Port Bouvard Limited will be a major sponsor of the Gidgegannup Horse & Pony Club’s Open Encourage Gymkhana on July 27th 2008. The Open Encourage Gymkhana is particularly aimed at locals who may not have the opportunity to participate in many competitions, but enjoy taking part when they get the chance. Riders will show their skills in obstacle courses, races and relays, with the main focus of the day being fun and horsemanship. Up to 300 competitors and a strong crowd of supporters are expected to attend the event at the Gidgegannup Horse and Pony Club.

Port Bouvard Limited is proud to support the equestrian sector in Gidgegannup, having hosted a community forum for this group in May. The potential for residents to build on existing equestrian based businesses in the district to create new opportunities including casual agistment services, riding schools, horse hire and equestrian-tourism based activities was discussed. The sector shows excellent potential to become a strong economic and employment base for the Gidgegannup. With expected strong attendance and participation on July 27th, the organisers have high hopes of turning the Open Encourage Gymkhana into an annual event.

It was a wet and wintery Sunday on June 29 but that didn’t stop a crowd of over 2000 turning out to experience the inaugural Countryman Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day. Braving the occasional shower, families from around the metropolitan area traveled to the Gidgegannup showgrounds to catch up on the latest information on small landholdings and enjoy displays, entertainment and events.

In keeping with Gidgegannup’s reputation as a producer of fine foods, the food and wine pavilion was bustling throughout the day with visitors making the most of product tastings. Out in the main arena, big wheels and small hooves were a feature, while the afternoon fashion parade showed the little known glamourous side to hobby farming.

At the Port Bouvard Limited Sustainabiltiy Marquee, gardening expert Josh Byrne’s free talks drew standing room only crowds in the middle of the day, when the popular topic of ‘going organic’ was broached.

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Visitors to the marquee also had the opportunity to view summary boards of the community consultation process undertaken by Port Bouvard Limited since November 2007, and to ask questions of representatives. 100% of survey respondents at the marquee indicated that they felt that our approach to the environmental and sustainability issues around the Gidgegannup townsite was ‘thorough’ or ‘very thorough’. The end of day presentation on starting a hobby farm by Kris Griffin and Simon Pawley from Landcare Solutions drew indepth questions from visitors, obviously inspired by the event to consider investing in their own small landholding in the future.

Port Bouvard Limited congratulates the Experience Gidgegannup committee on a successful inaugural event, which could well become a feature of Perth’s annual events calendar.

Gidgegannup Showgrounds

On Sunday 29 June 2008, Experience Gidgegannup will host the inaugural “Countryman Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day” at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds.

Located 15 minutes from Midland along Toodyay Road, Gidgegannup provides a taste of the rural lifestyle within easy reach of the city. Small landholders and hobby farmers will enjoy information on sustainable farming techniques, livestock exhibits, a food and wine pavilion and presentations from expert speakers.

Experience Gidgegannup Chairperson Tania Boyland says “This event promises to be a great day out, packed full of information on all aspects of running a small farm. With an estimated 54,000 small landholders in WA and that figure growing every year, the field day is a ‘don’t miss’ event for anyone operating, or thinking of running, a hobby or small farm.”

“The exhibits will allow landholders to view the latest product and equipment presentations, but there will also be very useful advice for those without acreage, such as water saving gardening techniques that are so important in our climate. With so many people considering the change of lifestyle that small farms offer, this event is a great opportunity to gather information without having to travel for hours from the city.”

Visitors to the field day will enjoy small animal events including an Alpaca sale, Dexter cattle show and a Llama agility demonstration. Fashion parades and machinery demonstrations are among the events at the ground, while free busses will transport visitors to open farms where they can experience the everyday workings of a small landholding and speak directly to operators.

The Countryman Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day is taking place from 9am to 5pm on Sunday 29 June, at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds. Access to the grounds is from Old Coach Road and Old Toodyay Roads. Entry is $5, with children under five visiting for free. A complementary bus service will run in the morning from the Midland train station to the showgrounds, returning to Midland station in the afternoon.

The Countryman Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day is being organised by Experience Gidgegannup and proudly sponsored by The Countryman, Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council, City of Swan, the Department of Agriculture and Food and Port Bouvard Ltd.

For further information visit www.gidgegannup.info

If you would like to register your business to exhibit at the Field Day, then email your details to experiencegidge@gidgegannup.info or call Tania on 0417 928 580.

Port Bouvard Ltd has signed a 12 month sponsorship agreement with Experience Gidgegannup, to support the group’s efforts in promoting Gidgegannup as an ecotourism destination.

Picnic by the Lake will be hosted at Josephine Galleries from 11.30am on Sunday 17th February. The Gallery will also be holding an open day on 16th, 23rd and 24th February.

For more information log onto www.gidgegannup.info or call Tania Boyland at Experience Gidgegannup on 0417 928 580.

Port Bouvard Ltd will issue a questionnaire to all Gidgegannup households this week as part of its community consultation process relating to 480 hectares of land, which the company recently purchased in the area.