THE DUNCAN family has a rich history entwined with the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA, with five generations having strong involvement with the organisation and the event it underpins - the Royal Adelaide Show.
Many will recognise the Duncan name, even if they do not know the strong history between the family and the RA&HS. There used to be a pavilion at the show named after the family, but this was removed during renovations and reconstructions at the show. Today the Duncan Gallery - linking the Goyder and Jubilee Pavilion - still carries their name.
The first member of the family to become involved with the RA&HS was Sir John James Duncan, who in 1913 instigated and donated a sterling silver trophy for the Royal Adelaide Show District Competition.
His son, Sir Walter Gordon Duncan, RA&HS president from 1924-1925 and 1932-1950, was highly involved in the early development of the Adelaide Showground at the Wayville site.
His son, John James Duncan, was appointed to the RA&HS Pastoral Committee in 1955, the finance committee in 1960 and also served as deputy- chairman, chairman and trustee.
He was RA&HS president from 1976-1986.
In turn, his sons were also strongly involved with the society.
Walter Hughes Duncan was appointed to the RA&HS Pastoral Committee in 1975, elected chairman of the Horticultural Committee from 1985-1996 and 1998-2007. He was appointed to the RA&HS board in 1994 and elected treasurer in 2004.
Jock Duncan was appointed to the RA&HS Pastoral Committee in 1981, then appointed to the Finance Committee in 1988. He was the RA&HS deputy-chairman from 1990-1992, a trustee since 1997, board member since 1998, and president from 1993-2004.
In 2006, he was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth.
Jock's son Andrew is the latest member of the family to follow in his family's footsteps. He is a member of the RA&HS Pastoral Committee.
"We've never been stud breeders, we've always been commercial producers," Jock said.
"My grandfather was a parliamentarian and businessman, and had connections to the land.
"My brother Walter also had a very long involvement in the society - he was a board member, but only recently stepped down."
Jock's earliest memories of the show are being taken to the administration office by his grandfather at the age of five.
He jokes that he has not missed many shows since then.
"The sheep pavilion is where I grew up," he said.
"I began on the broom, stewarded from the 1960s until I joined the RA&HS Pastoral Committee and went on from there."
* Full report in Stock Journal, September 18, 2014 issue.
Miranda Kenny
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
