Long before he became a familiar face at the Canberra Region Wine Show, Wayne Hoy was introducing young people to the Royal Canberra Show as an agriculture and science teacher at Lyneham High School.

Every year he encouraged students to volunteer in the Farmyard Nursery and take part in junior sheep judging.

When retirement came around, Wayne wasn’t ready to walk away from the Show community. Instead, a conversation with friend and Canberra Region Wine Show organiser David Metcalfe opened the door to a new chapter.

“I wanted to keep involved. When David suggested I come along as a steward, I jumped at it,” Wayne says.

Wayne was a steward at the Canberra and Region Wine Show for 20 years and kept it running like clockwork.

From checking entries and setting up classes to pouring wine for judges and washing what felt like an endless stream of glasses, there was always plenty to do.

One day in particular has stayed with him.

In the early years, the entire competition – set-up, judging and presentations – happened in just one day. When the Chair of Judges was forced to withdraw at the last minute, the judging panel quickly reshuffled responsibilities and somehow kept everything on schedule.

“They were doing the final judging as people were arriving for the presentation,” Wayne laughs.

A long-time supporter of the Canberra wine industry, Wayne spent years helping a friend establish his winery, lending a hand during bottling and even creating a custom wine label with his cycling group. Volunteering at the wine show brought together two things he loved; local wine and good company.

The friendships made over two decades are what he’ll remember most.

“I enjoyed talking to the judges who came from other areas and the camaraderie with the other stewards,” he says.

Now in his late-70s, Wayne has hung up his steward’s badge. But whether he was mentoring students, helping local wineries or working behind the scenes to keep the wine show on track, his contribution has left a lasting mark on the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society​.