IN the toughest of times everyone needs a rock to anchor themselves to. In the outback that’s a role often played by Australia’s big cattle companies, and on the weekend they acknowledged that with the staging of the ninth Outback Muster at Longreach.
The muster, while subdued this year to take into account the terrible drought conditions many find themselves in throughout the west and north west, still attracted the support of teams from nine companies, many of whom had travelled hundreds of kilometres from the Gulf, the Northern Territory and the Channel Country for the honour of competing.
Turned out in uniform and proudly representing their brand were staff from the Australian Agricultural Company, Australian Country Choice, Australian Beef and Cattle Holdings, S Kidman and Co, Paraway, Stanbroke, Georgina Pastoral Company, Consolidated Pastoral Company, and the Old Collegians.
The latter are all graduates of the Longreach Pastoral College, the venue for the muster, and for the first time in its history, the college riders held the overall trophy aloft at the end of the day.
Terry Goodear, the head of heritage and heartland marketing for RM Williams, which has had a long association with the muster, said the college and its graduates had formed a close bond with the cattle companies.
Old Collegians Mick Richards and John Arnold ease up on the throttle while Jane Rowbotham steps on the gas to delicately guide their cattle around the pegs in the bosses draft. Click on the image to view a gallery from the event.
“That’s the great thing about this – they get to mix with the companies and their owners. That’s very important to us,” he said.
“Everyone loves seeing the old students coming back and competing.”
Terry added that everyone also enjoyed saddling up to represent their brand at Longreach once a year and the camaraderie that surrounded the event.
“This is the only event where they represent their companies,” he said.
The will to keep it going remains strong among the companies, according to Terry, who expected it to return to its traditional two-day format next year.
“The bush is our heartland,” he said.
“The company (RM Williams) is very conscious of its heritage.
“We want to spread our sponsorships further to help a broad range of communities, but this event has been going for eight years, and we’ve built great relations with the cattle companies.
“Everyone wanted to stay connected and keep it going.”
Results
Stockmans Challenge - Under 21
1st - Daniel Turnbull - AA Co - 238.5
2nd- Josh Barber - AB&CH - 229.5
3rd - Benita Bauer - Collegians - 214.5
Stockmans Challenge - Over 21
1st - Rob Carn - Collegians - 273
2nd - Dean Turner - Stanbroke - 257
3rd- Cheyne Williams - Paraway - 240.5
Stockmans Challenge - Teams
1st - Collegians - 487.5
2nd - AA Co - 468
3rd - Stanbroke - 448
Golden Spurs Campdraft - Womens
1st - Wendy Wockner - Stanbroke - 169
2nd - Georgie Glasson - Consolidated - 108
3rd - Morgan Mills - AB&CH - 107
Golden Spurs Campdraft - Mens
1st - Evan Acton - AB&CH - 110
2nd - John Arnold - Collegians - 108
3rd - Will Goetsch - ACC - 107
Golden Spurs Campdraft - Juniors
1st - Georgie Glasson - Consolidated - 108
Overall Championship
1st - Collegians - 804.5
2nd - Stanbroke - 784
3rd - AB&CH - 735.5
Sally Cripps
Journalist
Journalist
