They’re the two sisters that have become an institution in their own right at the Wagga Show.
Nellmore Simpson (née Bateman) and Emily Glover have been entering the needlework and knitting sections at the show for a combined 98 years and they’ve shown with this year’s entries that they’ve still got it.
“Nell’s been doing it for 50 years which is quite an amazing feat really,” needlework and knitting chief stewardess Ann Johnston said.
“She supports all the shows around the district as well as the Wagga Show. Of course we’re only all interested in the Wagga Show, but she’s interested in all the country shows as well.”
Ms Simpson added: “We do all the shows – Tumut, Tumbarumba, Batlow, Adelong and Gundagai”.
Ms Glover joined in on the act two years after her sister and the pair have been working year-round ever since to come up with countless knitted masterpieces for the region’s shows.
“The stupidity (keeps us going) – we just won’t give up,” Ms Glover said.
The sisters both entered works this year that attracted prizes, even though the inspiration for one of Ms Glover’s winning rugs had been fairly simple.
“(I just wanted to) use up some of my colours and wool, which I’m trying to do all the time,” she said.
On Wednesday, ahead of the show’s official opening, the sisters were presented with certificates by Wagga Show Society president Bruce Ryan, who lauded their astonishing milestones.
Mr Ryan made special note of Ms Simpson, who marks the milestone of entering her work in the show every year for half a century in 2015.
“This is amazing that someone has continuously exhibited at the Wagga Show for 50 years,” he said before presenting Ms Simpson with her award.
“What a record.”
Ms Johnston said the Show Society eagerly anticipated seeing each year what ideas the pair came up with.
“(Ms Simpson’s) hands are always on the move with her knitting needles or her crochet hook,” she said.
“Every year there’s soemthing different, something new (and) inventive from her.”
Their work will be on display in the Hammond Hall.
