JESSE NEILL

IT has been 20 years since Peter Angus was nominated as the Gawler Show Ambassador in 1999.
At the time, Mr Angus was on the Gawler Show Sheep Committee and a primary school teacher at Trinity College.
“I also bred sheep, which I exhibited at the show, and remember being told I would be a great candidate for the Royal Ambassador Award,” he recalled.
“There was three of us who went for it and I was lucky enough to be appointed the Gawler Show’s Ambassador that year.”
However, the Gawler Show wasn’t the end of his ambassadorship success, when the following year Mr Angus went on to become the Rural Ambassador at state level.
“I was picked as the winner to represent the Northern Agricultural Show Association at the Royal Adelaide Show that year,” he said.
“It was also my very first year exhibiting my sheep at the Adelaide Show and it gave me a behind the scenes look at how it was run.”
From this experience, Mr Angus became the first national winner of the Rural Ambassador Award in 2001 and won a scholarship to go overseas.
“I spent several months visiting the United States and the UK travelling to various farming expos and conventions,” he said.
“Upon returning I realised I was more interested in farming than teaching, so I’ve been doing that at my farm in Mallala ever since.”
Following his many achievements, Mr Angus, in 2004, became a co-ordinator for the Rural Ambassador Award.
He also helped initiate the Young Rural Ambassador Award, which is awarded to young adults aged between 16 and 19 who have a passion for living and working in rural communities and the desire to promote their community, region and state.
Applications to become a Gawler Show ambassador are open until August 16 – ahead of the show being held from August 24-25 – and Mr Angus encouraged those interested to put their hat in the ring.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain new friendships and networks for personal development,” he said.
“I’ve been able to meet a whole range of new people and even though I was used to speaking in front of people, it gave me a whole new level of confidence.
“It’s also an eye-opening experience that has broadened my horizons and given me many opportunities in my career.”
To apply for the Gawler Show Young Rural or Rural Ambassador award, contact Patricia Dent on 8523 1477.