Wagin Woolorama has appointed one of Western Australia’s best known broadcasting voices as its new Media Liaison Officer. He’s Pat Harding, who has had a career spanning 47 years in many facets of the media throughout Australia.
Mr Harding spent 20 years in News and Current Affairs with the ABC, 13 years as Rural Media Producer with the WA Department of Agriculture and has worked in public relations roles with the Australian Army, politicians in WA and the NT, Local Government and the private sector.
He said he was delighted to accept the new role. “After all Woolorama is the premier sheep show in the state and it’s also the biggest Agricultural Show outside the Perth Royal and attracts interest from a wide cross section of the community. Unfortunately these days you can’t simply put on a show and expect people to turn up. With so much competition from other activities we need to promote Woolorama far and wide and that’s something I plan on doing”.
Mr Harding said that Woolorama presented a unique opportunity to showcase not only some of the finest sheep in the state but it also created the atmosphere of a family orientated show with a wide range of attractions. “It is truly a Carnival in the Bush”, he said.
Pat Harding’s association with Agricultural Shows began when we was elected President of the Swan View Agriculture Society in 1983, a position he held for a number of years. His media assoiciation with Woolorama began in 1991 and for seven years during the 1990’s he was the Arena commentator for the Perth Royal Show. He is also the commentator for the Gidgegannup Agricultural Society’s annual show.
He replaces Robyn Blanchett who spent two years as Media Liaison Officer.

Early bird applications have been flooding in for the Trade and Consumer Fair at Wagin Woolorama 2008.
Trade & Consumer Fair Co-ordinator Sherryl Chilcott said she was absolutely delighted that so many exhibitors had responded so promptly after the prospectus had been released.
“I have been inundated with applications and this augurs well for Woolorama 2008”.
Mrs Chilcott said patrons and exhibitors would notice some significant changes to the layout of Trade & Consumer Fair sites.
“Whilst the changes are not huge they will benefit the majority of exhibitors and visitors. For example, all the Education stands will now be located in the Commercial Arts and Crafts Pavillion. The Oval now has a central entertainment and food vending laneway which will open it up and offer a more relaxing and entertaining visit to the oval exhibits”.
Mrs Chilcott said that in a bid to ease liquor licence application restrictions all the wineries and boutique breweries offering tasting of their products would now be located in a specific section of the Recreation Centre. “We believe this will delight our patrons because it means that won’t have to go searching if they want to taste wine or beer”.
Applications for the Trade & Consumer Fair close on 31st October and for Liquor Licence inclusion and Food Vendor applications on 30th November.
Mrs Chilcott said she would welcome applications from anyone who wanted to come to Woolorama 2008. “Over the years we have had many successful exhibitors and year after year they keep coming back because of the popularity of Woolorama. This year for example one lady who makes her own jewellery actually sold out on the first day and was up to all hours of the morning making more – she’s definitely coming back for 2008”.
Application for the Trade & Consumer Fair for Woolorama 2008 can be obtained by phoning the co-ordinator Sherry Chilcott on 9861 2242 or 0427 717 680
MEDIA CONTACT: Sherryl Chilcott 9861 2242 or 0427 717 680, Pat Harding Media Liaison Officer 9294 3946 or 0400 546 525

Media Release 9^th January 2008

Wagin Woolorama has named 21 year old Wagin girl, Londa Finlayson as its Rural Ambassador for 2008.
Londa who was born and bred in Wagin is married with a five month old baby son and works as the Assistant Manager of the Commonwealth Bank in Narrogin.
Woolorama Media/Public Relations spokesman, Pat Harding said Londa would be a tremendous asset as Rural Ambassador.
“She is extremely articulate, vibrant and outgoing and is one of the most confident 21 year old’s I have encountered.
I believe she has the capacity to represent Western Australia following the state final later this year”.
Londa’s parents, Wayne and Wicki Hegarty have been long time residents of Wagin and have run a successful shearing company. She married her husband Troy, a New Zealander in October 2006 and her son Logan was born in August 2007.
She attended Wagin District High School up to Year 10, where she was Vice Captain, finishing years 11 & 12 at the Narrogin Senior High School.
Londa has had practical experience in rural life working part time as a shed hand and then winning the novice section in the wool handling competition at Woolorama in 2005.
After leaving school she spent 12 months as a Trainee at the Shire of Wagin, then 9 months with the Town of Narrogin before joining the Commonwealth Bank in Narrogin, where she is now the Assistant Manager.
Londa has been actively involved in sport in Wagin taking up the role of Junior Coordinator for the Wagin Netball Club, coaching, umpiring, playing and affiliating.
In 2004 she was awarded an Alcoa Sport Scholarship for coaching and given $1,000 to help further her experience and knowledge of netball through courses, carnivals and clinics.
“Since I was a little girl it was always my dream to represent Woolorama and wear the maroon sash, now that I have that wonderful opportunity I will represent the Wagin community with pride and determination”, she said.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Harding 9294 3946 or Mobile 0400 546 525
Londa Finlayson 9861 1777

Wagin Woolorama has officially launched its 2008 Wool Agency Designer of the Year Award with a prize of $1,000 to the winner with fashion design schools from all parts of Australia being invited to compete.
Co-ordinator, Jan Baxter said she was delighted that the Wool Agency had again accepted the invitation to sponsor the award and said extending the award to interstate designers would lift its prestige.
“For many years we’ve had tremendous support from designers, students and craftspeople in Western Australia and then last year we actually had a winner from the USA. Shirley Straface from Boston, whose parents live in Tambellup, took out the top award. As a result we decided to tap into the unsung talent that’s being nurtured in our fashion design schools in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia”.
“We believe that it would not only give Woolorama more exposure but could give young designers the confidence to work in wool. With ongoing research the quality of Australian wool is improving all the time and with the Great Southern being Western Australia’s best wool growing region we felt it was a great opportunity to make it an Australian wide Designer of the Year award”.
Mrs. Baxter said a number of Australian fashion designers had made their mark on the world stage and the Woolorama Wool Agency Designer of the Year award could provide a springboard for young designers.
“However we still believe that Western Australia has some of the most talented and innovative wool designers and past awards have proved that. So, whilst we’ve invited students from the fashion design schools to compete we expect our local designers and craftspeople will also want to be involved as they have been in the past“.
Entry forms are available from the Woolorama Secretary,

SECRETARY: Wendy Pederick on 9861 1611. Entries close on Friday February 15th 2008.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jan Baxter Co-ordinator Fashion of the Year award 08 9861 1656, Pat Harding Public Relations/Media 08 9294 3946

Wagin Woolorama has decided to overhaul the Glenys Gmeiner Media award for 2008 by broadening the categories. The award is presented in memory of journalist Glenys Gmeiner of Wagin, who was actively involved in promoting Wagin Woolorama for 19 years.
Woolorama Public Relations/Media spokesman, Pat Harding said the committee had accepted a recommendation to now include three categories in the award rather than just one award for print journalists.
“For 2008 our Media award will now be open to print journalists, broadcast journalists and photographers. It has been decided that radio and television journalists should have a category of their own and we felt that photographers too should also have the opportunity to submit their best photographs of Woolorama”.
Mr Harding said that the winners of each category would receive $250 and a framed certificate.
“Since the inception of Woolorama 35 years ago we have relied very heavily on the media to support the annual event and whilst we have had some excellent journalists win the award we felt it was time to put it on a level playing field and open it up to other sections of the Media who have also made major contributions to the success of Woolorama in the past and give an incentive to all journalists which we believe will left the prestige of the event”.
Mr Harding said contributors to the award would have a two month window from February 1st 2008 to April 1st 2008 to print, broadcast or take pictures relating to Woolorama.
The closing date will be Friday May 16th after which an independent panel will judge the entries.
“We will make the presentations to the winners at the Annual General Meeting of the Wagin Agricultural Society in July, however in a move to publicise the winners in a more formal way we have decided to present the framed certificates at the Official opening of Woolorama 2009. In that way we can publicly thank them” he said.
MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Harding Public Relations/Media 9294 3946 or 0400 546 525
Attention: News Editor/Chief of Staff.
In 2008 there will be THREE categories for the Glenys Gmeiner Memorial Media award for Wagin Woolorama.

1. Print journalism – articles may be on any aspect of Woolorama and any length. Articles will be judged on accuracy, grammar, relevance and news worthiness. Articles must have been published between February 1st and April 1st 2008. The completed article in its published form should be submitted with the reporter’s name, contact details and name a date of publication.
2. Broadcast journalism – this category is open to radio or television journalists and can be of any length and will be judged on accuracy, relevance and news worthiness. The completed item as broadcast should be submitted on CD or DVD with the reporter’s name and contact details and the name of the organisation and date of broadcast.
3. Photography – this category is open to photographers and can be on any topic relevant to Woolorama and will be judged on merit. Copies of photos should be submitted along with the photographer’s name, contact details and name and date of publication.

Entries close on Friday May 16th 2008 and should be sent to:

Pat Harding
Public Relations/Media
10 Roberts Place
GREENMOUNT. WA. 6056

For the first time in its history, Wagin Woolorama will stage a rodeo from 4 pm on Saturday March 8th as a spectacular finale to its 2008 show.

Woolorama President, Chris Moffatt said there’d been an opportunity to put on a rodeo to end Woolorama with a bang. “We’ve often thought that the last afternoon was an anti-climax and we’ve been looking at ways to keep patrons on the showground’s, so when we were offered the rodeo we grasped it with both hands”.

The rodeo will be staged by the West Australian Division of the National Rodeo Council which will set up portable yards and all facilities.

Jo Kestel from the NRC said they were always looking for new venues to stage rodeos because the popularity of the spectator sport was increasing throughout Western Australia. “We’ll have between 50 and 60 riders, some quality horses and some high quality bulls which will include Brahman, Brahman Cross and other breeds. There will also be an opportunity for local riders to show their skills by entering the barrel races – all in all we believe it’ll provide excellent entertainment to close off Woolorama for 2008,” she said.

A licenced bar and food outlets will also be available to rodeo patrons and will be followed by a live band until late.

There’ll be a rodeo entry fee of $20 for adults and $5 for children, however patrons to Woolorama on the Saturday who pay general admittance will be issued with a wristband and will admitted to the rodeo for just $3.00.

It’s expected that the newly crowned Rodeo Queen will be at Woolorama for both the Friday and Saturday to promote the event.

The rodeo will be staged at the old “tent city” near the old drive in at the rear of the Wagin Showground’s and hay bales and low loaders will provide seating for spectators.

The grand finale Woolorama rodeo will begin at 4 pm on Saturday 8th March.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Harding 9294 3946

Wagin Woolorama is to stage a talent quest for young people at its annual show in March this year with up to $1400 in cash prizes.

Woolorama President, Chris Moffat said Woolorama used to hold a talent quest some years ago and it was felt that now was the time to reactivate it. “With a resurgence of interest in performing shown by the tremendous success of Australian Idol and other talent quests, we thought it was a great opportunity to give young West Australians the opportunity to show their talent. Who knows what we might uncover?”

The talent quest will be held in the Woolorama Shearing Shed from 6pm on Friday 7th March and will be divided into two sections – 10 to 13 years of age and 14 to 18 years of age. Contestants can perform without music, play their own instrument or use a CD backing track. All performances will be recorded and CD’s will be available to contestants at a nominal rate.

The entry fee for the talent quest will be $5, which will include admittance to Woolorama. Entry forms are available from Wendy Pederick, Woolorama Secretary on 9861 1611 and entries will close on Friday 29th February.

Woolorama Media/Public Relations spokesman, Pat Harding said the talent quest was a unique opportunity for young people not only from the Great Southern but from other parts of the state.

“We don’t mind where the talent comes from but we’d be delighted if Woolorama could be a launching pad for a new career for some of the performers. We’ll have three independent judges and first, second and third cash prizes in each category to a total value of $1400, so it is a talent quest worth entering.”

Contestants must be at the Wagin Showground’s by 4pm Friday March 7th.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Pederick, Woolorama Secretary 9861 1611 or Pat Harding, Media/Public Relations 9294 3946

Wagin Woolorama has secured Healthway and the Cancer Council of WA as a major sponsor for the 2008 Show on March 7^th & 8^th.

In the highest ever funding grant to a Regional Show, Healthway and the Cancer Council will promote the “Go for 2 & 5” message with naming rights to “The Go For 2 & 5 Kids Corner” and “The Go for 2&5 Gourmet eating area”.

Woolorama President, Chris Moffatt said he was delighted with the new sponsorship. “This is the first time that we have had Healthway involved with Woolorama and together with the Cancer Council of WA we believe we can raise the awareness of healthy eating and the “Go for 2&5” message. We know that Healthway wants to lift the profile of the “Go for 2&5” message in rural Western Australia and Woolorama presents that opportunity”, he said.

Mr Moffatt said funding for the sponsorship came from the Healthway Arts Fund and promotion will also include the anti-smoking campaign and sun protection strategies.

He said that under the sponsorship agreement with Healthway all Woolorama staff and volunteers would act as good role models and promote the health message during the 2008 show.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Harding 9294 3946 or 0400 546 525