Hey John:
Just realized I had not responded to your query about public interest in our exhibits at the rural shows.
We put on a comprehensive display at the Freds Pass Rural Show again just last month and would have accommodated several thousand interested people through the display. Over 10,000 through the gate. Sold over 550 raffle tickets at two bucks each to cover costs.
The rural shows are so much more satisfying to support, compared with Royal Darwin Show which we stopped supporting many years ago on account of the ever-increasing cost for our booth, and difficult security logistics. Country people have a genuine interest in the heritage and history, a healthy respect for firearms, and are generally well-mannered and respectful in their appreciation of our efforts.
Our primary motivation is to off-set the negative portrayal of firearm owners by the media and politicians, by showing the general public that we are just normal people with a passion for history and clever engineering!
We obtain a display permit from the local police each time, mandating cabling of long-arms in vertical racks, and handguns are presented in metal display cases with double-locked lexan lids, also cabled. As per the Czech Pistols in my previous post.
Been doing it for decades now, no issues to date (touch wood).
Anyone likely to be in Katherine mid-July, come see us at the Transport & Works Pavilion and make yourself known.