Latest news with #WilliamsFamily
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Look back at 20 years since last fatstock show at cattle market
One of Cornwall's much-loved livestock shows will once again return this November with the date now confirmed. This year is the 153rd Helston Fatstock Show and marks the 20th anniversary of the final event to be held at the old Helston Cattle Market, in 2005, before the show moved to Franchis Farm the following year – where it has remained ever since. In 2025 the show will once again be held at Franchis, on the Helston to Wendron road, by kind permission of Bob Cowell - and this year also marks the 20th show to be held all at the same time. The event this year will take place on Saturday, November 8. The Williams family - Geoffrey, Elizabeth and Robert - won champion heifer in 2006, the first show to be held at Franchis Farm (Image: Allan McLaren/Helston Packet archive) A cornerstone of Helston's heritage, the show, which began in 1870, is one of the longest-running traditional events of its kind. It features friendly competition, an educational and farming spirit, and a generous display of local produce and craft stalls. Originally held on a Monday in Helston town, livestock, crop, and produce sections were exhibited in the Drill Hall, with the Domestic section in the Guildhall near the museum. Later, livestock, crops, and farm produce moved to the Old Helston Cattle Market. George Rogers, from Hayle, shows off his winning flatpoll cabbages in 2005 (Image: Allan McLaren/Helston Packet archive) Following the demolition of the cattle market buildings in 2005, Mr Cowell kindly reached out and offered Franchis Farm as a venue for the 2006 show. This marked the first time in 136 years that all exhibits were housed in a single location. While initially at Franchis Farm, exhibits were somewhat separated, the new venue provided extra space, allowing for the addition of a Sheep Section. The show thrived, and in 2017, Mr. Cowell invited the show to move into a large, newly built shed, fulfilling the vision of housing the entire event under one roof. READ NEXT: Owner 'humbled' after chippy named Packet Fish and Chip Shop of the Year Budget cruise line to sail from Falmouth this year not once but four times! Cornwall college gets royal recognition at Devon County Show In 2018, show day moved to a Saturday, enabling more people and families to enjoy this celebration of food and farming. The show has continued to expand and thrive since. The event remains organised solely by volunteers committed to ensuring one of the oldest traditional prime stock shows not only continues but expands each year. A spokesperson for Helston Fatstock Show said: 'The fantastic venue has ensured the show's survival, and the show has become renowned for the welcoming and friendly atmosphere at Franchis Farm among exhibitors and visitors.' Mrs P Pascoe with her winning fatless sponge in 2005 (Image: Allan McLaren/Helston Packet archive) Looking ahead, the Helston Fatstock Show Society has also announced that Mr. David Nicholas will be the 2025 Show President. David is well known for his interest in and support for agricultural shows and Young Farmer Club events. He has chosen The League of Helston Community Hospital as his designated charity for his presidential year. Exhibit entry details can be found by contacting helstonfatstockshow@ or on Facebook.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- RNZ News
Taupō family walks length of the country
The Williams children on the Waiau Pass. (From left: Oliver, Elliot, Summer, Skye). Photo: Supplied / Courtney Williams A Taupō family of six has walked the length of the country along the Te Araroa trail, homeschooling all the way, having never done an overnight hike before. A jubilant Courtney and Andrew Williams and their children Elliot, 6, Skye, 9, Summer, 11, and Oliver, 13, finished the 3048km walk from Cape Reinga to Bluff last month, in 218 days. Their journey started September, stretching from mountains to city streets, farm paddocks and native forest. Courtney Williams said it was hard to put the experience into words. "There is a sense of disbelief that we actually walked the entirety of New Zealand. I'm so proud of the kids and of us as a family, for working together and getting through all that," she said. "We're sad that its over because it was such a simple way of living and we now have to go back to work and everyday life." Courtney and Andrew Williams were working as full-time dairy farmers before they set out on the trail, craving the incredible views posted by other Te Araroa walkers on social media for themselves. The family had done the odd trail run, day walks and climbs before but nothing comparable to the Te Araroa trail, Courtney Williams said. "We knew we had kids that were physically fit, but we hadn't done overnight hikes or anything like that before we decided to do it," she said. The journey ended up a little more expensive than planned, because the family typically ate more expensive but light to carry dehydrated meals, and often had to pay extra for the children to stay at holiday parks. There were the odd "trail angels" who offered them beds along the way, but the Williams family spent most nights either in Department of Conservation hut or tents carried all the way. On a typical day, the family would average about 20km of walking, with the occasional day off. At most, the family would walk up to 32km a day, or for around 12 hours. The Williams children walking along the Richmond Ranges. Photo: Supplied / Courtney Williams Courtney said the children, who were normally home-schooled, would have learned more from walking the trail than from a textbook. "We just made time, like an hour or so at the beginning or end of the day of actual book work. Everything else was learnt along the way. The classroom became the most beautiful environment," she said. She said they documented the trip on their Instagram page, Gumboots and Sneakers. "Its something to hold you accountable but also refer back to as memories for the kids," she said. "We've had people message us and say 'I've taken my kids on my first overnight hike thanks to you', so you know, that's really exciting." Elliot - aged just six - enjoyed plenty of things on the trail, including a trip to a salmon farm in Twizel. "Seeing all the birds, climbing the mountain, seeing all the nature and all that stuff, the views, and also catching my salmon," he said. Skye Williams said the walk not only helped her overcome her fear of heights, but left her feeling stronger. "I got more resilient. I learnt resilience and overcoming my fears," she said. Summer Williams said she loved meeting people, seeing different birds and climbing mountains to see beautiful views. "Most of the days I was really happy. I loved hiking to see all the birds and all of that. I loved it, every day," she said. Oliver Williams said every part of the trail was special, but the hike was difficult at times. "The Richmond Ranges were very difficult and going to Wellington, that was very hard mentally because there was walking on the roads and nothing to see. That disappeared when we went to the south," he said. The Williams after finally making it to Stirling Point, Bluff, the end of the Te Araroa trail. Photo: Supplied / Courtney Williams Te Araroa chief executive Matt Claridge said the family's walk was a remarkable achievement. "Families getting out on the Te Araroa are certainly the minority. For a family of six that is incredibly rare and a wonderful experience and feat they've been through for the past eight months," he said. "Some will think that is a heck of a long time, but actually, what a great time. I think there are plenty of New Zealanders who will look at that and be inspired to consider Te Araroa too now." Claridge believed Elliot would now be one of the youngest to have completed the trail. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
