Shining Through

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday September 20, 2008

JODIE DUFFY

Barbara Creswick, the chief steward at this year's Bulli Show, always looks for the bright side - whether it's in her clothes, her hair, her attitude or even the weather forecast, writes JODIE DUFFY.

"Don't talk rain," warns Bulli Show's chief pavilion steward Barbara Creswick.

She's desperate not to jinx the weekend weather forecast - which predicts clear, sunny skies - because rain is a regular occurrence on the show weekend since it kicked off in 1952.

"You've got to think positive," she says. "A positive attitude can get you through most things in life."

With her flaming red hair and lips and bright clothing, Creswick certainly stands out.

"The hair's got to be red, it's just got to be red," she says sweeping her hands through her short locks.

She uses the same supermarket dye in her hair as her 81-year-old mother.

"We're twins," she says laughing. "My mum actually buys me the dye as a present."

It's Creswick's birthday and despite fielding the entries for the show's art competition, she's graciously accepting gifts from her many girlfriends who have come to the showground to wish her well for another year.

For the last six years she's celebrated her birthday on-site and she knows she won't leave here until after the judging is over late into the night.

Birthdays may not be the same, but being a volunteer for the show has given Creswick a much needed outlet and interest.

"They said they needed someone with the gift of the gab to do this job," she says.

"And that's me, all talk, talk, talk, I love meeting people."

It became harder for her to meet people after her husband John was diagnosed with a rare pancreatic illness at the age of 42 and for the last 20 years she has cared for him.

Life changed dramatically for the sociable couple who had to deal with numerous hospital stays, trips to Sydney for medical appointments and a radically different diet.

"It's been a very antisocial illness," Creswick says.

"Friends and family fell by the wayside, but still there have been many who've stuck by us."

But two decades battling a serious condition has taken its toll.

"We don't have such a great social life anymore because John can't drink and he can't have any oils or fats in his diet," she says.

"It's been hard for him because you kind of become a bit of a social leper. It's hard for me also, I never thought I'd be on a carer's pension but you have to cope. You learn to survive.

"We still have good fun and good times, we just don't do as much as everyone else."

She's adamant her positive thinking has increased their quality of life.

"It's no good sitting there feeling sorry for yourself and saying 'why me?'," she says.

"If you can go out and help someone else - great. I mean that's what it's all about, isn't it?"

Her involvement in the show began small but has ended up on a massive scale.

"You know these things just grab hold of you," she says.

"I always start off doing something small and it ends up big. I usually end up running the joint. I don't mean to, but that's just me."

Creswick has been working flat-out on the 56th Bulli Show since June, organising the stalls and approaching businesses for donations.

"These are hard times for business and it's hard work when you're racing around begging for donations," she says. "We had wanted $100 off people, but in the end we said just give what you can, because businesses are trying to survive too.

"Someone gave us a tin of paint and, you know, that's been great."

Working with the show's art competition is especially appropriate for Creswick, who enjoys painting herself.

Although she hasn't painted for a year she's happy hanging other people's work at the show.

She says working at the show offers a chance to chat with people in the community she wouldn't normally meet.

That includes children and their cupcakes, amateur photographers and grandfathers who've grown giant pumpkins and other vegetables in their suburban backyards.

"I call this our little Royal Easter Show," Creswick says.

"The first prize is only $3, a card and a ribbon, but I think that's great. It's not about the prize, it's all about community spirit."

Even Creswick's mother submits her much-loved pickles.

"She makes the best pickles and so one year I put them in without telling her and she won first prize," she says. "She brought them in every year since and they keep on winning."

With each category - from the best eggs to the stickiest honey - judged independently, Creswick ensures she had no input into her mum's first prize pickles.

"The judges don't even see the names," she says. "It's all above board."

While the horse events have been cancelled this year, for the first time in the show's history pro wrestling will feature strongly on both days, as will the wood-chopping contest and magic shows.

There's also plenty of sideshows and carnival rides as well as a pet show tomorrow, the annual showgirl quest and a fireworks display.

The Bulli Agricultural Show is on at Slacky Flat this weekend.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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