When Sir Dudley Somerset Rawson de Chair, Real Admiral of the Fleet and Governor of NSW, disembarked from the train at Griffith in 1926, he captured the affection of the people, showed his obvious interest in, and sympathy with every phase of life in the area.
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Lady de Chair and daughter, Elaine, kept all trace of stiff formality from the celebrations and functions connected with the vice-regal visit.
The presence of the Governor lent an especial distinction to the show. The exhibition in itself was worthy of the district and a splendid reward for those men and women who had worked to make it a success.
Griffith owed what improvements were noticeable in this year's exhibition, as compared to previous years, to the Governor's attendance. There were a great number and variety of sideshows which flourished and kept the crowds amused.
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Everyone was fascinated by the miniature railway, the performing animals, boxes of varied hues and freaks of the animal kingdom, which people paid to see and be revolted. There were also merry-go-rounds, hoop-la booths and a host of other allurements, hidden in tents and misrepresented on canvas signs.
There were two hectic days of activities for the public, two days and nights of feverish activity for the committee and officials, two days of welcoming for the first time a Governor of the State and his family. Griffith Agricultural Society still managed to stage the finest exhibition of the area's products.
A show is a wearisome monotony after an hour or so for the sideshow people, who flocked to Griffith to beguile the public and reap a rich harvest for themselves, as they knew the public would come to see the Governor.