When the Country Comes to the City

To exhibit, educate, and entertain! The Sydney Royal Easter Show is the largest annual ticketed event in Australia.

For this College, it is an opportunity for our rural students to showcase their background, reconnect with their roots, and share their knowledge and experiences.

At the same time, it’s a chance for our city students to learn more about regional life, engage with agricultural traditions, and experience the richness of rural Australia.

One of the highlights of my role is giving the students of St John’s College the opportunity to meet some of the finest people from rural Australia — to listen to their stories, understand their challenges, and learn from their resilience. It’s also a chance to deepen their appreciation of the vital role agriculture plays in everyday life, and its importance to Australia as a whole.

In addition, the Show provides a valuable opportunity to teach students about marketing, entertainment, and large-scale event management. These insights often inspire their own social events at College, helping to ensure they are run professionally and leave a lasting impression.

This year, many groups of College students attended the Show over several days, deepening their engagement and expanding their understanding through direct experience.

Seeing the students' excitement during their hands-on experiences with the animals — and the generosity of the handlers who are always so willing to assist — is truly special. Add to that the fireworks at the end of the day, and it becomes a uniquely memorable experience for everyone involved.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the President of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Mr John Bennett OAM, along with the Councillors, staff, and exhibitors at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, for always making the students of St John’s College feel so welcome and providing them with a behind-the-scenes look at the Show.

And on a lighter (but very sweet) note — after 25 years of entering the Sultana Cake competition at the Royal Easter Show, I finally claimed the coveted blue ribbon! A reminder to my students that perseverance and a willingness to learn (and a good College oven) are all worthy guides — whether in the kitchen, in the library, or in life.

Finally, well done to all the students for embracing this opportunity — whether stewarding at competitions or representing the College more broadly. I’ve been very proud of you all!

Dr Mark Schembri Rector