On The Land
23 May, 2022
Caitlin takes on state title in the showgirl business
PROUDLY representing North Queensland in the Ekka Queensland Showgirl State Final, is Mareeba local Caitlin Murray, who’s passion for agriculture has helped her go above and beyond in the competition.
Caitlin has been in the showgirl business for several years now, making her way to Brisbane representing the region as the NQ Showgirl Sub Chamber. Although Caitlin didn’t particularly come from a “farming family”, being in the Mareeba community and her relationship with an agriculturally driven friend has helped expand her knowledge in agriculture and find her passion in showgirling.
“Growing up in a small community, everyone in some way, shape or form has a connection to farming whether it be your cousins, brothers or grandparents,” she said. “You don’t have to be a “farm girl” to compete as a showgirl, you just have to have that passion and knowledge for agriculture, and I got all that knowledge from a good friend who is like an uncle to me. “Uncle Kent and my dad used to do TB testing in cattle 30 years ago and we would fly a plane up throughout the cape and listen to his stories in the industry and that’s when I fell in love with farming in the region.”
After many showgirl competitions across the Mossman to Ayr region, Caitlin was selected to represent her sub chamber at the Ekka. With 11 other girls from across Queensland also running, Caitlin is busy preparing herself for the big day, feeling a little nervous but excited to see where the competition will take her.
“I'm feeling as everyone would be, a bit nervous, but I'm also excited because it is for the state title and I'm just more excited to meet other women who are just passionate and come from different backgrounds and walks of life,” she said. “It’s a privilege to wear the sash that represents the NQ Sub Chamber and to advocate for the NQ region and help connect rural and remote communities with passion for this agriculture show and what it provides.” Caitlin says her biggest supporters so far are the Tablelands community and her parents, giving her utmost gratitude for everyone who has been there for her along the way.
She expressed that without her mum and dad in particularly, she wouldn’t be where she is to today and without her dad’s amateur sewing skills, there would have been a dress catastrophe in one of her recent shows. “My dad learnt how to sew so that if I ever needed my dresses done up, he’d be there with needle and thread ready to go,” she said.
“My mum always told me to never give up on your dreams or passion as it can lead to something beautiful and unexpected.”
Caitlin will be representing North Queensland at the Brisbane Ekka on 6 to 14 August alongside 11 other showgirls from across the state. If she wins, she will be crowned the overall Queensland Showgirl.
