Legends of the EKKA: Volunteers

Keith McRobert 2024 Ekka Legend

Last year’s Ekka Legend was Keith McRobert. Keith (a Stock and Station Agent and Stud Stock Auctioneer) has been associated with the RNA for 71 years. He started out at the Ekka as a 14-year-old boy from Oakey, who came to the Show to assist some Dairy Exhibitors - and the rest is history. There’s not much that Keith doesn’t know about the cattle industry, for 33 years he was the announcer for the Champion of Champions in the Ekka’s Beef Week Ring. Keith later progressed to serving as an RNA Steward and in Honorary Council roles in the Show’s beef competitions. He has also generously donated his time as an auctioneer to raise funds for the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation at the Charity Auction on Ekka Friday. Keith has seen a lot of history at the Ekka and shared a funny story about the time, in the late 1950’s, when there was a bit of a problem with the ‘bodgies and widgies’, how a couple of them had caused trouble in the Cattle Pavilion by poking a cow with a pitchfork, and the widgie took a bath in the cow trough, with the police finally tracking the pair down in the Sheep Pavilion! It is a rare occasion that Keith does not make it to the Ekka and said that he was sad to have missed attending the Show during the Covid pandemic. He is looking forward to his annual catch up this year with his mates from all over Queensland…which is exactly what the Ekka celebrates ‘the country coming to town’

Sylvia Hopkins - 2023 Ekka Legend.

Sylvia has never missed an Ekka since 1962, when she first moved to Queensland. For the past 30 years, she has been volunteering, competing, and judging at the Royal Queensland Show presented by RACQ in the Cookery and Creative Arts and Crafts section. Sylvia’s long association with the Ekka began when she volunteered to work with the Queensland Country Women’s Association in their popular Ekka Cafe. Her love for arts and crafts was nurtured as a little girl, when she would learn the country skills of cooking, arts and craft when her mum would meet with likeminded country women in Lighting Ridge. She has taught arts and craft in TAFE, schools, groups and even raised money for charity with her knitting and crocheting skills. Over the years Sylvia has become a top-notch judge, with over 22 certificates to attest to her skill and training. She loves going to the Ekka because it’s an opportunity to catch up annually with her Queensland friends and acquaintances. Sylvia told me that her best Show memory was the honour of becoming an Ekka Legend.

Ron Easey 2022 Ekka Legend

Former Australian Olympic 2000 Equestrian competitor, Ron Easey, has had over 40 years involvement with one of the Ekka’s oldest competitions, the Showjumping Event. Originally, Ron was supposed to be the 2021 Ekka Legend, but with the Ekka’s Covid cancellation, the RNA and his family had to keep his win a secret for a whole year, which wasn’t ‘Easey’ (pun intended). Ron, a talented horseman, has competed at the Ekka’s showjumping events since 1984, winning multiple times as Champion Showjumping Rider of Queensland. He has also been an inspirational Ekka volunteer, acting as mentor and coach to many young riders, serving as an important role model to future generations. Ron feels particularly honoured that his history of contributing to the Ekka community have been acknowledged with his Ekka Legend award. 

Keith and Wendy Enchelmaier - 2017 Ekka Legends

For more than 25 years, Keith and Wendy have helped hundreds of potential young journalists at the Royal Queensland Show. This dedicated couple have run the Ekka’s Show Camp – helping more than 500 Year 6 Queensland students to produce over 1000 stories for the official Ekka newspaper – The Ekka Courier. Keith introduced this newspaper in his first year as Show Camp Manager to inspire students’ writing skills by providing genuine experience in journalism and reporting on all aspects of the show from agriculture to entertainment. Keith’s wife, Wendy, has worked with him for the past 15 years teaching students to sharpen their writing skills. Keith also arranges iPads for the students so they can take photos, develop their media skills by recording interviews for podcasts and video footage.