Organiser Catherine Blanch said the Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association was trying to take control of the business her mother founded 36 years ago.

The association registered the business name Maitland Showground Markets with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on April 11. 

However, director David Perrott denied his group planned to take control. 

The association is the organising body behind the Maitland Show and landlord to all other groups that rent the showground, including the markets, showjumping, archery and Groovin the Moo. 

Mr Perrott said his association registered the business name to preserve a brand that was important to the people of Maitland and denied the show society would take control of the markets.

“It is not the long-term intention to take control away from the existing organisers,” he said.

“I can understand the reaction of the organisers, but it is not our intention.”

Hunter River Agricultural and Horticultural Association operations manager Amanda Winney declined to comment on the reasons behind the name registration. 

Mrs Blanch remains unconvinced by the association’s assurances.  She said the registration of the business name showed the intention of the show society – but she was not surprised by the action. 

“Four generations of my family are involved in this [the markets] and we’ve always been good tenants, but the relationship with the show society has been co-operative for 20 years.” 

“My mother entrusted me with her markets and I will not step back from this. They’ve [the association] picked the wrong person to try this on,” she said.

Mrs Blanch said she had not been consulted either before or after the association registered the name, but a concerned stall holder brought it to her attention.

“It isn’t just me who suffers if I lose control of these markets,” she said.

“It’s 600 families, many also multiple generations working with mine who depend on a business that has been built co-operatively.”