After 10 years as President of the Newcastle Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Association, the organisers of the IGA Newcastle Regional Show, Roger Geary is ‘hanging up’ his well-trodden boots.

Roger has been involved with the Newcastle Regional Show for over 35 years, marking a milestone in commitment to the organisation and the Show community at large. In additional to being President, he has served as Vice President and Ring Master and will continue as a member of the Show Council as Immediate Past President.

Newly elected President, Brett Gleeson, is no stranger to the world of Show Societies, having served n the Show Committee and Council for the past 12 years.

Brett is well-known in the business sector, as Manager of the Lake Macquarie Business Growth Centre, Managing Director of Gleeson Consulting Services, past Executive Director of WEA-Hunter and Executive Officer of Hunter Community College and Station Manager of 2NUR-FM and 2NCR-FM Lismore. He participates in the agricultural arena as a passionate breeder and respected judge of stud dairy goats.

Along with the election of a new President is the position of Vice President and this year the Society chose two candidates. Dennis McGuirk has been a Member of the Show Society Committee for 10 years and is a member of the Sydney Royal Easter Show Alumni, he is also currently Vice President of Shortland Waters Golf Club and was a Supply Manager at BHP.

Co-Vice President is Lauren Haskin, who was the 2005 Newcastle Showgirl and has been a committee member for almost 10 years, with hands on and behind the scenes experience. As Coordinator of the Showgirl Competition for eight years, Lauren has committed herself to be the Next Generation Coordinator, which is a new initiative to encourage and educate the next generation of Show Supporters/Committee and what it has to offer. Lauren is a Speech Pathologist with Hunter New England Health and mother of two. She is also the youngest Vice President of the Association and first woman Vice President.