As is tradition, the opening of the 2025 Elders Lismore Show is at 6 o'clock tonight, when the TURSA Art Prize will be awarded.

TURSA has been involved with the Lismore Show since 1996, and has sponsored the TURSA Art Prize since 2003.

There are eight categories from artists all over the East Coast of Australia.

"We've got people coming in from Queensland and right down the south of NSW, and of course, from around here," said North Coast National Life Member, Ian Mulligan.

"I think the first year we had about 60 odd entries. We used to borrow the frames to have the art set up. And then after a while, we got them from the Lismore Art Club, and then we got onto Trinity. Then in about, I think, 2016 we made our own. Since then, we've been autonomous."

2025 will see between 120 and 130 pieces of art judged in the following categories:

• Still Life
• Townscape
• Landscape
• Waterscape
• Country Life
• Issues in Contemporary Living
• Domestic Animals and Wildlife
• Portraiture

Each category winner will receive $300, and the artwork awarded the 2025 TURSA Art Prize will receive $1000.

The Tursa Art Prize artwork is inside the Lismore Lapidary Club (Gemfest) at the top gate off Alexandra Parade, immediately to the right. Some of the artwork will be for sale.

There is now an easier walk up to see the artwork, thanks to a $35,000 Tursa Community Grant, which allowed a new concrete surface to be created. At an unveiling today, the path will be called Tursa Way.

(North Coast National Vice President Lyndal Gordon and Secretary Mark Sollom reveal the TURSA Way sign)

For those interested, everyone is invited to attend tonight with free wine and nibbles starting at 6pm.

In a special ceremony held tomorrow at 6:45pm (Thursday), the Cattle Ring will be named the Rodney Gibson Cattle Ring in his memory after he suddenly and sadly passed away on the first night of last year's Lismore Show.

Rodney had long been a much-loved and respected member of the Lismore Show family and was Chief Beef/Cattle Steward for 15 years. His loss was felt throughout last year's Show by those who knew him.

He left behind his wife, Jess, and three children, Faith, Jack and Adele.

The gates open tomorrow morning at 8am for the 2025 Elders Lismore Show and close on Saturday, October 18 at the conclusion of the fireworks around 9pm.