Emily Jane Joyce has spent years working behind the scenes of the Milton Show, but, this year she was front and centre after being crowned the district’s 2018 showgirl.
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The 23-year-old said entering the competition seemed like a “natural progression” for her, but winning was a “nice surprise”.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Ms Joyce said.
“I feel humbled and honoured. It is great.
“It has been a long time in the making. i was just waiting for the right moment. Being as involved in the show as I am, it was just a natural progression and the next step to take.”
Ms Joyce has been involved in the show for 10 years, often attending the Milton Showground in the lead up to shows to help set up and prepare the pavilion.
“We would cook to enter things in the show, and when I did the Duke of Edinburgh award, I chose to do my volunteering with the show,” she said.
“I have done everything from judging novelty events to helping with the judges luncheon. Wherever they have needed me, they have thrown me in.”
Her involvement as a showgirl this year meant she was not doing what she normally does on show day. Instead of spending a lot of time in the pavilion, Ms Joyce was out sashing cattle and event winners.
“It was an extremely busy weekend. I wasn’t involved in the same was as I normally am,” she said.
“We sashed the cattle and horse section and then the woodchop event. I was present in areas I haven’t been before. I am generally in the lower pavilion.
“It was cool to dabble in areas I don’t normally see.”
Ms Joyce was “proud” to be representing her community at the zone level competition in 2019.
“Because of my history with the show, I was quite proud I made it there and I was titled as this year’s showgirl. It mean’s quite a lot to me,” she said.
“This year's bunch of girls were amazing. It wasn’t an easy win and I think we were all deserving. It was a quality year for the showgirl competition.”
Ms Joyce will use her title to encourage younger generations to get involved in the show, and the showgirl competition.
“I want to portray to the younger generation that it is something fun to get involved in,” she said.
“A lot of people think, ‘i’m not really agricultural’, but it is great to get people from all backgrounds involved. I want to encourage other younger women to jump in and get involved.
“The showgirl competition is such a great tradition and I think in some areas it is dying out, which is sad to see.
“We have such a great community; just seeing everyone come together at the show speaks in leaps and bounds to that being true.”
Emily Barton
Emily Barton is a Producer at The Canberra Times.
Emily Barton is a Producer at The Canberra Times.
