Noorat Show a smash hit for families as thousands pack the showgrounds

As a little girl Helen McGowan used to show her horse at Noorat and for the past 35 years has been bringing her 1925 ice-cream bike and homemade treats to the show.

And she has no plans to stop what has for her become a tradition.

"I love the Noorat show," Ms McGowan, who runs Birregurra Ice Cream, said.

"I think it's the best country show in Victoria.

"I used to show my horse here as a little girl.

"I've seen a lot of changes over my 35 years and this show just keeps getting better."

Show secretary Vicki Marr said at least 10 months of planning by a committee of more than 30 people and countless volunteers went into making the Noorat Show popular with families.

"People have always called our show a family friendly, fun day," she said.

"We put an emphasis on it being a community event with something for everyone."

And there was truly something for everyone with Irish dancing demonstrations, south-west food trucks, show dog competitions, horse events, farm and wild animal displays and rides galore.

On the niche competition side, the best picnic spread was awarded to Meredith Glennen with an array of cheeses, drinks and cakes to munch on throughout the day.

The best show person in the three to seven-year-old division was awarded to Zoe Unwin, six, and in the eight to 12-year-old competition to Isabella Pickford, 11.

The show festivities will officially conclude on November 22 with the annual show dinner and on-farm cow judging competitions.

Ms McGowan uses a traditional Scottish recipe to make her ice cream and then creates the different sauces to add flavours.

"It's like the recipe your grandma would've made; it's very dense, so you don't need a lot to fill you up," she said.

"Over the years I've made every flavour you can think of.

"When I take the bikes to markets and festivals I make the flavours I think everyone will like.

"I once made a potato ice cream for the Celtic festival in Geelong."

Ms McGowan established her businesses in 1985 and has three bicycles to travel to different festivals, parties, weddings and events across the state.

The business aims to add a touch of nostalgia to the icecream with flavours such as fig and pistachio and mangoes.

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