The Country Caller

Blinky offered ringer “$500 to shoot my neighbours”

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By HARRY CLARKE | EXCLUSIVE

POLICE have been told by a contract musterer that accused killer Darryl Young offered him $500 to shoot his neighbours the night before Mr Young allegedly murdered Merv Schwarz, Maree Schwarz and Graham Tighe at the front gate of his remote North Queensland cattle station.

The Caller can also reveal that despite initial reports that an ongoing dispute between Mr Young and the Schwarz family related specifically to a newly built boundary fence between their respective properties, the meeting which occurred between the parties the morning of the shooting also related to ownership of cleanskin (unbranded) cattle.

Mr Young is accused of inviting the alleged murder victims to his front gate to discuss the dispute about 8.30am last Thursday before gunning them down with a rifle in a close range, execution style killing.

(L-R) Alleged murder victims Graham Tighe, his mother Maree Schwarz and stepfather Merv Schwarz

The newly-built boundary fence dividing Shannonvale and Sutherland stations. IMAGE: Country Caller

Mr Schwarz, 71, Mrs Schwarz, 59, and Mrs Schwarz’s son Graham Tighe, 35, were killed at the scene, while Mrs Schwarz’s other son, Ross Tighe, managed to escape with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Mr Young, 59, appeared in the Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday charged with three counts murder and one count of attempted murder. He was remanded in custody and his matter was adjourned to November.

The owner of a local contract mustering business, who did not want to be identified, told the Caller that Mr Young said to him “I’ll give you 500 bucks to shoot my neighbours” during a phone call the night before the alleged murders took place. The man has given a statement to police.

“That was the first time I ever talked to him,” the ringer said.

“I was talking to fellas that I know who said there were a few people up there looking for contract musterers, and I just rang him and said that we were around.

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“He said, ‘yeah I’ll talk to you within a few months about some mustering’ and that was all the conversation was about. And then that’s what he said (I’ll give you 500 bucks to shoot my neighbours).

“I didn’t know how to react at the start. It’s a bit overwhelming to get that said to you, isn’t it?

“That was the first time I talked to him so I wouldn’t know if he was serious or joking. But he said ‘oh no, I’m joking’.

“When I found out (about the shootings) I was sick in the guts.”

Alleged triple murderer Darryl Young, owner of Shannonvale Station

Map showing the location of the alleged murder scene, Shannonvale Station

Darryl Young, known in the area by the nickname “Blinky” because “he blinks all the time”, is the owner of Shannonvale Station, an historic pastoral leasehold block situated in the rugged Clarke Ranges about 50km south west of Bowen in North Queensland.

Shannonvale was a hive of activity during the frontier days of the Normanby gold rush in the late 1800s. In a haunting irony, the shootings last Thursday occurred a mere few hundred metres from a grave yard from the gold rush era.

Having this week visited the area and spoken to multiple well placed sources, the Caller can reveal fresh details of how the violence allegedly unfolded.

It’s understood the Schwarz family had over the previous several days mustered parts of their 75,000 acre property, Sutherland Station, which they purchased last year reportedly for $10 million.

A grave yard from the late 1800s Normanby gold rush, a few hundred meetings from where the shootings took place. IMAGE: Country Caller

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Among a large herd gathered by the Schwarzs were roughly 30 head of cleanskin cattle. Cleanskins are generally divided between neighbours depending on the number of beasts captured during a muster and where they are found.

“Blinky thought he should get all 30 cleanskins,” the Caller has been told, as well as that during a phone call the night prior to the shootings Mr Young invited the Schwarzs for a meeting at the Shannonvale front gate before the alleged victims were to resume mustering.

It’s understood that by survivor Ross Tighe’s account, tensions flared at the meeting before Mr Young allegedly retrieved a gun from his vehicle and began firing at the alleged victims.

The firearm is understood to have been a .30-30 calibre rifle, but it’s understood Mr Young doesn’t have such a weapon registered in his name.

As Merv Schwarz, Maree Schwarz and Graham Tighe were gunned down, Ross Tighe ran for cover in nearby bushland with a bullet wound in his stomach.

It’s understood that after hearing Mr Young walking around the area near where he was hiding, Ross Tighe then heard three further gun blasts followed by the sound of Mr Young’s vehicle leaving the scene.

Crime scene established at the front gate of Shannonvale Station, where the alleged murders took place. IMAGE: Country Caller

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Ross Tighe was able to drive 7km from the front of Shannonvale Station before losing consciousness and skidding to a halt on the side of Normanby Road.

He was found slumped over the steering wheel by a worker who’d been employed to help with mustering on Sutherland Station that day.

“He (the worker) was back at the house getting horses ready to go mustering for the day. The chopper pilot was over there, already started (mustering) and wondering where they were,” the Caller has been told.

“(The worker) said Ross was blacked out. He lifted him out of the ute and into the truck he was using to cart horses.

“He was already loaded up with four or five horses and they went back to Sutherland, loaded into Maree’s car, got Ross’s girlfriend and his daughter into the car and they drove down to (nearby property) Flagstone and he got airlifted from Flagstone.”

Parts of Shannonvale Station have remained a crime scene since last Thursday.

It’s understood Mr Young has been denying to police that he murdered the three family members.

CLICK IMAGE FOR GOFUNDME PAGE IN SUPPORT OF ROSS TIGHE AND PARTER, KAITLIN.

Michael “Kangaroo Catcher” Purcell dies suddenly

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By HARRY CLARKE

ONE of outback Queensland’s finest rugby league exports in recent years, Michael Purcell, has tragically passed away.

Purcell, a former Queensland Cup player for both the Ipswich Jets and East Tigers who many believed belonged in the NRL, was 29 years old.

Tributes are flowing on social media for the charismatic and highly admired footballer, who originally came from Cunnamulla but was raised in Charleville.

The lightning fast fullback and winger was nicknamed the “Kangaroo Catcher” from the day he jumped out of a team bus and managed to chase down and wrangle one of the Australian mammals.

Teammates and friends have told the Caller the humble and gifted footballer had experienced mental health struggles in recent years, exacerbated by a season-ending ACL injury he suffered while playing for the Tigers in 2021.

Michael Purcell playing for the Ipswich Jets. IMAGE: QRL

Purcell’s former coach at the Tigers, John Buchannan, told the Caller the club and his teammates were devastated by the news of his passing.

“It’s just tragic,” Buchannan said.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Michael. He was just really genuine … always had a smile on his face. The thing that I’ll remember most is that big, beaming smile.

“He gave you that persona that he was really laid back, and he was, but he was extremely competitive as well.

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“It’s really raw. Tomorrow night we’ll get together as a club and just make sure everyone’s ok. The Queensland Rugby League provides really good support for everyone, so we’ll make sure that’s available to any of our players if needed.

“I had the pleasure of coaching him last year.

“He was a freakish talent. Just an athlete. I remember watching him through a preseason and just thinking it was all effortless, everything he did. I’ve got a lot of good memories of watching him play footy, that’s for sure.”

Purcell’s former Tigers teammate, Luke Dobel, told the Caller that he was shocked and saddened by his death.

“He was just a great footy player and an even better human. It’s just horrible to see that this has happened. I’m sort of lost for words, just numb,” Dobel said.

Charleville mayor Shaun Radnedge said the tight knit community in Purcell’s home town was reeling.

“It’s a bloody shame. He was a really good kid and very well respected,” Radnedge said.

“He was a very, very good sportsman and footballer. About ten years ago he went away and ran in the New York Marathon as part of an Indigenous program.

“He had a pretty tough life early on. He came from a family in Cunnamulla who were in a bit of strife and was raised by a couple here in Charleville. They helped turn his life around.”

Those who knew Purcell have said on social media he was a “a freakish talent and definitely a true gentleman on and off the field”, and “one of the nicest young men you could cross paths with”.

Help is available. If you or anyone you know is struggling, call lifeline on 13 11 14.

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Grammar beats Downlands to claim rugby rivalry cup

COUNTRY CALLER FOOTBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY INTURA

By JIMMY AUCLAIR

IN ONE of schoolboy rugby’s great rivalry matches, Toowoomba Grammar School beat Downloads College by less than a converted try before a crowd of thousands to claim the O’Callaghan Cup for 2022.

The crosstown fixture, hailed as one of Toowoomba’s biggest annual sporting and social events, was this year held at Downlands for the first time since 2018.

Grammar got off to a flying start with a try in the opening seconds of the game to their number eight Oliver Chaffey after a wayward pass and fumble by Downlands on their own try line.

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Minutes later Downlands had an opportunity to strike back and put points on the board through a penalty kick from 23 meters out right in front of the post but were unsuccessful.

Downlands did not have to wait long for another opportunity to hit back, but it took them three minutes of relentless work by their forwards before lock, Johnny Ryan, was able to pick and drive over the line for a try under the posts.

Downlands forwards Malinga Likio and Trevor King working up the middle. IMAGE: JimmyA Photography

Downlands proved that their strength was in their forwards, with big runs over the advantage line by props Malinga Likio and Trevor King.
Grammar forwards, not wanting to be outdone, launched their own pick and drive attacks on the Downlands try line resulting in captain and lock Charlie Horn scoring a try.

Grammar’s Chace Oates showed his confidence with the boot by slotting a penalty kick 35 meters out from in front right on half time.

It was Grammar leading 17-7 going into the second half, but Downlands were the first to strike through another display of power in the forwards with Trevor King driving over the line for a try.

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Grammar was unable to crack the Downlands forwards try line defence and were forced to change their attacking option and put the ball through the hands of their backline, which culminated in winger Richard Dean scoring in the corner.

Grammar built on the success of their backs with an unbelievable flick pass offload by Chace Oates to fullback Will Nason who stepped and split several defenders before diving over the line for a try.

Fullback Will Nason triers to shrug of Downlands’ defence. IMAGE: JimmyA Photography

Downlands continued to push after full time and were rewarded with one final try to lock Mac Koch.

Toowoomba Grammar proved too good in the end winning 27-21 and extending their current win streak to four years.

Toowoomba Grammar head coach Scott Gale said that the big thing with schoolboy rugby is to do the simple things well.

“Credit to Downlands defence I think they defended really well in the middle,” Gale said.

“At half time we just thought that we could get a little more space and cause a little more trouble to Downlands on the edges.”

Toowoomba Grammar captain Charlie Horn said that it was “unreal” playing in front of such a large crowd and the boys and the supporters really brought them home in the end.

COUNTRY CALLER FOOTBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY INTURA

TGS captain, second rower Charlie Horn. IMAGE: JimmyA Photography

“Richard Dean was a standout in the back line but as a team everyone just did their job and it was great to see,” Horn said.

Downlands head coach Garrick Morgan said you can’t just gift a side like Grammar seven points in the opening minutes of a game.

“We defended really well just our attack play didn’t come off today,” Morgan said.

“Trevor King was a standout and Tom McDonald on the wing had a really good game.”

Downlands captain Rhys Chadburn said that there were some nerves heading into the match.

“First time back here we wanted that trophy but unfortunately we couldn’t get there,” he said.

Toowoomba Grammar School player of the game was Richard Dean. Downlands College player of the game was Rhys Chadburn.

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Toowoomba Grammar celebrates victory over Downlands. IMAGE: JimmyA Photography

Shannonvale neighbour told he was a “marked” man

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By HARRY CLARKE | EXCLUSIVE

POLICE will allege North Queensland cattle station owner Darryl Young called the grazier family living next door for a meeting at their boundary fence line before shooting three of them dead in a close range, execution style killing in the rugged coastal ranges west of Proserpine.

A would-be fourth victim managed to escape despite being shot in the abdomen, and the Caller can reveal another neighbour, who was not present, was told recently he’d also been “marked” as another alleged target of Mr Young.

Mr Young, known in the remote grazing area by the nickname “Blinky”, is the owner of Shannonvale Station, an historic pastoral leasehold block which was a hive of activity during the frontier Normanby gold rush of the late 1800s.

Accused murderer Darryl Young. IMAGE: News Corp Australia

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The 59-year-old has allegedly been part of tense disputes with neighbours over property borders and cattle ownership for years, amid accusations of violence threats and livestock duffing going back at least a decade.

Alleged murder victims Merv and Maree Schwarz, originally from the Roma area, purchased the neighbouring Sutherland Station last year and it’s understood they inherited problems relating to Shannonvale’s adjoining boundary when they moved onto the property.

Another neighbour told the Caller the Schwarzs had recently finished building a new boundary fence between Sutherland and Shannonvale “to stop all this arguing and fighting” but ultimately the initiative only escalated tensions further.

Alleged murder victims Graham Tighe, his mother Maree Schwarz and stepfather Merv Schwarz

Map showing location of alleged murder scene Shannovale Station

Mr and Mrs Schwarz and Mrs Schwarz’s son Graham Tighe were gunned town at the boundary fence about 8:30am on Thursday morning while Mrs Schwarz’s other son, Ross Tighe, fled the scene in a farm ute.

Ross Tighe raised the alarm with a neighbour before being airlifted to Mackay Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.

In a haunting irony, it’s understood the killings occurred a mere few hundred metres from an historic graveyard from the Normanby gold rush era, near Shannonvale’s front gate.

Having now charged Mr Young with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, police are working to establish exactly how the violence unfolded.

“We understand there was a conversation that occurred the night before which was the reason why the parties had met at the gate on the property,” Detective Inspector Tom Armitt told a press conference in Bowen yesterday.

“What I can say is that there was an invitation for them to go there and discuss.

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“It was a number of hours before (police) were able to establish where the incident occurred.

“Police had to traverse a large amount of ground before we actually found where the scene was,” he said.

“Police drove forward into the crime scene not knowing whether the armed offender was present or not, putting their lives at great danger, especially when the report was that they had been shot with a rifle and that they were in danger of being shot from any distance whilst approaching the crime scene.”

A neighbour of Shannonvale and Sutherland stations, on horseback beside ruins from the late 1800s Normanby gold rush

The other neighbour interviewed by the Caller, whose property borders both Shannonvale and Sutherland stations, said he and other landowners throughout the ranges area were also on high alert throughout Thursday.

He said he’d had numerous tense encounters over the years with Shannonvale residents relating to allegations of cattle theft.

“A couple of weeks ago he (Mr Young) told Graham that I was marked as well,” he said.

It was unclear to residents after the shootings whether the alleged killer was still at large, trying to make an escape through the vast surrounding bushland, or whether they’d make a violent approach at neighbouring homesteads.

“He had nothing to lose … I battened down,” he said.

“You could say I had a range of weapons – two pistols, a .410, a .30-30, a .243, a .222 and about 2,000 rounds. If it went on into the night I was going to sit off the house and wait.”

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The Caller has spoken to multiple other residents in the area who had mobilised with firearms amid the threat of a shooter on the loose.

But by late afternoon on Thursday five people, including Mr Young, who were on Shannonvale Station at the time had been taken into police custody without further incident.

Two were Mr Young’s partner and son, while the remaining two were wind farm contractors who happened to by carrying out surveying work on the property and became caught up in the ordeal.

All four of those people were released from custody Friday morning, while Mr Young was charged over the alleged triple homicide.

He is due to appear in the Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday, August 8.

EXCLUSIVE: Family shot dead on remote NQ property

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By HARRY CLARKE | EXCLUSIVE

UPDATE: A 59 year old man is in custody and is expected to be charged this afternoon over the shooting deaths of three people on a remote property south west of Bowen yesterday morning.

Police have provided an update on their investigation, after the bodies of Merv Schwarz, his wife Maree Schwarz and Ms Shwarz’s son Graham Tighe were found shot dead near the entrance to “Shannonvale Station”.

Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt confirmed the 59-year-old man is a long-term resident of the area and was among five people taken in for questioning overnight.

The man’s son and a female family member were also questioned and released, along with two wind farm workers who were on the property at the time.

“The deceased family in question have only been on their property a short amount of time. The person we have in custody is a long-term resident,” Armitt said.

“We understand there was a conversation that occurred the night before which was the reason why the parties had met at the gate on the property.”

The alarm was raised by another of Maree Schwarz’s sons, Ross Tighe, who was also shot but managed to escape in a ute and alert a neighbour several kilometres away.

“Initially police received information that a male person had been shot and he was reporting that three others were also shot,” Armitt said.

“He’d been transported approximately forty kilometres away from the scene of the shooting and there was some confusion about where the actual scene of the shooting had occurred.”

Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt described the actions of officers first on scene as, “extremely brave”.

“We had a small team of police who drove into the crime scene, at that time, not knowing whether the armed offender was present or not – putting their lives in grave danger, especially when the report was the people had been shot with a rifle.”

EARLIER: THREE members of the same family were the victims of a deadly shooting on a remote property south west of Bowen this morning, while a fourth family member survived with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Merv Schwarz, his wife Maree Schwarz and Ms Shwarz’s son Graham Tighe were all shot dead on the property “Shannonvale” on Shannonvale Rd, roughly 50km from Bowen, about 8.30am.

Another of Ms Schwarz’s sons, Ross Tighe, survived the shooting. It’s understood he managed to escape and flee the scene in a farm ute, raising the alarm with a neighbour several kilometres away.

Several crime scenes are in place and five people are assisting police with their investigations to establish exactly how the shooting occurred. No arrests have been made.

Map showing the location where the shooting took place

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The Caller understands three of the people assisting police are neighbours of the victims, while two wind farm contractors who happened to be carrying out surveys in the area have also been caught up in the incident.

Ross Tighe was airlifted to Mackay Hospital in a critical condition and has since undergone emergency surgery. He is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

An emergency declaration was in place from 11.30am this morning until late this afternoon as police searched “Shannonvale Station” and surrounds.

Mackay Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said Special Emergency Response Team officers had been conducting clearances over an “extensive area”.

“It has taken a number of hours for police to search and clear the area, however we have declared a crime scene in the remote rural location where … we have located three deceased persons,” he said.

The coastal range country south west of Bowen, in the vicinity of the Shannonvale Rd crime scene

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The Caller understands there have been ongoing disputes between neighbours in the area for several years, with accusations of cattle duffing and threats made.

The coastal range country which encompasses “Shannonvale” is notoriously difficult to access and navigate. Herds of wild and branded cattle roam in areas where no boundary fences exist between properties.

Neighbours were on alert throughout the day, some arming themselves with rifles and handguns, in the belief that a gunman was still on the loose somewhere in the mountains, however police confirmed this evening that they do not believe there is any ongoing danger to the public.

“(Police are) actively searching the area and commencing our investigations into the circumstances and how it came to be that these people have been shot,” Detective Inspector Armitt said.

Forensic examiners will resume investigations in the morning.

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A gunman is on the run following a mass shooting in North Queensland that killed three people and left another critically injured in hospital. @lcalcutt #9News pic.twitter.com/ZLGTlCoArC
— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) August 4, 2022

Isa Rodeo to host country music’s biggest new talent

RODEO COVERAGE SPONSORED BY BOB KATTER

By HARRY CLARKE

IT’S taken barely 12 months for James Johnston to progress from talent with a dream to one of the most sought after performers on Australia’s biggest country music lineups.

When he takes the stage next weekend at the southern hemisphere’s biggest rodeo, the 31-year-old will have just about ticked all the boxes on the national circuit, and there’s a sense in the industry that bigger things are on the horizon.

Johnston will join pop music icon Guy Sebastian and country rock titans McAlister Kemp on the lineup for the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo running from August 11-14.

James Johnston performing at the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races

Considering his first single Raised Like That was released only a year ago, Johnston said it was “humbling” to be already being named on the same bills as some of Australia’s biggest stars.

“It’s been a pretty wild 12 months,” he said.

“The Isa Rodeo is like nothing else. It’s the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere, and that makes it the best in the world because it’s in Australia, right?

“This will be my first Isa Rodeo. I’ve been told for many years about how good a party it is, so I’m very excited to get out there and perform my show.

“I’m a big fan of Guy Sebastian. I think he’s absolutely incredible, so to be on the same bill as him is going to be special.”

LISTEN: Raised Like That – James Johnston

In a sure sign that Johnston’s material is turning heads and pricking ears early in his published career, Raised Like That last month became the first independent country music single in 21 years to be certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

The only other Australian country artists in history to achieve ARIA Gold status for a single are Slim Dusty, John Williamson, James Blundell, Kasey Chambers, The Wolverines, Keith Urban and Morgan Evans.

“It’s a pretty big honour, that sort of achievement, but it’s one of those things that I don’t get too caught up on,” Johnston said.

“For me, just seeing people singing my songs is what’s special. It’s absolutely what I’ve dreamt of. I love it.

“I wake up and I write songs and I produce music and I get to come out and perform those songs. It’s incredible and I’m truly just loving every minute.”

WATCH: James Johnston performs at the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races

Earlier this year Johnston had the honour of performing alongside none other than Lee Kernaghan at the 50th Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Following the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, he’ll round out 2022 with a string of shows including the Gympie Music Muster and the CMC Rocks Festival.

He said while the big ticket concerts were great, the small town gigs also gave him a huge thrill.

“My favourite place is out in the bush, those little small towns, because that’s really where these songs are written from. These songs are inspired from these little regional towns like the one I grew up in (Wingham NSW).

“To get out there and perform is so much fun. Everyone is always just so excited to have an artist playing for them.”

Headlining the Rodeo Rock line-up at Mount Isa will be Guy Sebastian, Pierce Brothers, McAlister Kemp and James Johnston.

And the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships Concert on Thursday evening will star Baker Boy, the Sundowners Kalkutungu Dancers, theDesert Dust Dance Group and local DJ Deadly Jacob.

RODEO COVERAGE SPONSORED BY BOB KATTER

“Art for the heart” secret to gallery success

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

TUCKED away on a second storey corner of the historic Rowes precinct, The Toowoomba Gallery still feels like one of the city’s best kept secrets.

But as co-owners Bec Statton and Niki Hall prepare to celebrate its first anniversary, it’s clear – the secret’s out.

“A really exciting thing is, we’ve noticed that there are people travelling to Toowoomba to see our art gallery, who are from elsewhere in Australia,” Niki Hall said.

“Yesterday I had two couples from Victoria, doing road trips. They stayed the night at Vacy Hall and they had dinner somewhere, they had breakfast and I said, ‘What brought you to Toowoomba?’ and they said, you!

“I was blown away to think that these couples had done a road trip and they’ve come to Toowoomba, injecting money into the town, visiting the gallery.

“They didn’t buy anything but they’ve looked and they might buy something online at some point. It’s just really exciting, putting Toowoomba on the map.”

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If The Toowoomba Gallery’s wide variety of pieces and price points reminds you of Grammar Art Show, it’s no coincidence.

Bec Statton was the driving force behind the hugely popular event in recent years, and brought her passion for affordable, approachable art to the gallery venture.

“Art brings joy and we all could do with joy in our lives, particularly when things are tough,” Statton said.

“I had noticed that people wanted to buy art but often lacked the confidence to choose what they loved.”

“I wanted the gallery to provide a relaxed atmosphere that inspired bravery, allowing people to follow their heart.”

“Art for the heart” is how Niki Hall describes her vision for the gallery, adamant “art is for everyone”.

“There’s so much amazing art out there – to get that into Toowoomba and then to see our local community embrace it has been really incredible this past year,” Hall said.

“We’ve had pretty amazing sales in our first year, we’re really happy with how things have gone so we’re definitely here to stay.”

From a CBD pop-up store to its permanent home on Victoria Street, The Toowoomba Gallery has grown to feature more than 120 artists, from the Darling Downs and across Australia, plus Spain and Hong Kong.

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*Recent Bloom art experiences, coming to Toowoomba in September. IMAGES: Kate Quinn*

Hall and Statton are also adding new events to the city’s cultural calendar, offering experiences people would usually have to travel to capital cities for.

They recently hosted a ceramics workshop and will be welcoming artists Kate Quinn and Emily Day to the gallery in September, for a new art, food and wine event coinciding with Carnival of Flowers.

“Bloom at the Gallery” will include a morning yoga session, gourmet garden picnic and a floral still life painting class.

“Bec and I are really looking at what we can do to bring those things into Toowoomba,” Hall said.

“Don’t go to Sydney and Melbourne for an art experience, you can do it here.”

The Toowoomba Gallery is celebrating its first anniversary with a new exhibition called “Harvest” opening August 4th at 6pm.

Tara rumbles with camel, colour and music stampede

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By HARRY CLARKE

SPARE a thought for the bookies as they nervously try set the odds at the Tara racetrack.

At least when it comes to horses there’s a wealth of information about form and breeding to help guide the price, but at the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races, it’s pretty much anyone’s guess.

“You’re betting blind,” says bookmaker Darcy Brennan who, alongside his mate Pat Troe, travelled from Dalby to try and make a buck on the camels at Tara’s biennial community celebration.

Dalby bookmakers Pat Troe and Darcy Brennan

“You can look at the Boulia results. There was a couple of outstanding camels up there, so they’ll obviously be the favourites here, but other than that it’s a lot of guess work.”

Will it be Thirsty, Gunna, Billy or Ringer who takes out the 600m final?

Not even the jockeys could give you a tip with confidence. They aren’t even holding any reins as the 700kg animals beneath them thunder down the home straight at 40km/hr.

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Fred Brophy boxing stars turned camel jockeys, Baby Rabbit and Beaver

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“You’ve just got to be able to hold on and hope for the best,” says Beaver, a camel jockey who’s currently on her second outback racing circuit.

How Beaver and her mate “Baby Rabbit” got into this sport, in the first place, is a story in itself.

The two north Queenslanders are professional fighters with Fred Brophy’s Boxing Troupe and decided to climb aboard a racing camel last year, despite having never even ridden a horse.

“We actually fought a camel jockey in Bedourie last year and from that they gave us a ride the next day,” Baby Rabbit told the Caller.

“They said thank you for not hurting the jockey, and that’s how we started actually racing camels.

“This is the first one I’ve done here in Tara, same with Beavs. We’ve done the rest of the circuit and we’re excited for this one. It’s a different atmosphere.”

Organisers estimated there were at least 8,000 punters in attendance at the 11th Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races.

Many among the crowd were former Tara locals returning to their home town, catching up with family and old friends and enjoying the colourful community celebration.

But most were travellers. A huge contingent of caravaners spread out across the Tara Showgrounds over the three day event, some first timers and others return visitors.

And it’s not just camels they were punting on. Eye-watering bets of up to $1,000 were being placed on yabbies pulled the day before from nearby Wieambilla Creek.

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Leon and Brownyn Eadie’s trip out from Brisbane didn’t quite go to plan, but the couple still had a blast.

“Some friends of ours invited us out here and their car broke down, so they didn’t even make it in the end,” Leon said.

“But we’ve just bought a new van so we still wanted to give it a test run. I think it’s great. We’ve never seen camels racing. I’d definitely come back.”

Getting into the camel/desert/Arabian theme were Les and Lyn Buzza from Caboolture and Bev and Gary Dwyer from Calliope

The sharpest looking gents were Darryl Wynne, Brett Tauth, Glen Samson and Shaun Harrington from Brisbane, and Terry Clark from Dalby

Western Downs councillor Kylie Bourne with her sister, Rowie Gurner from Moonie

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The stars of the show were the camels but the program was filled with a huge array of entertainers, cultural performers and stall holders from far and wide.

Dutch performer Frans Vogels, now based in Brisbane, is part of a team of roving performers who take bookings from all around the world.

“Today I am the Bubble Ranger,” Frans said. “What a beautiful day! We’re so lucky. The crowd is fantastic.”

Where does he take his Bubble Ranger act? “The whole world!” he said. “Anywhere that they want to see bubbles. Zanzibar, China and Korea, Taiwan, all over Europe of course.”

Dutch performer Franz Vogels, in character as the Bubble Ranger, entertaining the youngsters

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Stallholders Julie and Colin Wakefield , from Meandarra

Stallholders Julie and Colin Wakefield don’t travel as far these days, having come from only just down the road at Meandarra to be part on the festivities.

They’ve been taking their homemade miniature gardens, pottery and girls’ clothing to markets and events around southern Queensland for 30 years, but have kept their business fairly local in recent years.

They were one more than 160 stallholders doing trade at the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races. This is their second time here.

“It’s great here,” Julie said. “The crowds are great. Everybody’s friendly. We’ve had a good day.”

The Gundanema Aboriginal song and dance group, from Warra

Chinese cultural performers meet one of the stars of the show

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Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races committee president, Kerry Kelly

Any more rain during the week leading up the Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races could have spelt disaster, but Mother Nature was forgiving on this occasion.

There was little bit of give in the ground underfoot around the showgrounds, but organisers were hugely relieved that the event was virtually a mud free affair.

“A week ago we got two inches of rain on the grounds,” said festival committee president, Kerry Kelly.

“We planned on having four days to set up but we ended up with two, so she’s been pretty hectic.

“It looks to me like everybody’s happy. We’ve got such a bloody amazing committee and volunteers. I’m really honoured to be working with all of these people.

“She’s a big show. It’s getting bigger every time.”

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The Tara Camel Cup was won by a young bull named Ringer, owned by Rod Samson and ridden by the star Oakfield Ranch jockey, Chontelle Jannese.

Chontelle is based in Newcastle but has spent the past five weeks travelling outback Queensland on the camel racing circuit.

She said victory on Winston was particularly special.

“I rode him on his first circuit and I’ve been the only jockey that’s ridden on him, so this is amazing,” Chontelle said.

“He was bucking and weaving and trying to dump me last year, so to win the cup this year is great.

“I just love camels. There’s something pretty exhilarating about flying along at 40km/hr on the back of a camel, such a massive animal.

“We love coming to Tara. It’s a fantastic festival. They organise everything so well and there’s such a variety of events and entertainment.”

Camel jockey Chontelle Janesse, with Charlie. The pair placed fifth in the 400m Consolation Final

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Papua New Guinea on the hunt at Cunnamulla

COUNTRY CALLER FOOTBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY INTURA

By JAMES CLARK | WARREGO WATCHMAN

THE LAST time a mob at John Kerr Park (JKP) was treated to a men’s rugby league game was more than two years ago in March 2020.

Covid restrictions cut the four-match Wallal cup competition in half and the last time the Cunnamulla Rams managed to raise a team was an exhibition game for domestic violence awareness in Charleville six months later.

So the Hostplus Queensland Cup clash between the PNG Hunters and Brisbane Tigers last Saturday 23 July was a treat.

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It was part of Country Week, the QRL’s way of rewarding backwaters with displays of robust, comparatively disciplined football from the state’s A-grade competition, the rung below the NRL.

Languishing at 12th on the ladder, second from the bottom, the Hunters travelled to the flat lands of far southwest Qld in need of inspiration.

They’d been in exile on the Gold Coast for two-and-a-half years, transplanted from Port Moresby to sidestep travel restrictions to keep playing.

Cunnamulla proved a happy hunting ground for the boys from across the Torres Strait, as they muscled back from 0-14 to win 32-24.

That was despite three Melbourne Storm players – Jonah Pezet, Bronson Garlick and Jayden Nikorima – in the line-up for the Tigers, a feeder club for Storm.

Hunters head coach Matt Church, an Australian, said PNG was the only country in the world where rugby league was the national sport.

He said he loved coaching the team, although his players had grown up with little routine or structure in their lives.

Their approach to football was mostly off the cuff and too much structure curbed their natural flair.

“I call it freedom within a discipline,” he said. “We have points of play and targets that we want to get to, and they have multiple options off that.

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They’re encouraged to play what’s in front of them. The three things we really bring to the game are speed, evasion and intent.”

Church said his men had been struggling with the Gold Coast posting.

But they would be returning home to Port Moresby’s national football stadium on 10 August to play the last three rounds at home, where they had a 73% win rate.

Before the match, the Watchman asked sundry people in the crowd if they were gunning for the Hunters or the Tigers.

Few were inclined to back the boys from PNG.

“I’m going for the Tigers because my uncle Clayton Coleman played for them,” said Charleville under-12 player Ben Williams.

“But the Hunters are solid little fellers, so I would hate to be versing them today.”

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Former Rams coach Dougie Widgell declined to declare either way, saying he hoped for a good close game.

“I used to play for the Tigers, although my family are from PNG,” said Geoff Rynne, a Rams juniors coach.

Brodie Smyth, aged 17 and playing rugby union these days, joked he’d have given the Hunters a hand, but for a leg injury.

“They’re just dangerous! Knock your head off!” he said.

For the first 20 minutes, the Tigers looked slick, scoring three tries.

But the Hunters wound the difference back to six points at the break and put the pedal to the metal in the second half, running in four tries to one.

After the game, the players huddled for photos with juniors and the battered Tigers linked arms with their rivals in a prayer circle.

No doubt about where Yowah opal miner Julie Stoverink’s loyalties lay.

Born in PNG, she said the crowd didn’t realise the Hunters were swearing a blue streak in pidgin throughout the match.

“They all gave me a hug and said, What the hell are you doing out here? I said, I live here. They said, You must be mad to live out here. I said, I love it.”

Rams junior league vice president Lawrence ‘Cheesy’ Anderson said he had to back the brothers.

“No slow gear in those fellers, only flat out,” he said.

Colleen Higgins said she’d never taken much notice of the Qld cup competition before.

“I think I will now and I’ll be following the Hunters,” she said.

The curtain raiser to the main game was a women’s match, in which the St George Dragons beat Western Ringers 40-16.

After showers and dinner at the bowls club, the players joined the festivities at JKP, which featured a band called Just Us and security guards wearing earpieces, like NRL and Hostplus cup referees.

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The Tigers handed over signed jerseys to the junior league and several players joined the band on stage.

“It wasn’t karaoke, they were real singers,” said Rams secretary Carla Mills.

“We sold a lot of grog and took a lot of money.”

The players returned to the bowlo on Sunday morning for breakfast, before boarding their respective buses for the two-hour trip to Charleville.

There they shared the chartered plane that had delivered them from Brisbane.

Flying time Port Moresby to Brisbane is three hours.

About the same as hopping on Rex’s turboprops to Charleville or Cunnamulla.

So, PNG Hunters playing the Brisbane Tigers at JKP is not as far out as it might seem.

BOM plan to fix farming forecast frustration

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

THE Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is working to rebuild trust with Queensland farmers, expanding its agriculture team and improving communication strategies to ensure growers can accurately interpret forecasts.

That was the key message shared by the BOM’s agriculture segment lead Johnelle Stevens, who addressed delegates at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Regional Outlook Conference in Toowoomba yesterday.

“We need to be a bit more transparent and let our producers know when we got it right, but when we got it wrong and how we got it wrong,” Stevens said.

Johnelle Stevens from the BOM at the ABARES conference

“Our big push is how we’re communicating that. When I talk to my dad, he says the Bureau gets it wrong 75% of the time.

“When I talk to meteorologists, they say – well your dad just didn’t know how to read it.”

Stevens told the Caller, her team was hired to bring change and was genuinely excited to receive feedback from farming communities about the way weather forecasts are delivered.

“We use it – we do actually change the way we put things out, change the way we communicate with people from the feedback that we’re getting,” she said.

“We’re all Australians, we all call a spade a spade so we want our information in a way that we can digest it easily.

“There’s a lot of information coming at people so the easier it is to understand and then be able to make decisions on that, the better it is for everyone.”

Stevens explained the BOM’s priorities and latest applications to improve forecasting for agriculture, including making those forecasts easily interpretable.

The Climate Services for Agriculture prototype is one new service providing farmers with the long term opportunities and risks of particular crops in specific growing regions, all the way out to 2050.

It can help producers understand the historical, seasonal and future climate at their location to help inform business decisions.

Stevens is encouraging anyone who wants clarification on weather forecasting for agriculture, to email her team via agriculture@bom.gov.au.

“We want to give people what they want, and what’s useful information,” she said.

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Access to accurate and rigorous weather data was also identified as critical for the sector as it pursued the ambitious goal of increasing agricultural production to $100 billion by 2030.

Kurt Hockey from ABARES provided an industry overview, cautioning that while an almost 30 percent increase in farm productivity since 1989 had offset the impacts of climate change, farmers could expect more volatile climate conditions in the years ahead.

“The relatively poor conditions of the last 20 years are more likely to be indicative of the future,” Hockey told the Caller.

“It’s likely that the recent drought patterns are not going to be exceptional, but rather, what we can expect more of.”

He said farmers would have to think about what it meant for their business, possible diversification and off-farm incomes.

“Thinking about how they structure their long-term financial interests to be able to have that resilience – for both taking advantage of the good times and also being resilient during the tough ones,” he said.

Local farm incomes increased significantly in the 2020-21 financial year. IMAGE: ABARES

Farm incomes are bouncing back across much of Australia. IMAGE: ABARES

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The conference also received a breakdown from the 2020-21 Agricultural Census released this week.

The gross value of Australian agriculture surged 17 percent to $71 billion in the 2020-21 financial year, with improved growing conditions driving broad acre cropping production up a whopping 79 percent, to $23 billion.

Queensland’s production growth was a more conservative 7 percent, hitting $14.5 billion, with $1.1 billion of that coming from the Toowoomba local government area.

Interestingly, eggs were the most valuable local commodity accounting for $292 million, followed by cattle and calves at $212 million.

Sorghum was the region’s most valuable crop at $111 million, followed by cotton, wheat and vegetables.

“Agriculture is doing really well and we are seeing really positive outcomes for 2022 – 23. We continue across the country to have really good seasonal conditions which are supporting production and world prices are high,” Kurt Hockey said.

“While profits are going up – and this region’s doing really well – we are seeing increased prices in chemicals, fertilisers, energy and they’re all impacting farmers adversely.”