Lismore Show featured Ashton Circus, alongside animal displays and rides

Chantel is the sixth generation of her family to perform in the Ashton Family Circus, and has been coming to Lismore with the family business since she was a child.

A seventh generation has just been added to the clan with baby Matias arriving just six weeks ago.

Amazingly, his mum was back in the ring at Lismore, performing a hula hoop routine for the first time since giving birth. But she wasn't quite ready for the high wire yet.

"I don't think I will be performing aerial this year. Probably next year," she said.

Chantel usually also takes part in a knife throwing act and the Globe motorbike performance with her partner, Jefferson Amaral, but those too, are on hold for the moment.

So what's the best thing about being in a circus?

"We love travelling. So it's great we get to see a lot of the country and we get paid to travel. So it's like a working holiday all year round," Chantel said.

"It's a lot of hard work, but you get a lot of bonuses."

As well as seeing lots of amazing places around the country with your family, the bonuses include meeting lots of people.

"We probably know someone in every town we go to, so it's always good to catch up."

For others, the tradition was only just beginning.

Students from Maclean High School, Abi Moran and Matilda Addison, were in Lismore getting cattle ready for the parade.

They are washed, brushed and blow dried. It takes anywhere from one to three hours to get the 14 head of cattle ready. And they don't always like it.

The girls said they get a lot of experience from every show they go - learning about the industry, and making connections to further their careers.

Fellow student Tully Naylor said they were showing cattle from the Great Marlow Speckle Park Stud, the animals on loan to the school from the owner for a few months of the year during show season.

"After the show, they will go back to his place until next year when we start the new show season," Tully said.

President of the North Coast National John Gibson was delighted with attendance, saying they had a "record gate".

He thanked sponsors, saying: "Putting on a show of this size with all the attractions is not possible without the support of our sponsors".