03/10/2026
THANK YOU, MURTOA!
We said the Show would go on whether it rained… and oh boy, did it rain. 😂🌧️
With places around the district recording up to 36mm yesterday and over two inches of rain in total over the last 48 hours, we reckon the 140th Murtoa Show might have earned itself a little place in the record books.
Our amazing horse competitors started rolling in from around 6:30am, warming up while the rain absolutely poured down. Thankfully, by around 8am the rain finally eased and the horse events went ahead beautifully.
A huge thank you to everyone who braved the early morning rain, mud and chill to come and compete. The horses looked fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to our judges and stewards who were out there making it all happen.
Meanwhile, from about 7:30am the pavilion started blooming as entries arrived en masse.
And WOW.
It turned into a magnificent display of colour, creativity, talent and some seriously delicious-looking cooking… none of which anyone would let us steal and eat. Apparently there are rules about that.
A massive thank you to our pavilion stewards, including those wonderful people who have loyally helped year after year after year. Thank you also to every judge who gave their time and expertise and congratulations to everyone who entered. You made the pavilion look incredible.
Then came Show time.
We had beautiful sunshine while everyone set up their trade sites, market stalls, rides and entertainment. It was a little bit windy but by 3pm everything was in place and the 140th Murtoa Show officially kicked off under blue skies.
And then…
It rained.
And rained.
And rained some more.
The oval became muddy. Everything was wet. Everyone was wet. There probably wasn’t a dry pair of socks left in Murtoa.
But what we saw through all that rain was something pretty special.
People were smiling. Kids were playing. Families were wandering around in gumboots and raincoats. The entertainment kept going, the motorbikes were a fantastic new addition, and people just kept coming through the gate.
The rain may have dampened absolutely everything else… but it certainly didn’t dampen the spirit of the Murtoa Show.
To every food van, trader, market stallholder, ride operator and entertainer who came, stayed and carried on through some very ordinary conditions. THANK YOU. We know it wasn’t easy and we genuinely appreciate the effort you made to be part of our day.
To the volunteers who simply turned up and started helping us put up marquees without even being asked — we know who you are and we appreciate you more than you know.
A special thank you to The Donald Show Committee who volunteered their time to man our front gate and to Andrea and Belinda from the Horsham community who gave up their day to host our main stage and help us organise and direct trade spaces.
That is exactly what country communities do best: help each other out when it matters. A pretty wonderful example of the wider Wimmera show community working together.
To our sponsors — thank you. Quite simply, none of this happens without you. Your support allows a small town like ours to keep putting on a big Show and we are so grateful.
And lastly thank you to our community.
Murtoa, you never disappoint.
There was never any doubt in our minds that you would turn up, even with rain on the radar and mud underfoot. And turn up you did.
You laughed, you got wet, you got muddy, you supported our traders, watched the entertainment, filled the pavilion and reminded us exactly why, after 140 Shows, we keep doing this.
The Show went on.
And we reckon that’s something pretty special.
See you in 2027…
Hopefully with just a tad less rain. 😂
Photos by the talented Jacinta McRae Photography
