FROM dare-devils to scaredy-cats, and from kids right through to seniors, there is sure to be an amusement to suit every taste at the Hawkesbury Show.
Lewis Osborne is director of Showtime Amusements, and his company is bringing a whole slew of rides including The Beast, The Pirate’s Revenge, The Ferris Wheel, Space roller, and rides for kids.
“There will be a good cross-section of every family-orientated amusement ride you can think of. We cater for everybody and everybody will be 100 per cent happy,” he told the Gazette.
They’ll be setting-up full-time for three days before the show begins, and some of the larger rides - including The Beast and The Pirate’s Revenge - take a full week to prepare.
“The Beast is a massive pendulum ride, straight out of Europe. It’s a beautiful, beautiful machine, and was at the Sydney Royal as well,” said Mr Osborne.
“The public will get a really good across-the-board array of equipment coming from the Royal, making it a special and unique show. It’s the city meets the Hawkesbury in a big way.”
Like many companies in the amusements industry, Showtime Amusements is a family-owned and operated business - and they’re not the only ones supplying rides for the show.
According to Mr Osborne, over 2000 individuals will be involved in transporting, setting-up, maintaining, and operating rides for this year’s Hawkesbury Show.
“We’re all part of the Showmen's Guild of Australasia, which is made up by many individual members and a lot of families. We all play our part in providing pieces of equipment, and we all travel and work alongside our equipment.”
After the show, Mr Osborne’s team will be travelling through Orange, Wellington and Dubbo for pick-ups and drop-offs, then heading up to Queensland for the start of the next show circuit consisting of the Brisbane Royal, Adelaide Royal and Perth Royal, then Fearaphobia in October.
“We keep ourselves busy and we also service country shows,” said Mr Osborne.
Mr Osborne is a big fan of the Hawkesbury Showgrounds as a show site, and also praised the members of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association (HDAA) which puts on the show.
“The committee there are always wonderful and very dedicated to the success of their show. They have good sponsorships and they run a very good, tight show - and they get it out to the people,” he said.
