The pandemic forced the Showmen's Guild of Australasia to lock up their amusements for most of 2020.
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It was the first time work for the travelling showmen and women was at a standstill since World War II, when the Guild halted for five years.
The cancellation of regional and rural events and agricultural shows was devastating, Elwin Bell, representative of the Guild said.
"That's what we earn our livelihood at, it's what we do and what we do best, supplying the entertainment for the communities," he said.
However, the NSW Government easing of restrictions on the number of attendees at country shows reassured the Guild that many would resume in 2021. One of the first stops on the schedule is the Crookwell Show returning in February.
Mr Bell expected sideshow alley to make a come back at many agricultural shows across the country. He said he was looking forward to returning to the carnival atmosphere.
"Naturally, it's in our blood, it's what we live for," said Mr Bell.
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"We've been doing it for 100 years on my father's side, and 160 years on my mother's side."
During the pandemic shutdown, Mr Bell returned to his property in the Southern Tablelands he was based there since March 13.
Although, he said work didn't stop and many of the showmen and women were kept busy with the maintenance of the machines.
More recently, Mr Bell organised carnivals at Queanbeyan held in the week which would have been the return of the Queanbeyan Show.
"It was terrific to do a few carnivals," he said.
"To set the rides up... people are itching to get out."
He said the three carnivals were good practice for the return to country shows and the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions, which would make many shows different from previous years.
"I've had my Covid-19 plan in place," he said.
"We counted them in and counted them out, never at one time we had five hundred people, but some days we had 1200 people come through," he said.
"If it's a family group they sit together, if its individual people we space them, we can tell the difference," he said.
Mr Bell, at 52-years, has been bringing thrills, wonder and excitement to the public for his entire life.
While the Sydney Royal Easter Show regularly receives around 900,000 visitors each year, he said gate attendance at many country shows was decreasing.
"I've got photos of shows in the 1940s and 1950s and you could not move for the amount of people. Thousands and thousands of people at the show," he said.
"Now there is that much entertainment with TV, games, and telephones."
However, according to the Guild, at least 75 per cent of attendees would attend sideshow alley.
"Things have changed, but if we can build a show, and build the carnival rides up, the people will come," said Mr Bell.
But increasing audience numbers at country shows hasn't meant a welcome return at every show, with some opting out of inviting the Guild to limit crowds.
"We'll just face the good with the bad and hopefully it comes good soon," Mr Bell said.
"The show is the most important event of any community, throughout Australia," he said.
"It's about advertising agricultural products, we are only a small part of the show."
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