The Country Caller

Century old bush races frivolity strides into the future

By HARRY CLARKE

AS the story goes, it was thanks to a dispute between two local sheep shearers in 1901 that the iconic annual Roma Picnic Races were born.

“An argument broke out in a shearing shed on the property “Bellevue” between two of the workers,” said Roma Picnic Race Club president Andrew Harland.

“They decided to settle it with a horse race. They had a two horse race down at Camp Creek and it went from there.

“Here we are at Bassett Park over a century later and the event is still going from strength to strength.”

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The Roma Picnic Races now has a five race card and packed fields of horses. It draws local punters out in droves, and plenty of city folk from the east also travel out for the popular country meeting.

About 2,500 people came through the gates of Bassett Park for the 2022 instalment on Saturday, preceeded by a Moroccan themed black tie ball at the track the night before.

Local trainer Craig Smith had success early in the day, winning the first two races with As Good As Ready and Chester’s Angel respectively.

Smith also got a third in Race 3 with Better Be Great.

Jockey Olivia Webb strides ahead on Froze to win the Morgans Roma Picnics Cup

The Roma Picnics Cup, sponsored by Morgans Financial Limited, was won by 8yo gelding Froze ridden by Olivia Webb, trained by Bevan Johnson from Moranbah and carrying 61kg.

“I was pretty confident,” Johnson’s rep said.

“The track was actually pretty wet and the horse has been racing pretty well in the wet, so I thought he was a good chance.

“He’s been training well and he usually does pretty well first and second up.”

It was events away from the track which drew the biggest crowds on Saturday. Fashions on the Field was as popular and well supported as any style contest you’d see on a carnival day at Doomben.

SLIDESHOW

As was the case following the black tie ball on Friday, the picnic party continued well into the night at Bassett Park and then on to local pubs and hotels.

The Roma Picnic Races has been a favourite on the region’s social calendar for well over a hundred years. It was disbanded in the 1930s but revived again in the 40s.

The first race meet was for grass fed horses only, according to the history books, hence the “picnic” races tradition.

The racing of locally owned horses, raised in the paddock, was well supported by the district and continued for almost nine decades until Racing Queensland standardised all clubs and the grass fed tradition was no more.

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Following that Camp Creek dash between two feuding workmates, the first public race day occurred in June 1901 and 70 horses competed in the event.

Andrew Harland (pictured) and wife Sarah will serve as presidents of Roma Picnics Race Club for two years before handing over the reins to Rohan and Sarah Parkinson.

By tradition, committee members serve two years as junior vice presidents and two years as vice presidents before taking up the top job.

Roma Picnic Race Club president Andrew Harland

“My parents were on the picnics committee, I’ve had really good friends on the committee and its a race meeting I really enjoy. It’s just a really good committee to be part of,” Harland said.

“We’re very lucky to have a facility like Bassett Park. It’s not only used for racing – it’s used for football, netball, the Roma show, Easter in the Country and plenty of other social functions.

“Over time, as more money gets invested into Basset Park, it will keep getting better and better. It’s a great location and this is a great event.”

The traditional boozy dash down the straight of Bassett Park

GALLERY: Black tie glamour on Roma Picnic Races eve

By HARRY CLARKE

MORE than 500 people – and one live camel – descended on Bassett Park at Roma on Friday night for the black tie ball traditionally held on the eve of the iconic Roma Picnic Races.

The weekend-long race meeting is a highlight on Roma’s social calendar, bringing locals out in droves and always attracting crowds from the metropolitan east.

The Friday night black tie ball this year had a Moroccan theme.

After being handed drinks on arrival, guests were greeted for selfies by a camel and handler dressed in traditional Arabian-style costume. The main course from caterers was lamb and couscous.

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Will Nason from the event organising committee said ongoing support of loyal sponsors had kept the hugely popular event thriving.

“The beers and champagne was flowing and everyone was having a great time,” Nason said.

“Races in Roma have been going for well over a hundred years and the ball has been an integral part of it for a long time.

“It’s great to have everyone here on the Friday night so they can ease in on the Friday night and get back into it again at the races the next day.”

More than 3000 punters were expected back at Bassett Park on for the Roma Picnics race day.

SLIDESHOW

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Former NRL Cowboy announces bid for federal politics

By HARRY CLARKE

FORMER North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra Raiders backliner Rod Jensen has been announced by the Katter Australia Party as its candidate for the Far North seat of Leichhardt in the upcoming federal election.

Jensen, who now works as a teacher, a mentor for young Indigenous youth and as chief executive of the Northern Pride rugby league club, played 134 first grade games for Canberra, North Queensland and Huddersfield in the UK.

He’ll be taking on LNP incumbent Warren Entsch in Leichhardt, which he has held comfortably since 2010 and and which encompasses parts of Cairns and most of the Cape York Peninsula.

Jensen said his life journey had taught him the importance of education and opportunity, which was why he wanted to campaign for reform of vocational education.

“Certificates and trade skills should transcend the classroom to real world industry. Schools and Registered Training Organisations should be held accountable for business practices that see training for training purposes,” Jensen said.

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Rod Jensen played 134 first grade game of rugby league. IMAGE: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

He said he would also be campaigning for stronger economic development, improvements to the Far North’s health and aged care systems, and changes to Indigenous adoption laws.

“Every time there is an escalation in conflict, or a major weather event, and most recently with COVID, the first people who get hurt are those of us in Far North Queensland,” he said.

“Fuel prices are out of control, there’s no food on the shelves, the roads are cut off and there’s no way the services are getting to the people, especially in remote areas.

“I feel there’s no conversation between Far North Queensland and Canberra. I find our people aren’t being heard on infrastructure, economic development, health and services.

“I’m the guy, just like everybody else, sitting on the couch saying, ‘What are they doing, why are they not listening to us?’

“But I don’t want to be the person sitting on the couch any longer. I want to be person that’s stepping forward, and takes the voice of the people, the working and aspirational class people, to government.”

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Katter Australia Part leader Robbie Katter. IMAGE: News Corp

KAP Leader, Robbie Katter, said the party was “very happy to invest in a bloke that is home grown and in his own words ‘is interested in understanding community’ rather than interested in politics”.

“Too many people entering politics today are lured to the perceived status that comes with becoming a high-profile figure when what we really need are people focussed on improving their environment,” Katter said.

“Modern Australian politics has a vast oversupply of careerists and desperately needs people who are for change. Rod is an articulate person driven by desire to make a difference not to be popular.

“This places him in a unique opportunity with the KAP to deliver some change in direction for the Far North.”

Native title claim success for land around Cunnamulla

By HARRY CLARKE

TRACTS of outback Queensland land totalling 23,000 hectares have been formally recognised as belonging to its traditional custodians, following a successful native title claim first lodged eight years ago.

Federal Court of Australia judge Justice Sarah Derrington SC made the determination that the Kunja people were the native title owners for land along the Warrego River near Cunnamulla in the state’s south west.

Traditional owner Stephen Howarth (pictured) was among eight applicants representing the Kunja people in the claim. He said the determination would ensure his people’s culture and language continued to be passed down for generations.

“This native title determination is vitally important for our young people who need to connect to country because if they don’t our culture and our language will be lost,” Mr Howarth said.

“There are some First Nations languages and cultures that aren’t lost, they’re just asleep – and for us, this is an awakening.

“By recognising the Kunja People as the traditional custodians of the land, our language, identity and culture will be awoken in our young people.

“Our mob have been very resilient in this journey and sadly there are some who won’t physically be here to see this day. I hope they will be here in spirit.”

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Cunnamulla means “large water hole” in the traditional language of the Kunja people.

It was named after a stretch of the river now named Warrego, according to State Library of Queensland materials, and the Cunnamulla name was also adopted for a large pastoral lease during European settlement.

Traditional owner Maureen McKellar said the determination was a significant step forward for the Kunja People.

“Recognition of native title gives our Kunja People the right to negotiate on our country – it is about working together with graziers and others, and to build up those relationships,” she said.

The full judgment can be read here.

Kunja traditional owners Maureen McKellar, Gertrude Darrigo, June Derrick, Rhyannon Meredith, Stephen Howarth, John Barker, Diane Edwards and Julie Fox with Federal Court judgeSarah Derrington SC

Resources Minister Scott Stewart congratulated the Kunja people on the their efforts to achieve the milestone.

“The Federal Court formally recognises the Kunja People’s ancient rights and their undeniable connection to Country,” Mr Stewart said.

“I congratulate the Kunja People on reaching this significant milestone which will help ensure their traditions and values are respected and preserved for future generations.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Craig Crawford said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to acknowledging First Nations peoples as the traditional owners of the land.

“This landmark decision is the latest highpoint for truth-telling and reconciliation in this state,” he said.

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Native title is recognised over more than 535,000 square kilometres of land in Queensland, with almost 360,000 square kilometres currently subject to native title claims.

Minister Stewart said native title was vital to Queensland’s pathway towards reconciliation by preserving Indigenous culture, values, and traditions.

“Native title is now recognised in more than 30 per cent of our state – this demonstrates our government’s ongoing commitment to working alongside Indigenous Queenslanders to recognise their native title rights,” he said.

Kunja country on the Warrego River around Cunnamulla

Country race club makes its TAB television debut

Skyring Princes, trained by Garry Schwenke of Warwick, stretches ahead of Batangas Entry in the Onsite Chinchilla Class 3 Plate 1200M

By HARRY CLARKE

THE Chinchilla Race Club is celebrating the success of its first and long awaited TAB meeting, which saw the town host its highest standard of racing in living memory and make its television debut on the Sky Racing channel.

Punters across Australia tuned to watch the seven-race meeting which featured jockeys, trainers and horses from larger racing centres as far away as Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Ipswich, and plenty from Toowoomba.

Organisers were also pleased that close to 200 local racegoers turned up to the track despite the meeting being held on a Monday.

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(L-R) Former Chinchilla Race Club president Terry Stewart and current president Don Critch

“This is a real feather in the cap for past and present committees,” said Chinchilla Race Club president Don Critch.

“We’re all volunteers and we work hard out here to give back to racing and the town. Life members and previous committees should be very proud.”

The club benefited from a cash injection from TAB and Racing Queensland to host the meeting, but perhaps the biggest benefit was the exposure Chinchilla received from the national broadcast.

As the horses loaded into the barriers ahead of the first race, Sky Racing caller Anthony Collins said “it’s absolutely fantastic that towns such as Chinchilla and other country areas are getting their go”.

Chinchilla’s first TAB race meeting was broadcast to punters around Australia on the Sky Racing channel

Sky Racing presenter Kiaarn Holland broadcasting from Chinchilla

Collins’ colleague, Brisbane-based racing presenter Kiaarn Holland, was trackside in Chinchilla to carry out interviews and live crosses during the broadcast.

She said the recent rain made for a stunning setting to show Chinchilla racing off to the television audience.

“I was expecting a firm track, which is it underfoot, but I was pretty surprised at how good the grass coverage is,” Holland said.

“I was born and bred in the bush, so getting back to these country tracks is one of my favourite things to do. It’s so good to see them get exposure and TAB meetings. The punters are going to gauge a bit of interest.

“Hopefully it’s something that grows crowd-wise and gains a bit of momentum because country racing is everything. They’ve got a better vibe than at Eagle Farm on a Saturday.”

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SLIDESHOW

Former Chinchilla Race Club president Terry Stewart was part of the committee which first pushed to hold a TAB meeting and said he was thrilled to see the dream finally become a reality.

“We almost got a TAB meeting when the floods happened around the state in 2010-11,” Stewart said.

“We were on the shortlist because Rockhampton was flooded. I think that meeting went to Warwick and we’ve been on the hunt ever since.

“To get a TAB meeting for a country club is pretty much the pinnacle. It means that Queensland Racing sees us in a very good light and the facilities here are second to none for country track.”

Jockey Billie-Rose Andrew celebrates victory on Hostage of War in the Critch Automotive Open Handicap 1400M

Corey and Kylie Geran-trained Miss Jedi fought to win the Chinchilla Towing Maiden Plate 1400M ahead of Friend of God and Madame Tess

Mother’s pride and joy in country home town delivery

By HARRY CLARKE

THE mother of a newborn has shared her delight at having been able to give birth in her home town of Chinchilla, just weeks after the alarming story of a roadside delivery on the Warrego Highway shone a spotlight on the town’s lacking maternity service.

Lacee Luther and husband Beau welcomed their second son, Kove, into the world in an emergency delivery at Chinchilla Hospital on March 1.

The hospital’s struggling maternity service recently made headlines after another local mother, Yvette Bracefield, went public with her harrowing story of being forced to give birth on the side of the road at MacAlister in early January.

Ms Bracefield was unable to use Chinchilla Hospital’s only birthing suite because it had been turned into a COVID-19 ward which, at the time, had no COVID patients in it.

Her husband rushed to drive Ms Bracefield to Dalby, 80km away, but had to pull over for her to give birth before they could reach the town.

“It’s unacceptable that in somewhere like Australia a woman would have to give birth by the side of the road, and I think the mothers and babies in Chinchilla do deserve better,” Ms Bracefield told the ABC.

The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service has since restored the birthing suite to provide “maternity care”.

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***TALE OF TWO MOTHERS: (L-R) Lacee Luther, who have birth to Kove at Chinchilla Hospital, and Yvette Bracefield, who gave birth to Beatrix on the side of the road at MacAlister***

Ms Luther said she believed the roadside birthing incident was the reason she was able to have her emergency delivery in Chinchilla.

“In a way I think that lady’s misfortune was the only reason I was able to give birth here,” Ms Luther said.

“I’d planned to have my son Kove in Dalby but he arrived suddenly. Had that not happened to her (Ms Bracefield) and had it not been in the news, that might have been me giving birth on the side of the road.”

Ms Luther praised the nursing and midwifery staff at Chinchilla Hospital, saying she was “extremely happy with how it went” and “could not fault them in any way”.

She also said the fact that Kove was born in her home town was important to her and her family.

“We couldn’t have been happier, we had family close by, and the fact that he was born here makes us so proud, even just to have Chinchilla written on his birth certificate.”

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Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates and Callide candidate Bryson Head in Chinchilla

Ms Luther’s comments come as the Queensland Opposition this week visits Chinchilla and Bileola to call for improvements to rural healthcare and maternity service resourcing.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates and Callide candidate Bryson Head are holding talks with stakeholders in the local heath sector to hear about broad improvements needed in rural services.

“Some have been people who are former health administrators, some are people still working in the system, some are patients and all of them have one thing in common – they just want a health system that enables them to service them in their hour of need,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I don’t accept that there are places where mothers were able to give birth many decades ago, that they can’t today, and technology has improved and those places should be great places to live.

“I don’t accept that a mother living in a town the size of Chinchilla, and all it has to offer, should have to have “Warrego Highway” on the birth certificate of her precious little baby.”

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The Queensland Health Minister’s office has not responded to a query from the Caller sent via the Health Department.

A department spokesperson pointed to an announcement in December last year of a new Chinchilla Clinical Training Centre (CTC) being established to “teach the next generation of regional health care professionals” thanks to $718,000 from the Palaszczuk Government and the resources sector.

The infrastructure project will be delivered in partnership between the Queensland Government and Rural Medical Education Australia to create a health training hub for the Chinchilla, Tara and Miles communities.

“The Covid-19 health crisis has taught us the importance of having highly skilled healthcare workers across all of Queensland,” Infrastructure Minister Steven Miles said.

“The centre will provide health training to rural high school and mature age students to boost regional Queensland’s future healthcare workforce.

“Local face to face training facilities such as this one establish a sustainable source of scarce local health professionals, and provide a pathway to university health qualifications for local residents.

“Once completed, the Chinchilla CTC will include a seminar room with capacity for 30 students, a health ward simulation room, two office spaces and a breakout foyer with bathroom facilities.”

Country swimming club to celebrate 60-year history

By HARRY CLARKE

THE rattle of the old vintage camcorder and the sepia tone footage of professional springboard divers performing for the crowd tells a tale of summer fun and country town community now spanning six decades.

Footage taken of the official opening of Chinchilla’s public swimming pool, on the 13th of October 1962, has surfaced on YouTube as the local swimming club prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

CHINCHILLA SWIMMING POOL OPENING – filmed by Clem (C.C.) Allen

Many things have changed since that time – the sense of fashion, for one.

Sadly, anyone middle aged or older in the video has likely passed on. The children in the video are now grey haired. Some of their grandchildren have probably spent the summer playing in that same swimming pool.

There’s now an enormous, heated, 25m indoor pool in the area beside the main Olympic-size pool. The facility that was once simply called the Chinchilla Swimming Pool has taken on the fancy title of Chinchilla Aquatic and Fitness Centre.

And regrettably, skyrocketing insurance costs and modern society’s ‘wrap the kids in cotton wool’ mentality has meant those awesome diving boards have long been decommissioned, boarded up and deemed out of bounds.

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Scenes from Chinchilla Sharks Swimming Club meetings, held on Thursday nights for 60 years

But a visit to one of the usual Thursday night swimming club meetings shows that, pleasingly, many of the great elements of the Chinchilla pool remain very much intact, and ever present.

A crowd of energetic children, fuelled up on snacks, lollies and Gatorade from behind the kiosk, gather behind the deep end, laughing and playing as they wait for their races.

Their wiry bodies leap from the blocks and for the next 40-odd seconds their parents cheer them along from down on the concrete poolside or up in the timber grandstand.

As the swimmers touch the wall at the other end, another group of parents with stopwatches in hand are standing on the edge, leaning over to take the kids’ times and record their progress.

Parents and committee members, as always, taking times and recording the kids’ swimming progress

“The kids obviously get a great kick out of it but it’s also the committee,” says Jenny Bunting, patron of the Chinchilla Sharks Swimming Club.

“When you get a good committee and you work well together it’s a breeze and we really enjoy ourselves. It’s great.

“We get great support from the town and from sponsors. Whenever we need something you can always guarantee that somebody from the town will step forward and help.”

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The Chinchilla Sharks Swimming Club will celebrate its 60th anniversary next Saturday, March 26 in the Byrne Room of the Chinchilla Club Hotel, starting at 6pm.

Following the end of season presentation for the kids, there’ll be stories shared and memorabilia on display from throughout the club’s long and proud history.

“Anyone who has been involved in our club over the years is welcome to come along, catch up with old friends and enjoy stories from over the years,” said Chinchilla Sharks president Julieanne Bannister.

“All of the kids, committees and families have kept the club going strongly for such a long period. We’re really proud of the tradition in Chinchilla and it’s great to be able to continue this for years to come.”

Chinchilla Sharks Swimming Club president Julieanne Bannister and Jenny Bunting

Last chance to enter country photo competition

By JACINTA CUMMINS

WHETHER you’re a professional photographer or you’ve just been in the right place at the right time and snapped an amazing photo on your phone, the time is running out to enter this year’s Senex Energy sponsored Wandoan Photo Challenge.

With $5,500 up for grabs across three categories, Wandoan Photo Challenge coordinator Helen Golden said the level of entries had been encouraging and judges are waiting to see if the usual last-minute flurry occurs.

“Kids at Play and Adults at Play are all about showing that we play as hard as we work out here,” she said.

“We hope the photos will showcase not only the wonderful opportunities many of us take for granted but also all the different events we have from camel races to volunteer run playgroups which are the beating heart of our community.”

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Senex community relations manager Trevor Robertson said the ‘Play’ categories opened the competition up to a lot of newer entrants this year.

“Senex is delighted to support the competition which has become a standout for the community and some of the play images featured on the WPC’s social media accounts really do bring a smile to your face,” he said.

“We’ve seen photos from mums or dads, teachers and everyone in between and there’s no doubt that play brings a lot of joy to people who live in Wandoan or surrounds or are even just visiting!”

Wandoan Photo Challenge entry by Tania Baker

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There is also the Small Town, Big Country category for anything which isn’t play related. Although the Wandoan Show is cancelled, the competition will going online as it did during 2020.

Judge Paula Heelan will select her Top 30 shortly after entries close.

They will be displayed on the website where people can vote for their favourite to decide the People’s Choice winners.

Entries close in just two days at 11:59PM this Friday, March 18 with results announced at the Wandoan Bowls Club on Friday, April 1.

To enter visit www.wandoanphotochallenge.com.

Wandoan Photo Challenge entry by Jason Flexhaug

“Climate claim” will keep millennials keen on meat

By HARRY CLARKE

THE head of sustainability for one of the world’s largest meat processing companies says an industry-wide commitment to minimising its carbon footprint will be fundamental to remaining viable into the future and continuing to feed the globe’s growing population.

Ian McConnel is the director of international sustainability for Arkansas-based multinational Tyson Foods, which is the world’s second largest processor behind JBS and in 2020 ranked No.79 on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations by total revenue.

McConnel, who is also president of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, delivered the keynote address at the 2022 Protein Conference being hosted by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) in Dalby this week.

He said the biggest challenge for stakeholders in the world’s meat supply chain would be meeting the new age consumer’s growing demand for produce that has convincing sustainability and climate friendly credentials.

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“There is a lot of progress in protein sustainability that already exists but I’m not sure it’s in the right place in terms of actually creating value just yet,” McConnel said.

“I’m not sure the consumer likes modern agriculture, especially the way it’s being portrayed to them or the way we’re failing to communicate the gains we’ve made, especially around efficiency, safety and costs.

“The millennial customer, who is the largest customer for our beef, wants a climate claim more than any other claim.

“We’ve tried (calling the industry’s environment friendly efforts) “regenerative” and “sustainable”, but it’s “climate” and “carbon” that they want.

“They want it called that. They know that it’s the world’s number one issue. They want it called that and they want to be able to make informed choices on it.”

The annual TSBE Protein Conference in Dalby brings together stakeholders from across the beef, pork and poultry supply chains. IMAGE: MRP Images

McConnel said Tyson Foods had begun formulating metrics and indicators to measure an animal’s “quality of life”, and that conveying to consumers a high standard of animal welfare practices depended in improving worker training across the industry.

“We need to be able to measure animal welfare more accurately and more quickly in some pretty challenging scenarios in the beef industry,” McConnel said.

“In savannah lands across the gulf (of Carpentaria) and in Brazilian forests, we’re going to have to know that animals are being cared for because there is a growing global communication challenge for us around sustainability.”

Meeting the meat sector’s carbon emission reduction targets was also essential, McConnell said, with Tyson aiming to reduce its global net emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

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He said improving traceability and transparency was also necessary.

“If there’s a recall we’re able to trace backwards, but currently there’s no way to tell the story of our beef to our customer and to our markets,” McConnell said.

“What is required is transparency and traceability in a way that’s meaningful – to allow producers, when they put their animals in the feedlot, to say that it’s a 450kg Droughtmaster cross with two tonnes of carbon attached to it, with an improved water credit and a biodiversity credit.

“That’s the call to action.”

The TSBE Protein Conference is one of the only events in Australia which brings together stakeholders from across the pork, poultry, dairy and beef sectors.

It is held annually in Dalby. The wider Darling Downs region comprises 60 percent of Australia’s feedlot cattle and 80 percent of Queensland and NSW pork and chicken production.

The Labor candidate vying for the LNP’s strongest seat

By HARRY CLARKE

THE Australian Labor Party has announced Barcaldine local Dave Kerrigan as the party’s candidate for the seat of Maranoa in the upcoming federal election.

Maranoa, which covers Queensland’s vast south west spanning from Nanango in the east to Birdsville in the west, is the fourth largest electorate in the Australian Commonwealth.

It’s also the Liberal National Party’s strongest seat. Current MP, deputy National Party leader David Littleproud, secured 56 percent of Maranoa’s primary vote at the 2019 election and currently holds a 25.5 percent margin.

Mr Kerrigan has in the past made bids for government office at both a state and federal level. He ran against Mr Littleproud in 2016 and was Labor’s candidate for the Queensland seat of Gregory at the 2017 and 2020 elections.

Mr Kerrigan has spent four decades living in Barcaldine and works in rural health.

He said rural communities had been neglected under the Morrison Government and that more investment in manufacturing was necessary to keep local jobs.

“I put my hand up so I can deliver a better future for the people of Maranoa by making healthcare more accessible, creating secure jobs for locals, and investing more in education and skills,” he said.

MARANOA ELECTORATE / IMAGE: Australian Electoral Commission