This year organisers recognise the cost of living crisis and have cancelled the Rich Fruit Cake competition, replacing it with the more accessible Undressed Pavlova competition. “Dried fruit, butter and energy have all shot up,” says Executive Officer, Bec Davis. “We were watching out fruit cake entries dwindle over the years. We made the hard decision to replace the comp with a pav which costs a third the price to make.” Live judging commences at 10am at the Mornington Peninsula Producers’ Paddock with Noela MacLeod AO from the CWA judging the comp. Host and food writer Richard Cornish (Good Food, ABC Radio) will be joined by former actor/dancer and local MP Paul Mercurio to judge the Golden Sausage Competition – with a rich $500 cash prize for the best sausage. Organisers are urging bakers to vie for the $500 prize for the best apple pie.

Visitors to the family friendly show can taste local Mornington Peninsula Produce such BBQ sweet corn from Hawkes Farm, ciders made from local apples brewed by Mock, Harts Farm and Seven Oaks. Joining them are winemakers from Barmah Park and the award winning distilling team from Bass & Flinders. Local seafarers Harry Mussels will tell us about a life at sea raising amazing mussels and the seaweed growing team, also based at Flinders, Southern Seagreens will be giving out tasters of their freshly harvested and dried kelp.

Back this year is the sweat and axemanship of the woodchop as hardened experts race to cut through great logs of solid hardwood. “We are lucky to have a competition this year, let alone play host to a Victorian Championship,” Bec commented. The mountain men and women from the Red Hill Football Club return with the height of athletic competition including some old time classics – Egg n Spoon Race, Tug of War and the much-anticipated Gumboot Throw. Open to all to compete. You will need the help of a hound to enter the Novelty Dog Show which including Best Dressed Dog, Dog Most Like Its Owner and Happiest Dog.

Looking after country the show is home this year to Willum Warrain Bush Nursery, an ILLUM Aboriginal community-owned bush nursery specialising in local indigenous plants from the Mornington Peninsula and environment zone displaying alternative energy sources including solar power, electric vehicles & farm equipment. Monash Uni will have on show their new solar powered generator. Interactive stalls to educate and engage.

These join the cattle, sheep and poultry judging, the alpacas stand and the heritage sheds filled with fruit, vegetables, scones, cakes, artwork, cut flowers and other handicraft all vying for a much coveted blue ribbon. Lamb lovers will appreciate the Sheep Show including display by Binbarra farm of their cute Valais Blacknose and English Leicester Sheep and John Pedderson with his Luxton Blacks.

Thanks to the Mornington Peninsula Shire, our sponsors and our community. The Peninsula, at its best will be on show Saturday 9^th March.