Life Membership to Elaine Platell

Elaine Platell was awarded a Life Membership of the Waroona Agricultural Society at the official opening of the 2022 Waroona Show held on the 8th October.  Elaine Platell (nee Styles), became involved with the Society at a very young age.  Her father Jim Styles was a respected member of the Waroona Agricultural Society and he was keen to make sure that the family was involved in Show Day.  

Each year, Elaine with her older sisters Marjorie and Shirley and mother Ivy would go to Bunbury to purchase new outfits for Show Day.  Elaine especially remembers that show day was the only evening of the year that her father and the girls did not milk the cows because after spending all day at the show, the family would then go home to change for the Agricultural Society Ball held in the Memorial Hall on show night.  There simply was not enough time to milk the cows.  She remembers the family watching the Grand Parade and her father watching the boxing and log chopping while the girls and their mother enjoyed looking at the exhibits.  

In their younger years, the three sisters entered exhibits in the Cooking and Sewing sections winning lots of prizes.  The sewing entries would be sewn by hand or on the treadle sewing machine. Elaine remembers winning 1st prize for her sausage rolls with the flaky pastry also made by hand and not brought from a shop.  

While still teenagers, Elaine and her sister Marj began stewarding in the Hall.  They were mentored by school teacher Edna Robinson.  Elaine continued stewarding as she got older, only stopping for a break when her children Steven and Bradley were born however she did continue to enter exhibits during that time.  Once the boys were a little older, Elaine returned to Stewarding only stopping again when her husband Cecil took on the role of Head Steward.

Elaine once again returned to stewarding upon the untimely death of Cecil.  Elaine at one time or another, has won all the major sections of the Hall exhibits including “Outstanding Exhibits and Rose of the Show as well as winning Most Points in the Hall and Runner up more than once.  Elaine and her family support the “Cecil Platell Memorial Award” for Boiled Fruit Cake and the Elaine Platell Award for most points in each age group in Children’s cooking.  Elaine has now retired from Stewarding but still enters exhibits each year.  Thankyou Elaine for your service to the Waroona Agricultural Society and the Waroona Show.