Rampage at rural show | Ipswich Crime | Robberies, Assaults and Convictions in Ipswich

ORGANISERS of one of the region's biggest country shows have vowed to beef up security next year after 13 people were charged with public order offences.

Police and security staff at Gatton Show were kept busy on Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday morning as celebrations got out of hand.

In one incident, a teenager was caught carrying a knife in sideshow alley, where hundreds of children and their parents were enjoying the rides and evening entertainment.

Another male reveller was charged with affray after allegedly getting into a series of brawls inside the showground.

In a separate incident, a teenage driver who had left the show earlier in the night, woke several residents by doing burnouts late into the evening.

Gatton officer in charge Senior Sergeant Tom Missingham said a 38-year-old Placid Hills resident, who was awoken by the noise, was allegedly punched repeatedly in the face after asking the 17-year-old teen to stop.

The man was hospitalised with facial injuries, and the teenager was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Several fights then broke out in Gatton's main street during the early hours of Saturday morning after the town's party nightspot, the Imperial Hotel, closed for the evening.

Two men were also charged with drug offences at the showgrounds, and nine other people were charged with public nuisance offences and/or urinating in public.

Thirteen people aged between 17 and 30 will appear in Gatton Magistrates Court at a later date.

The unruly behaviour of a few did not ruin the highlight of the Lockyer Valley's social calendar, with more than 7000 people walking through the gates of the two-day event.

But Gatton Show Society president Keith Edwards said he was “blown out of the water” when told by The Queensland Times of those arrested and charged.

“I didn't even know about it. I am quite surprised,” Mr Edwards said.

“I had nothing but very good and supportive comments and praise about how good the show was.

“It is a real concern because the show is growing each and every year. The offenders are just idiots.”

Mr Edwards said he believed the “vigilant and responsible” police presence at the showgrounds throughout Friday night would have stopped any incidents from occurring.

He said the show society would look at increasing security in the future to ensure the show's good reputation remains intact.

“We want to ensure that everyone at the show is safe, and the Gatton Show Society wants to ensure the safety of all patrons and, if needed, we will certainly increase security in future years.

“We will not take the chance to have such a successful community event tarnished or ruined by the stupidity of the minority.”

Snr Sgt Missingham said, although a total of 13 people were charged, the weekend's trouble was not unprecedented.