New England has plenty to celebrate following standout performances at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show, with competitors from across the region earning top honours in some of the event’s most competitive categories.
Leading the accolades, Louisa Gilmour—who has strong ties to the New England show circuit through Warialda—was named the 2026 ACCIONA Sydney Royal AgShows NSW Young Woman. The award recognises leadership, community involvement, and advocacy for regional shows, placing Gilmour among the state’s most promising rural ambassadors.
In the auctioneering arena, Manilla’s Michael Purtle claimed the ALPA National Young Auctioneers Championship, continuing a proud family legacy. His father, Patrick Purtle, is a respected figure in the industry, making the win a notable milestone for the region.
“Michael deserves this recognition. He’s an outstanding young man who gives back to his community, volunteers his time and puts Manilla on the map,” said Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson.
“He’ll do us proud representing Australia at the Calgary Stampede International Livestock Auctioneer Championship.”
The livestock competitions also delivered success for northern exhibitors. The Grand Champion Steer title went to a heavyweight entry shown by PRB Livestock (Coolah) and TCW Livestock (Delungra), under the judging of Glen Innes’ Shad Bailey—further underscoring the strength of New England and surrounding districts in premium cattle production.
The region’s success extended beyond the show ring to artisan food production, with Sunhill Dairy Goats, a family-run boutique farm near Uralla, earning national recognition at the 2026 Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Produce Show. The business was awarded three medals, including silver for its Natural Set Goat Milk Yoghurt and Marinated Feta Herb & Garlic, and bronze for its Chevrotin Semi Hard.
As one of the only small commercial dairy goat farms of its kind in the New England region, Sunhill’s achievement highlights the growing strength of local value-added agriculture and agritourism. For more than 15 years, the family has produced handcrafted goat milk cheeses, yoghurt and skincare products, while also welcoming visitors to the farm for educational and on-farm tourism experiences.
The recognition marks not only a milestone for the business, but also reflects the quality and diversity of produce emerging from the New England region.
here were numerous accolades in the crafting competitions as well, with the stand out being Jo Anne Barr of Jamb Hats, whose handcrafted Nuno felted wedding dress was awarded the prestigious RAS Standard of Excellence, one of the highest accolades at the Show, recognising exceptional craftsmanship, innovation, and artistic merit.
Created using fine wool and silk, the wedding dress showcases the intricate process of Nuno felting—a specialised textile technique that bonds natural fibres into a lightweight, seamless fabric. The result is an elegant, contemporary garment that reflects both technical precision and artistic expression.
“To have my work recognised at Sydney Royal is incredibly special,” Jo Anne said.
“It’s an honour to represent regional artists on such a significant stage and to share the possibilities of working with wool.”
Together, these results highlight the depth of talent, community spirit, and agricultural excellence across New England, with competitors and producers alike elevating the profile of their local towns on a national stage.
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