The annual Boorowa Show has not only reflected the prosperity of the pastoral and agricultural sectors of the district over the years, but has also responded to various events which have impinged on the community and the nation.
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In 1915, when the country was at war, and the news of the gallant fight at Gallipoli had only recently filtered through to the people of the area, the 'Burrowa' Show was designated as the 'Patriotic Show.'
The railway had only recently been connected to Burrowa and members of the Show Society held high hopes for larger entries and a broader attendance by people from surrounding districts.
These were tough years, a fact that was attested by the history of the Society, A Century of Shows. It is recorded that postponement of committee meeting was not unusual, due to the difficulty in securing a quorum.
The government had withdrawn Country Show subsidies in that year and many country exhibitions found it very difficult to survive.
Nevertheless, the 'Patriotic Show' of 1915 was quite successful. Despite the fact that it had to be postponed for three days on account of the unusually wet weather.
It is recorded that Mr W Armstrong of Allandale was the most successful exhibitor in the sheep section, and Mr W Conquest achieved similar success in the poultry sections.
As WW 2 loomed in 1939, the Society again responded to the needs of the community and the nation and abandoned the Farm Exhibit Class and decided to retain prize money as a nucleus of a fund to provide future competitions for young farmers.
The decision was made in 1940 to abandon further shows for the rest of the war years. The showground was taken over by the Volunteer Defence Corps for training purposes. There were no Shows during the years of 1940 to 1943 because of the war and the absence of many local residents on active service.
However, the Show Society came back strongly in 1944, when it appeared that the war was nearing its end.
The Society held its first war time show for many years and donated all profits to 'patriotic funds.'
The Boorowa News reported that the success of the Show was due 'in no small measure to support of Mr and Mrs George Gorham of Strathmore, who had exhibits in practically every section of the Show.'With past Shows only a memory, the Boorowa Show Society will this year recognise the Centenary of Anzac by staging its Boorowa Remembers Show which is sure to maintain, if not exceed, the high standards set in earlier years.
