Sharon commits totally to her home town
SHARON Rafferty admits she has a problem, but it’s one she loves to have.
Her issue is when it comes to organisations in the Canungra region who come knocking on her door looking for committee members she just can’t say “no”.
She had a chuckle admitting to her “yes, I’ll do it” problem when we interviewed her the other day for this column.
Sharon has become deeply entrenched in the Canungra community since she first moved to close by Wonglepong more than 20 years ago.
She has now shifted to the other side of town and calls a small property at Biddaddaba home with her partner James and 16 year-old daughter Amber.
“I was born nearby on the Gold Coast and spent my early years at Mudgeeraba before the family packed up and moved to Melbourne,” Sharon said.
“As soon as I could I did the reverse trip, but I was disappointed to see house prices in my old village had skyrocketed as it had become the Hollywood of the Gold Coast.”
“Fortunately I found prices back then in Canungra were reasonable, so in a way it was fate that brought me here, a decision I have never regretted.”
Sharon’s passion for horses soon saw her join the Canungra Pony Club and when they needed officials she couldn’t help herself, but say yes.
“I was the club secretary and then the treasurer and I loved my time helping the club as well as participating,” she said.
It was an almost natural progression for Sharon to move across and join the Canungra Show Society and for the past six years she has been their hard-working secretary.
“The first few years were tough with Covid closing down two annual shows, but we have come back and last year’s show attracted a record 4500 to the Showgrounds,” Sharon said.
“One of the big benefits for us was getting a grant for a new $1m Fine Arts Hall which now also serves as the district’s Emergency Resource Centre if ever needed.
“The new hall and extra space was appreciated by locals and the Fine Arts display at the annual show saw record entries.
“Our reintroduction of the Show Ambassador program, the tractor pull and the bushman’s challenge have all been winners for us in the past few years and we are always on the lookout for other ideas.”
As the show society secretary Sharon’s workload also includes the planning and running of Canungra’s popular annual rodeo which boasted a crowd of 6000 in 2024.
Adding to that last year was the decision to stage the National Rodeo Finals in Canungra.
“I’m still getting over that event which despite the terrible weather over the weekend was a great opportunity for the area,” Sharon said.
“Seeing the best of the best come to town was something we’d like to see happen again and maybe this time the rain will stay away.”
Even though her role as the show society’s secretary is a demanding one, Sharon also volunteers her services to serve as treasurer for the Canungra Sports and Recreational Ground Committee.
NOTE: Sharon’s family has politely asked that should any organisation be looking for a new official to please don’t knock on her door, they’d like to see her at the dinner table more often.
