Country Meets City at the EKKA

From the Stockmen’s Bar to Merino Country – Kerrie & Mal’s Ekka Love Story

The Ekka is where the country comes to the city – and for Kerrie Richards and Malcolm Pain, it’s where two country paths crossed.

Kerrie grew up on a sheep station outside of Richmond in north-west Queensland, surrounded by Merino wool, wide horizons, and the rhythms of station life. Malcolm was a beef and grain producer from Jandowae on the Darling Downs, more at home on a tractor or in a cattle yard than in the middle of Brisbane.

Their first meeting wasn’t in the sheep pavilion or the cattle ring – it was in the legendary Stockmen’s Bar. Among the laughter, live music, and a few cold drinks, they struck up a conversation about life on the land. That spark led to a partnership in life and in business.

Today, they run Merino Country, creating 100% Australian Merino clothing and sharing the benefits of Aussie wool with the world. And it all started with one chance meeting – at the Stockmen’s Bar during the Ekka.

 THE EKKA

In Brisbane, the EKKA, is the affectionate nickname for the Royal Queensland Show, Queensland's biggest annual agricultural show, first held in 1876. The name comes from shortening the original term "Exhibition" - locals would say "We're going to the Exhibition", which over time became "the Ekka".

As most city dwellers enjoy the Ekka for the dagwood dogs, strawberry sundaes and fun rides and showbags. We often forget the reason the Ekka even started - to showcase the best of Queensland agriculture & produce and "to bring the country and city together for a true celebration of agriculture." 

The Ekka showcases the best of Queensland, attracting more than 21,000 competition entries from woodchop to giant vegetables, 10,000 animals from beef cattle to cats and dogs, world-class live entertainment, award-winning food and wine, carnival rides and showbags, family shopping, educational activities and much more.

Photo from the Ekka website of one of the first Cattle Shows

The show has been one of Brisbane's main events to occur every year with the exception of 4 years! The Ekka was cancelled in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu epidemic, in 1942 as the show grounds were used as a staging depot in World War II and in 2020 & 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

The Ekka Grand Parade now.

The Ekka has always been a big part in the lives of the owners of Merino Country, Kerrie & Mal, who before they even met, would make the yearly trek to the big smoke of Brisbane from their hometowns of Richmond & Jandowae to catch up with their mates and what was going on in Agriculture (before the days of mobile phones & social media etc).

Owners of Merino Country, Kerrie & Mal, at the EKKA!

Merino Country first exhibited at the Ekka in 1994 in the John Reid Pavilion and then afterwards, every year in the Sheep & Wool Pavilion with so many other fabulous wool products from other small businesses. Kerrie would drive down from North West Qld (about 18hrs) in her Suburu Brumby Ute loaded with Merino stock! In 1997 & 1998, Kerrie organised the Wool Parades with her themes of Spinning Yarns followed by Sheep Dreams, working with performers, artists and models to showcase the new fabrics & uses for wool, entertaining whilst educating the public of the benefits of wearing this amazing natural fibre.

The Sunday Mail, August 1997

An Ekka Love Story

For years both Kerrie and Mal had been coming to Brisbane at Ekka time to catch up with friends from both the country and the city and enjoy the delights of the best of Queensland Agriculture. Little did they know that they were often in the same venue but didn't connect until 2001 when they met in the Stockman's Bar and the rest, as they say is history! Their's is not the first Ekka Wedding - as reported by ABC Radio journalist Edwina Seselja  - click here to read more.

Kerrie & Mal - an Ekka Romance resulting in a Wool Wedding... of course!

Sandra Richards and granddaughter Hannah tasting the famous Strawberry Sundaes & supporting the Common Good Prince Charles Hospital Foundation

At Merino Country we have always supported the Ekka Sundaes as they were a fundraiser for Common Good, Prince Charles Hospital. The Prince Charles Hospital has a special place in our heart as they do such a good job at taking care of Kerrie's mum, Sandra, during emergency and ongoing treatment.  

City Meets Country

The Ekka is a great way to bring Rural Australia to the City. Here at Merino Country we are lucky to have a mix of country and city folk. Mal and Faye tell us why they attend the Ekka every year.

Mal, always the mechanic & able to fix our machines!

Mal -The Cattle Farmer

Mal our Co-Owner and machine specialist at Merino Country was a cattle and grain farmer from Jandowae - a small town with population of 1047 people located in the Western Downs Region of Queensland.

"We would go to the Ekka every year as there wasn't much to do out in our small country town. It was a little dry in every aspect so we would look forward to going into the city for a catch up with mates from all over the country. It was a meeting spot for  industry to get together over a pint and chat about agriculture. We would hang out at the Cattleman's Bar where you could get a good feed and drinks. We'd head down to a nearby pub after the Ekka closed and keep chatting for hours. It's a fond memory & now a days I still get out there for Ekka Lunch and catch ups."

Faye - The City Gal

Faye, the City Girl, watching Kym sew!

Faye is a local Brisbane gal and one of our long time machinists. She is one of the women who sew our clothing and underwear with many years of experience. Faye enjoys going to the Ekka every year so we asked her why she likes to attend the Ekka. 

 "We enjoy going to the Ekka as a family! We would get there in the morning when the gates open and stay all day until the gates closed. I love to see the talent and skill of local Queenslanders and enjoy visiting the pavilions with arts and craft, the beautiful cake entries, the fruit and vege displays are a great sight to see too! I'm not a big fan of the rides but one game I enjoy is the Climbing Monkey game where you have to donk the climbing mokeys before they get to the top. There are some great causes to support too including the RSL and Hospital lucky envelopes. And of course we enjoy the night shows where there is music and fireworks. Its a great day out with the family and my cheeky pleasure is to get a bucket of fairy floss on my way out. "

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Ekka