Veteran cattleman Trevor Saal, who recently turned 90 years of age, was again in his favourite spot at this year’s Ekka – and that was ringside at the Hereford judging.
Trevor was 10 when he first visited the Royal Exhibition in 1938, just before the showgrounds started being used for military training and troop accommodation during the Second World War.
"Dad used to come down in the early days with Clydesdale horses and I would help the Henchell Dairy with their cattle," Trevor said.
After the war there were a few wild years at the Ekka before Trevor met and married his wife of 68 years, Pearl.
'I couldn't play up after 1950 because I got married then," Trevor said.
It was in the 1980s when he and wife Pearl registered the Kalem Poll Hereford stud and their attention turned to exhibiting stud beef cattle.
He fondly refers to winning a grand champion with their bull.
“We probably should have sold him, but I decided to keep him as a herd improver, and he died from the brown snake bite,” Trevor said.
Over the years the Saals have been vendors at the Roma Poll Hereford sales.
Trevor and Pearl sold their property Kalem in the Arcadia Valley about six years ago.
They moved to Pittsworth to a smaller 527 hectare property, along with 60 registered Poll Hereford breeders.
It is now their daughter Amanda Burcher, Binara Poll Herefords, Goondiwindi, who exhibits her own cattle as well as those of her parents’ Kalem prefix.
After a big week at Beef 2018 in May, Amanda decided not to show cattle this year.
However, Trevor is adamant they will be back to the Ekka grounds next year.
“I will be feeding up a couple of bulls so we are showing again next year,” Trevor said.
Trevor certainly doesn’t let his age slow him down and recently attended the Merawah Poll Hereford sale at Boggibilla and paid $10,000 for a bull.
Trevor admits he has seen plenty of changes and developments to the Ekka over the past 80 years.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
