Longreach Show runs in the blood

PATRON of the Longreach Show, Mrs Ann Barrett hopes years of tradition will not be allowed to dwindle and die a slow death as discussions regarding falling competitor numbers stir throughout the West.

Early last month the Show stalwart took great delight in watching great granddaughter, Laura Allen, take to the ring on her pony Coco Pops, and she prays the four-year-old will have Shows to ride in for many years to come.

"There is so much else for people to do these days.

"Even finding the time to come into town for the two or three days of competition is hard.
"I do hope the tradition of the Show doesn’t fizzle out as the numbers get less and less.
"Competition has taught my girls so much.
"It is not as much about the winning, I’m sure losing has done them a world of good.
"I would have to say it has helped them to grow up into good people."

The family tradition of riding first started for Mrs Barrett growing up on her parents south western Queensland property ‘Cairns’, 70 miles out of Charleville.

With only a horse and cart for transport, the sheer distance from town meant Show days were a chance to watch rather than participate.

After a move to Longreach with husband David in 1961, Mrs Barrett and her seven daughters, Judith ‘Butter’ McClymont, Prudence ‘Pru’ Couton, Patricia ‘Jar’ Milne, Margaret ‘Pop’ Petersen, Sue ‘Wappy’ Smith, Helen ‘Baids’ McIntyre and Elizabeth ‘Thumper’ Clark, have been a regular feature in the ring ever since.

"I didn’t ride at the shows because I had to look after the babies and make sure those who were riding had everything they needed," Mrs Barrett said.

"Once one or two of the girls had started competing, the others wanted to follow.
"They all loved horses which was just as well; they never really had the choice to do anything else.
"The girls would ride in everything they could.
"At one stage when we had five or six of them riding, we didn’t have enough Show saddles and were constantly asking the judges to wait for 10 minutes while we frantically changed it over."

Running around during Longreach Show days became second nature for Mrs Barrett, but in these times she prefers to take things a little more quietly.

With 30-years on the Longreach Show committee, Mrs Barrett helps out wherever she can, whether it be setting up the pavilion or geeing up her great granddaughter for competition.

"I remember one year Pru couldn’t find her riding boots and so I sent her out into the ring in her bright pink slippers.
"The judge didn’t care about it at all and she still came away with a ribbon from that event.
"We had this rule you were never allowed to talk about a judge until we got home.
"Some nights that meant for a frightful meal at the end of the day."