sigh of relief.
Finally, it’s here.
With 550 exhibitors, the field days will have something for all ages. More than 900 companies will be represented.
Feature exhibitor this year is Cadia Valley Operations and they have set up a virtual underground mine tour.
Visitors can become part of the experience by dressing up in an underground miner’s hat and cap as they travel through the tunnel and enter the underground chamber, where they experience a day in the life of an underground operator.
The exhibit includes souvenir photos with large machinery, including a large haul truck tyre, a kids only section at Cadia Kids Club, where children can pan for gold or play in the sandpit with toy haul trucks, loaders and miniature mining equipment.
The opening ceremony of the field days kicks off at noon today. Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson will open proceedings.
This year’s field days promise to be the same high standard visitors have grown accustomed to.
Organiser Jayne West said the field days were not just about agriculture.
“You don’t have to be into agriculture, it’s a great few days to just walk around and socialise,” she said.
“There’s plenty of free events like the fashion parade and the sheepdog trials so people can walk around grab a coffee and just enjoy.”
The weather is looking promising and organisers remind everyone to bring a hat. Maximum temperatures are predicted between 18 and 23 for the next three days.
Mrs West said the cash injection into the Orange economy from the field days had not yet been determined.
“The economic value is huge,” she said.
“All of the accommodation is booked out in Orange, Bathurst, Molong, Millthorpe, Cudal and these people have to eat somewhere.”
You don’t need to worry about cash for the day, the site will have two ATMs and most exhibitors will have a mobile EFTPOS machine.
Today’s highlights
9am: Pedigree working dog NSW utility championship trial (M Street). 11am: Fashion parade (Style Pavilion). Noon: CWA cooking demonstration (Style Pavilion). 1pm: Tillage demonstrations (M Street). 1.30pm: Fashion parade (Style Pavilion). 2.30pm: CWA cooking demonstration (Style Pavilion).
3pm: TAFE shearing demonstration (sheep activity).
