Cattle Show Team

The year got off to a flying start for our Cattle Show Team, having already attended a couple of agricultural shows in the local area including Coonabarabran and Baradine. 

Despite a major setback a month ago with the team’s much loved steer Frank injuring his leg, they managed to bring into the yards an Angus steer by the name of George.

‘George was donated by local cattle breeder, Anna Madden as part of the 2018 team, but he was too small at the time of Scone Beef.  It was perfect that he was here and we are most grateful to Anna because without him as a backup we would have had to cancel our Show plans. This would have been a major disappointment as it takes many months of preparation to be at a Show standard.’

Proving well suited to the arena, George quickly responded to being trained to lead, stand correctly for the judges and being groomed.  ‘He enjoys being handled and the pampering.’ laughed Mrs Gett. 

In Coonabarabran, team member Bryony Allen led George on behalf of the school in a class of 12 steers. Fellow junior leaders, Mackenzie Jones and Tori Stewart also led him in their individual age group events. Other junior members, Lucy Crutcher, Josie Galagher and Jordan Hayne led fellow steer Ferdinand in each of their junior paraders category.

The top three paraders from each age group (13 to 25 years) then competed against each other with 10 being selected to go onto compete in the State Paraders Final at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The team were thrilled to see Jordyn Hayne selected to compete in Sydney. A terrific achievement.  Jordyn will be one of six WWHS students taking the steers down to the Royal Easter Show for the six days of competition in early April.

‘Participating in the Sydney Royal is a major undertaking with training and planning starting many months before. It’s not a simple job and it’s something that needs real commitment from each of our Show Team members. I’m really proud of them and I enjoy seeing them grow and learn. They are each increasingly competent cattle handlers.’ Mrs Gett said.

‘We’ve been so lucky to have the community get behind our school and the Show Team like they have.  From Anna Madden helping us with George to Landmark a couple of years ago helping us buy a horse float to transport our steers to shows and Myona Charolais for their long standing partnership with our Show Team.  Each of them, along with other local businesses, have all helped us reach the standard we are now at and they have helped us with the extra resources we’ve needed to make a big goal like the Royal Easter Show a possibility.’

‘All of this is not lost on the team and when we are parading our steers in the Grand Parade on the Centre Arena, we will remember all of the people and local businesses that help make this goal possible. Particularly we’d like to thank the lower Namoi Cotton Growers Association, Cotton Australia and the Wee Waa Show Society. The Royal Easter Show would be an impossible feat without their sponsorship.’