Some items on the Toowoomba Royal show…

When the Toowoomba Royal Show was operating at the old show grounds in Campbell Street, there was one feisty pig farmer who got very annoyed if his sows didn’t take a prize.

While others were applauding the presentation in the ring, he, with smouldering tension reflected in his face, would take his pigs back slowly down the aisle of covered pens. On the way, he would flick open the latches on the gates of every pen in the aisle. With his own pigs properly penned, he would lean on the fence and watched the mayhem as other famers tried to capture dozens of pigs running loose in the showgrounds.

The authors continue: There was also another stud pig breeder who was noted for his mean habits. On arrival at the show, he would wander round the exhibitors’ pens and talk about the need to improve the diet for his stock. He would take a handful or two from each exhibitor until he had enough feed for his pigs to cover the period of the show. His other complaint was the ‘straw for this pigs’ bedding had been ordered but hadn’t turned up’ and if they could lend him a bale or two it would be great.

-See Toowoomba Strange and Unusual Tales, Volume 1, by Don Talbot and John Larkin. It features many more items, serious and humorous, collected by the authors from Toowoomba locals, published 2003.