Rob Witts, from the Gunnedah Show Society, told council last night Gunnedah could be heading towards a time when there would be no show.

Mr Witts said the show made a loss of $5000 this year, which would become $10,000 if council did not consider the society’s work at the site as an in-kind payment.

“It won’t take very long and the show society won’t exist,” Mr Witts said.

Read our editorial here: EDITORIAL: The Gunnedah Show must go on

“In 1905, the show didn’t have enough to start and the only reason it started is some people believed in the show and put their money into it.

“Don’t believe it won’t happen again, and I believe if it does, people won’t come forward again.”

The Gunnedah Show is held every year in April, but the society has begun to struggle following the establishment of the Reserve Trust.

Council took control of the camping grounds four years ago, and the show society rents the buildings members built many years ago.

Mr Witts said the total council payments of $11,050 would leave the society with low cash reserves, and only the three days of the show to raise funds.

He said $100,000 needed to be in the bank before the show began each year, to pay costs including prize money, judge’s accommodation and many other costs.

After paying the $11,050 this year, Mr Witts said the society would be left with only about $114,000, a narrow margin that would be eaten into by costs such as insurance payments.

Mr Witts said the society was already having to consider dropping events due to their cost, including the AgQuip rodeo and the annual hack show.

He said some members were already pointing out the Gunnedah Show was the most expensive event to run, and may have to be dropped.

The society had asked council to consider waiving the $5000 land hire fee to recognise the work the society had carried out on the grounds.

A report to council recommended councillors deny the request.

The report said the fees and charges system helped council to offset ongoing asset maintenance and repair costs on an annual basis.

But following Mr Witt’s presentation at the August council meeting held in Breeza late yesterday, council changed the motion to allow a council financial contribution for the land hire fee charges for 2015.

Councillor David Quince told council he believed Mr Witts had made a “fair point” in raising the amount of work done at the grounds by society members.

He said he believed the society deserved support.

“Country shows are an integral part of town,” Cr Quince said.

Cr Rebecca Ryan said she believed council should enter into formal discussions with the show society about how future voluntary contributions could offset council charges.

When asked by a council officer if this would set a precedent for other organisations, Cr Ryan said she understood the concern, but still supported the society.

“I think what we are talking about here is not a 10-year, 20-year, 30-year event, we are talking about 128 years of history,” she said.

“I think there are things that happen in the community that are important and that need to be protected to be able to go ahead.”

Cr Steve Smith said he was also in favour of assisting the society.

“Some of those buildings they are paying rent for, their grandfathers put up,” Cr Smith said.

“Gunnedah Show is one of the best shows around. And it’s the old story, the show must go on.”

The motion was carried.

Mr Witts said after the meeting the society was in a “worrying” position, with only about 15-20 active members carrying out all the work needed at the showgrounds with limited funds.

He welcomed council’s decision, but said the society needed an ongoing commitment of support.

Mr Witts said he believed council was concerned about setting a precedent for other organisations, but said it would be a good thing for council to provide financial recognition for the work put in by volunteer groups.

He said the society may have to look at dropping rental arrangements for buildings such as the livestock pavilions, and just hire them for the few days they were needed for the show.

Some of the work the Gunnedah Show Society has undertaken at the showgrounds over the past year included paving in front of the grandstand and removal of the cattle yards.

Mr Witts told council that while a council report found the grandstand paving had not “represented a significant maintenance issue”, he had witnessed one injury caused by the old paving and heard of more.

“A representative from the NSW Pony Club Association tripped and cut her forehead,” he said.

“She was given first aid and assistance and I believe we were lucky she didn’t pursue it.”

He said he had heard of two other people who had tripped on the pavement before it was improved.

Mr Witts said the removal of the cattle yards was the “job that needed to be done” and had been identified in risk assessment reports.

The show society is also responsible for the maintenance of the buildings it rents and for the removal of graffiti on those buildings.