8/11/2019 Parliament of South Australia - Hansard - Royal Adelaide Show - S W Key - 7 August 2014

1/2

PARLIAMENT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

House of Assembly

HANSARD

Thursday 7 August 2014

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SA

The Hon. S.W. KEY ( Ashford ) ( 12:05 ):I should start my contribution on the Royal Agricultural &

Horticultural Society by echoing the member for Stuart to stick up for the shows in our own local

area. As people would know, I am very pleased that the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of

South Australia is in Ashford and also in the federal seat of Adelaide. I know that the federal member

for Adelaide, Kate Ellis, and I are very proud to have the honour of having the Show in our area.

I have a number of connections as a local member with that place and I am very pleased to say that I

have always found both the staff and the representatives of the Show to be fabulously supportive

and innovative in their approach to the future of the Show. I was particularly pleased to have

meetings with John Rothwell, the CEO of the Royal Show, where his visionand I am sure the vision

of the executive of the Showis to make sure that that space is utilised in the best-possible way.

While we have the fabulous Show that we have been talking about in the chamber today, there is

also a commitment to make sure that that space is used as well as it can be. With some of the

renovations that have happened Iand I am sure other members in this chamberhave been to a

number of different functions that are now held in what I would consider to be a very modernised

showground.

The other thing that I am really proud of is that in the redevelopment there was a real commitment

to having a green space, and I have been on the roof and had a look at the photovoltaic solar

provisions that are there and also inspected the water recycling. Up until fairly recently we had the

biggest effort both in the area of voltaic power and water recycling in the Southern Hemisphere. It is

pretty good for Adelaide to have that record.

In a previous life as a union official, which was fairly difficult, I worked as the industrial officer for the

United Trades and Labor Council and I had the honour to be involved in negotiating the site

agreement for each year's Show. That included making sure that industrial relations facilities and

negotiations were put in place with regard to the workers who were at the Royal Show. That

included the amusement areaI know more about the amusement area than I have ever wanted to

know other than having to go on there with young peopleand also the stalls and the souvenirs and

the different people who make the Show the success that it is.

The behind-the-scenes work is fantastic and that professionalism, I understand, has continued. With

all the good things that we see, there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, particularly

with the groups that show their animals and their products, and the way it works like clockwork is

really impressive.

The other thing that I am really pleased to be able to say is that for this Show we should be able to

access the new Adelaide Showgrounds station. I see that as a real coup as far as our infrastructure in

the state is concerned. There was a lot of heartache for the residents and businesses around that

space, but we have come through. I hope members have had the opportunity to look at that station,

because one of the things I think is really impressive is not only the architecture but the fact that we

acknowledge the effort that has been put in by our different armed services over the years. There is

8/11/2019 Parliament of South Australia - Hansard - Royal Adelaide Show - S W Key - 7 August 2014

2/2

particular artwork that commemorates our veterans. It is a really good story for South Australia, it is

a very elegant station and it even looks very good at night with all the lighting that is there.

The next stage of things happening around that space is that there will be an underpass for

pedestrians and cyclists. One of the big problems with the great moves that have been happening

over a number of years with regard to bike and pedestrian paths along that area is that, once you

get to Greenhill Road, then it is a real problem, particularly on the corner of Anzac Highway and

Greenhill Road, to actually go further on your bike without big delays.

There have also been complaints over the years from people in wheelchairs and gophers, that it is a

very difficult cross road to pass. That work is happening at the moment. I do not think it will be ready

for the next Royal Show, but it is aimed to be finished in November, I think, so let us hope that stays

on time and that we have that particular facility.

The other area in which I have worked with the showground people is my community arts project,

which is shared by a number of local people, including the Goodwood traders, the Unley council and

the member for Unley, which is to improve the appearance of the Millswood underpass on

Goodwood Road. The dream is to turn that underpass into an arts space. A lot of people are quite

excited about the idea, and I really want to acknowledge the support I have had from the Royal

Show, because they can see that as being, perhaps at Show time, something they can use toemphasise and advertise the different work the Show does. They are really part of our community

and part of the discussions we have, because of course Ashford is the best electorate in the state

and we are just going to go on and make sure we keep that position.

The other dealings I have had, which may surprise some members here, is my interest and

commitment to the Roller Derby women. The good thing about Roller Derby at the Adelaide Show is

that not only do you get to see the Roller Derby, which can be a bit rough at times, but that

particular group is committed to having live music at the Roller Derby. So, there is an opportunity to

showcase some of our fabulous talent with regard to South Australian music. Anybody who is into

blue grass music, or blues music in particular, will enjoy the music, even if they do not enjoy the

Roller Derby, although I challenge you not to enjoy it.

A number of shows happen around the Royal Show, and I have been really pleased to be part of

those different celebrations. One of the areas in which I am really interested is the growing of native

plants. I usually see the member for Fisher at those shows, where you get very cheap and varied

both Indigenous native plants and also native plants from South Australia and around Australia. It is

a really good opportunity to encourage people to think about growing not just exotic plants but also

Indigenous plants as well.

In conclusion, I congratulate the great success of 175 years by the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural

Society. There are lots of stories. The member for Flinders told some of his. I am always very amused

by the stories I get on this side of the house. A former minister and member for Adelaide JaneLomax-Smith has been a member, as am I. I have been a member of the Royal Adelaide Show for a

number of yearsa very proud one.

She has been given the opportunity by the Country Women's Associationanother really important

organisation associated with our Show and other country eventsto weigh the scone mix, and this

is a very important job she has been given. The member for Taylor tells me that she has been given

some responsibility in regard to the tea room as well, and I congratulate her. This is a very positive

motion and I congratulate the member for Flinders on bringing it to our attention.

[ENDS]