Love of the Show Bush Tele Feature
For Doug and Barbara Nieass of Londonderry, NSW, the Sydney Royal Easter Show has been central to their lives for nearly 60 years.
After meeting at the local dance hall in 1958, Doug took Barbara to the Show when they first started dating.
“I started attending shows when I was fifteen and brought Barbara along and we hit it off,” said Doug.
Married in 1958, the Nieass love story is one that spans many decades, many shows and many different exhibit entries.
“We started off exhibiting canaries and budgies, then flowers, Dalmatians and goats. Today we show champion chooks and we’ve had a few wins. We only started with the cattle eight years ago but the whole family loves it - especially today, as we got two firsts!”
It’s clear the Show is a family affair for the Nieass’. With three generations exhibiting their prize Simmental cattle every year, it’s all about spending quality time with their three granddaughters and two grandsons.
“Our son Stephen has been coming to the Show since he was two, and now our grandchildren compete at shows around the place. They’re really into it which is great,” said Doug.
But it’s the Show which brings out the love between them and their family.
“This is our 59th year at the Show - it’s been the biggest part of our family. We have so many memories and have made so many great friends. We don’t ever want to give it away,” said Doug.
“It’s my hobby, I love it. Just being at the shows with either the chooks or the cattle, meeting people and making friends, it’s so much fun.”
And when it comes to everlasting love, Barbara says it’s no secret, you just have to work together.
“There’s no real boss in the house, you have to work as a team and never go to bed on an argument,” she said.
The couple attribute friendship as the key to their diamond marriage, saying you need to respect and love each other as equals.
“You have to share everything. When you’re in a union with someone it’s no longer about just about you,” said Barbara.
After another successful Sydney Royal Easter Show, the Nieass family will continue on with their cattle to the next competition in the Hawkesbury.