THERE was plenty for the older and younger generations to see at the Wodonga Show and Rural Lifestyle Fair on Saturday.
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But one of the more popular exhibitions on the day was the woodturning in the Albury-Wodonga Woodcrafters’ building.
A steady stream of visitors were able to see a vast array of items made by members.
The woodcrafters’ building at the northern end of the showgrounds was established in 2003 on land released from the Wodonga Show Society.
There have been two expansions of the clubrooms since they were first built through a growing demand for facilities.
It now has about 135 members from Tallangatta, Huon, Corowa and Beechworth along with Albury and Wodonga.
Club president Doug Malsem began his interest in woodturning in the 1980s and is self-taught.
Club members have for some time sold their products from an old cottage on the Lincoln Causeway.
But Mr Malsem said there has been “a double whammy” in recent years with the Hume Freeway bypass and more recently closure of the information centre meaning less visitors to the area.
Another popular area, particularly with children, was the Australian Defence Force display.
Many personnel were on hand to show off their large machinery, weapons and trade training facilities at the Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
There are 600 trainees and about 100 staff at the school.
The army has been an integral part on the Albury-Wodonga community for decades.
“It’s good to socialise and interact with the community,” Warrant Officer Allen Croke said.
Parents and children flocked to the animal nursery, where youngsters were able to hold young ducklings and chickens, pat a pig or young goats.
It boasted the biggest alpaca show between Melbourne and Sydney, with more than 180 animals.
The usual arts, crafts and produce were on display and a dog high jump was an innovation that received keen interest.
Representatives from Wodonga TAFE gave instruction on pruning, soil regeneration, safe chainsaw handling and maintenance, composting, chemical use and weed control.
Show secretary Katrina Gollan said the organisers were happy.
The crowd was described as “consistent”, but more than 2500 attended.