Rosie is dedicated to supporting the Winton Show Society and has been involved in every event since its inception in 1954 and rode in the show competing with top-ranking horses and riders for many years. Win or lose Rosie always showed the best horsemanship and got the best of every show. Rosie had two children and was pregnant with third child John for this first show in 1954. Her father, Harry Rogers-Davidson.

Taught her how to prepare for showing events and took her to Pike Bros to get outfitted. Harry as a young 14 year old, had experience in showing horses and passed this onto his three children Dick, Rosie and Robin all great horse people and involved in the industry. Later Rosie and Philippa (youngest daughter) attended riding schools in Julia Creek which was probably Mums only formal training. There was a lot of effort involved in logistics, livestock breeding,training, preparing and developing childrens skills in schoolwork, writing, cooking, riding and livestock.

The road was dirt and it was 80 miles and horses and training and grooming had to be fitted in with all the other work which was extensive on Wanora Downs. These horses were straight from the paddock (not stabled) and main preparation was to teach them how to load on a truck and keep them fit and rug them two or three days before the show to smooth their coats.

I can remember Mum doing the washing in the middle of the night after attending to the animals and children so she could make sure everyone and thing were ready for the show the next day. Mum was never late. Rosie’s sister Robin used to time her annual visits to her father Harry and mother Winsome to coincide with the Winton Show so she could see Rosie and cheer her on at ringside. The year she was awarded Champion Shire Hack was one of Rosie’s husband John’s proudest moments he didn’t say much but his face said it all! We are not sure of the date Rosie last competed on a horse, but it is only recently that she has stopped going out in the

Sometimes freezing, dusty and uncomfortable weather to assist as steward. Not sure how many years she was a steward. Now at 90 years of age, she is still there assisting in whatever way possible, even if it is just as a spectator and she still enters in the cooking sections and often brings home a prize.

Mrs Ron Axford nominated Rosie Archer nee Rogers-Davidson to become a life member and that year she lead the Parade on her horse Captain.Rosie was really chuffed (almost emotional) when the Show Society presented her with a beautiful photograph of her on her
favourite horse Captain. Other favourite horses were Tammy a little Galloway, Timmy, Blossom, Bluebell and Frostie. Rosies family and many other families have ribbons and memories of trips to the show and the side shows and meeting new friends or catching up with old friends.

The Show ball was also a big event. The Winton show is a huge fun event for many Winton families and has contributed to developing many young lives, Rosie’s six children entered the show when old enough.
She also supports other organisations including the Pony Club for the young ones who I am sure aspire to enter in the show. Contributed by: Mary Webb, April 2017

Beth’s love of horses began as a young girl with her train driving father dropping her off in paddocks full of horses outside of Rockhampton to walk through them to her Grandmother’s place. In her teenage years Beth worked as a Governess at Blue Range Station, outside of Charters Towers.  The Cores were a big horse family who encouraged her to camp draft with the family. This is when Beth made the cover of Hoofs and Horns as a talented rider on the camp draft scene.

In 1959 Beth married Ron Axford another big horse person, so the love of horses just got bigger! During 1960 Beth purchased her first Shetlands that she and Ron saw grazing next to the road at the Burdekin Bridge between Charters Towers and Townsville. Loaded into the
Land Rover, Pedro and Princess were taken home to go alongside many plant, pack and race horses. In 1970 Ron and Beth moved to Wooroora Station Ravenshoe, in North Queensland, growing their love of horses
together with their three boys. They added a Palouse Pony Stud, Thoroughbred Stud, Shetland Pony Stud as well as dozens of plant horses for mustering.

At this time they were show goers, promoting their horses in the Led in Classes, Western Pleasure, Stockman Challenges and many fancy dress events. In 1980 Ron and Beth moved to Winton. Beth soon became largely involved with the Winton Show, becoming Chief ring steward for the horse events for a number of years, until becoming President in 1998. During that time she continued to breed many Shetlands under the Wooroora Shetland Stud banner at Kywong Station, between Winton and Muttaburra. Her Shetlands were sold all over Queensland from Sunshine Coast to Georgetown and as far out as Bedourie Hotel, but there were always some available for the Locals.

Many of Beth’s horses were sent into Winton to be broken in by Bill and Rhonda Heslin and kids. Often any other kid in sight could be seen riding these very quiet ponies around the streets, or just to go and get an ice cream or drink, before the ponies were eventually sent off to their new homes.  It made Beth proud to see her Shetlands all around town, giving kids rides at fetes, kids learning to ride at Pony Club and even having a Shetland Pony Steeple Chase at the Winton Show in 1991. Beth’s love of horses was for all horses big and small. When you added kids to that it really filled her heart with happiness, and being part of the Winton Show Society just came naturally.

He was a committee member for many years and worked as a volunteer, mainly in the Cattle Section. Being a strong competitor, he nominated his cattle in most sections. Nothing made him prouder than being successful and worked harder to improve the quality of his cattle for subsequent Shows.

Bob chose to become an ongoing sponsor for the Cow and Calf section until his death in 2017. Throughout his membership of the WPAS, Bob was a volunteer,a committee member, served one term as Show President, and was bestowed with Life Membership.

Over the years they made their home at different properties, as their family and cattle business grew. It was while living at Amelia Downs, Winton, that Roslyn became aware of the need to join the Winton Pastoral and Agricultural Society with the view to becoming a volunteer. She worked mostly in the Pavilion area, particularly in the Art and Photography sections.

It was a good way to get to know people and contribute to the community, as well as getting a break from work on the property. Both Roslyn and husband, Bob, were strong supporters of the Winton Show, as volunteers and exhibitors and both served in the role of President. Roslyn was President from 1990-1992, and later was awarded Life Membership. Looking back on her involvement with the Show, Roslyn says that volunteering for the Show was a rewarding experience as she saw her efforts were of benefit to her community.

The 1960s was a mixed-up decade with one of our worst droughts in 1965 and the next few years were not very good either and interest started to decline. I mainly worked in the ring and the sheep section at that time. The 1970, 1971 and 1972 shows were cancelled and a special meeting was called in November 1972 to try and start again. I accepted the nomination for a Vice President position and took on the job of Chief Wool Steward even though I had never worked in the section. Fortunately, a couple of men who had helped me out.

It was during my term that I suggested we add a class to the schedule creating a District Class as I realised that our district wool was finding it hard to compete with other wool from the other Central West shows. I note that it is still part of the schedule. It was somewhere around this time that John OConnell, Charlie Phillott and myself constructed the steel sheep yards. Unfortunately, they are hardly used now but there was a lot of work involved in building them. I was elected President in 1976 to 1978. and continued to work in the wool section.

The next project was assisting in the building of the shed to house the Ring Section materials, thus freeing up the main pavilion for the ladies. Before the shed was built all movable items were stored in the pavilion and had to be shifted out a week before the show and put back late at night after the show before we could approach the bar. I actually ran the bar a couple of times too but eventually due to disability problems had to ease off and gradually retire from it all and concentrate on enjoying them. Elinor.

I actually joined the committee in 1972 but had helped in the pavilion for some time before that. Before the men built the shed it was impossible to prepare the pavilion for the show asall the stuff for the ring was stacked in there. There was a
working bee on Sunday before the show to remove it all and put the cabinets etc in place and of course, it had to be hosed out before that could be done.

It was somewhere around 1976 that I took on the job of Chief Pavilion Steward which I held for a few years and was followed by the position of Trophy Steward. My job was to select trophies for all the sections. I always enjoyed exhibiting in the shows and taking an interest in all the other sections. I was nominated and accepted the Presidents Position in 1982, 1983 and 1984. I was the first female President for the Society and was greatly supported by the Committee. In those days there were more helpers which took some of the load off the President and gave the President more time to enjoy meeting up with judges and visitors from other regions.

John and I have both witnessed the vast improvements to the showgrounds since we first became involved. These improvements such as the Bar area and paving etc and the Ring and cattle facilities have greatly added to the running of the show. John vividly remembers working in the bar when the stubbies were kept in a trough full of ice in the middle of winter!! Submitted by John & Elinor East.

John took on the role of Chief Ring Steward and later became one of the vice-presidents when there were two of those positions to be filled on the committee.? He was President of the Show Committee from 2002-2005, and again from 2013-2018. At a Sub Chamber level, John held the roles of Vice-President and then President of the Central & Northwest Sub Chamber during the years 2016-2019. It was during this time in 2017 that the Central & Northwest Showgirl, Claire Jackson, went on the win the State Showgirl competition for the first time in its history. The following year, in 2018, Mikaela?Tapp, repeated the result.

For John, some memorable events include the introduction of the Led Steer classes and associated Winton Cattle Club, initiated by Craig & Judy Sanders in 2005. This created great interest and involved many people, especially children, and has added a valued dimension to Winton Show. The TopX Steer Trial held in 2016-2017 was a competition that created a lot of interest and was well supported by local producers and a range of sponsors. John was awarded Life Membership of the Winton P&A Society in 2019. From a committee perspective, John has been very appreciative of the supportive executive members over the
years. Often operating with limited resources, the Show Committee has volunteered their time to continue the Winton Show tradition.

Professional entertainment such as the Rooftop Express, the Reptile Kingdom and Sideshow Alley, have been a part of the Show in recent years. It has been very rewarding for John to be a part of continuing an event that the first Winton Show committee started in 1954. Submitted by John & Katrina Paine.