For over a century across Australia regional agricultural shows have been rallying points for community activity. In more recent times they have provided a stage for the intermingling of rural folk and urbanites. In particular, bringing the bush to the city has been a popular theme of the agricultural shows in major centres. Yet the decline in rural communities, brought about by droughts, economics and other forces, has been reflected in a decline in durability of the traditional agricultural show (Gibson and Connell, 2015). This has led to the need for revitalisation of such events and a focus on the ability of such events to in-turn revitalise rural communities from a social and economic perspective (Gibson and Connell, 2011).
Within this context, an opportunity has been identified by Noosa Council (NC) to have USC conduct a review of and provide recommendations on a way forward for revitalisation of the Noosa (agricultural) Show based on research of stakeholder, volunteer and community needs, perceptions, expectations and aspirations for the Show.