Tara Coles grew up watching the Lismore showgirl competition from the sidelines, but now, she will be front and centre as the newly crowned North Coast National Young Woman for 2022.
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When Tara was younger, her mum Marilyn Coles was involved in organising the showgirl competition, so she was "always a part of the show".
"The show is something I've always looked forward to. I've gone to every showgirl event that there has been. I've always watched it from the sidelines, but never been able to enter," she said.
A move to Canberra to work in politics after finishing school at Richmond River High meant Tara had not entered before, but that changed with a return home to work at her family's business, Mortgage Choice Lismore.
Tara said she was passionate about the region and the role allowed her to share it to the rest of the country.
She said offering a free gate for the biggest show in the area was a nice way to give back to the community after the floods, and tipped this year's event would "be the biggest show we are going to have in a while".
The North Coast National committee president John Gibson said they had two goals this year - to offer a free gate "so the whole community could come together" after the flood, and to say "thank you to the tinny army, our emergency services and everyone else in our community who did so much on February 28 and the days following".
In recognition of the community's "rescuers", a Community Parade will be held after the show's official opening on Friday, October 21.
Many of the emergency services who put themselves at risk will be marching and the show committee invites any members of the Tinny Army, the Mud Army, and sporting groups which helped in the recovery to simply join the parade.
John extended the invitation to people from all flood-affected towns of the Northern Rivers.
Those in the Community Parade include Westpac Rescue Helicopter, NSW Police Rescue, SES, Rural Fire Service, VRA Volunteer Rescue and the 41st Battalion.
As a further acknowledgement of the challenges faced this year, the Showmen's Guild will drop the regular price of show rides by $1.
"After two-years of cancellation of agricultural shows across the National due to COVID-19, many ride and game operators are doing it tough themselves, so I thank them for helping our community come together and have a bit of fun at this year's show," Mr Gibson said.
All your favorite rides are back, as are the pavilion exhibits, sideshow alley, and the animal displays.
Entries in this year's Tursa Art Prize will be on display in the art Gem Pavilion.
The Norco North Coast National opens its gates on today until Saturday, October 21. Entry is free.
