The Sleigh Family

John Sleigh AM was the society’s President from 1986 - 1990 and his wife Shirley was an active supporter of the Society.

Elected to council in 1969, it was a mere three years later that Mr John Sleigh became the youngest councillor to be elected Vice President.

Later, in 1986, he succeeded Mr G.R. Starritt AM OBE as president, at which time his wife Shirley demanded that she be given a job within the Society.

The Arts and Craft Competition called to her, and she volunteered many years within the children and school’s category.

As the president’s wife, she believed her job was to ‘communicate’ and ‘keep the show alive,’ so attending and organising many dignified events felt important to her.

In 2003, Shirley’s involvement was honoured with a President’s Medal.

Her husband had been honoured as a life councillor in 1989 and during his 20 years as a councillor he served on the Finance, Management, Sponsorship, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle and Arts and Crafts Committees. He also played a large role in organising the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth Conference in Melbourne in 1985.

John Sleigh passed away in 1994, and Shirley in 2014.

Shirley Sleigh, 2014

John Sleigh