James came into this world on the 5^th March 1996 (a beautiful bundle of joy), in the Roma Hospital and grew up at Wirilla Winton. He was always just a happy boy and his love for animals started from a very young age. His first pony was Crystal (a Shetland) and then he went up in size to Pete (Welsh) and anything else that he could possibly get on. The photo below of him on the black horse was when they were both about 4 and James got him over to the fence and just climbed aboard. He first cantered unaided at 18 months on Crystal and it snowballed from there.

He got great enjoyment out of riding with other kids and sharing the joy of their achievements. By the time he was 5 he had found his love, Poppy, a plain little bay mare, they did everything together, along with his fox-terrier dog Trixie. James competed in mini camp drafts, gymkhanas and shows and used to saddle up on his own and go get the milkers in and chase pigs, sheep or anything he could round up. Because of James love for horses and enjoyment of helping other children ride, I felt the need for this award at the Show, to encourage all our fantastic local children to ride and enjoy the love of horses.

Tragically we lost James from this world on the 26^th December 2001.

Words by Margie Elliott.

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 Grandmothers 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 BurdekinBridge between Charters Towers and Townsville. Loaded into the Landrover, 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 tho 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.

Tania was a staunch supporter of the Winton Show. Tania loved her Handicraft and took great pride in her quilts, also offering her time throughout the show week preparing sections of the pavilion throughout the years. Tanias other love at the show was the horses and especially the pony/children’s section. She would never fail to help in the horse ring when needed and in Tania’s words, I help as long as I am in the Kids Ring.

Bob came to Winton from the Mitchell area in 1957. He drew a block on the Diamantina River and subsequently named it Tibourie. At nineteen years old his dream of becoming a cattle producer was soon realized, the land and stock becoming his major focus and passion. This property was the beginning of a long and successful life in the pastoral industry.

After fulfilling the conditions of his lease, he blended into the community and soon became aware of the need to assist in events in and around Winton. Among others, the Winton Pastoral and Agricultural Society became one of his favourite attractions. 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.

Ian was a humble, generous man with a massive appetite for work. He had a vision, amazing stamina and was a true quiet achiever. Ian was not afraid to share his ideas and great knowledge of the land to inspire others around him.

Over the years he exhibited wool at the Winton Show. When the Show committee decided to hold a Led Steer & Heifer Spectacular in 2005, a Cattle Club was established to give Winton kids the chance to learn and participate in the preparation and showing of led cattle. Ian very generously donated six Santa Gertrudis heifers and feed to the Cattle Club. Later, at the Show that year, the heifers were auctioned and all proceeds were donated to local community groups or charities.

After Ian’s death in 2008, a memorial award was established by his family.

John OConnell came to Camara with his wife Jean and their five young children in December 1959. He was passionate about sheep and wool and at that time Camara ran mostly sheep and only had a handful of cattle. He maintained his owner classer wool stencil until his death in 1994 and used it every year when we shore the lambs and rams. He loved the Winton Show and enjoyed the camaraderie of the working bees, and said that it was hard to get on the committee early on because there were more people available than vacancies on the committee. He was the Chief Steward of the Sheep section for many years and had a lot to do with the Show Wether Production Trial which bolstered the wool section and the Shows finances as well. He had a quilt made from broad ribbons won by Camara sheep and wool at the Winton, Hughenden and Muttaburra Shows. It was a standard joke every year as Mr OC and I headed to the Show AGM, Mrs OC would shake her fist at him and say don’t you dare become the Show President! He became president of numerous district associations but he only became Chief Steward of the Sheep Section of the Winton Show!

Clint Tucker Laffin was extremely passionate about his birds and poultry; breeding and showing them. Clint was very competitive as he travelled around the Central West Show Circuit. He always came away pretty pleased with his winnings and didn’t mind letting everyone especially other bird enthusiasts know how he went. Kim and the kids, on the other hand, weren’t as enthusiastic because they had to hold the poultry, mad roosters included, while Clint shampooed, blowdried and manicured them. Clint’s parrots were his pride and joy, in particular the Ring Necks and Alexandrines.

Rosemary Bryce moved to Colston in the Winton area in the early 80s when she married Ross Bryce. They had two children, Malinda and Michael. Rose was always a keen supporter of the Winton Show especially the cooking section and she most often won Champion Cake with her legendary sponge. Rose made these celebration sponges for many family and other occasions and there was never a flop, they where always perfectly risen and golden! She once commented to me that, if she dies, people would only remember her for her sponge cake, nothing else. Rose sadly and unexpectedly passed away in February 2000 and it wasn’t long after that a suggestion was made that a memorial award be given for the Champion Cake each year at the show in her honor. At first I was very reluctant, her words ringing in my ears. I did agree after a while, the suggestions having been made with all god intentions, but I also decided that it would bring her to the minds of people at that time every year, and bring comfort in her remembrance to her family. If she doesn’t like it… well that’s what she gets for being such a good cook!

Barbara lived in the Winton district for over 52 years. The Howard family moved into Winton in 1980 when the family purchased the Winton Newsagency.  Barb was actively involved with many committees during this time including the Winton Pastoral & Agricultural Show Society Inc., where she was Cookery Steward till 2009. In 2010 the Winton Show started the memorial trophy for her in the Special Occasions cake section supported by her children.

Mildred Lenton as she was known, was involved in the Handicraft side of the Winton Show for many years; either helping or entering many of her own Handicraft items. She was known in her family for making many different items from cross-stitch to teddy bears. Mildred was awarded an OBE for her services to the Community and Methodist Church.

Margaret (Mag) Wooderson was born in Longreach in 1907 and moved to Winton with her family a few years later where she lived until her death in 2000.

She is best known for her dress shop Woodersons Frock Salon which was situated in the North Gregory Hotel building. It was the first business to be established in 1955 in the newly completed hotel. Her dress shop provided many a Show Ball or Show day outfit and she continued to run it until 1980, when she retired after selling the business to Tracy and Barbara Hardy.

Her house in Vindex Street had a dedicated room for an art studio and she liked to dabble in art. Mag was always a keen supporter of youth, and this was one of the reasons that prompted Jeff Close and Bente Moller to establish the memorial awards in 2001.

Tania was a staunch supporter of the Winton Show. Tania loved her Handicraft and took great pride in her quilts, also offering her time throughout the show week preparing sections of the pavilion throughout the years. Tania’s other love at the show was the horses and especially the pony/children’s section. She would never fail to help in the horse ring when needed and in Tania’s words, I help as long as I am in the Kids Ring.

Chris retired to Winton in 1990 with her husband Ray. She almost immediately become heavily involved in community groups, such as QCWA and Lionesses. She also loved preparing and entering into the local show, every year. Putting entries in numerous cooking sections as well as handicraft. Which included knitting, sewing, jigsaws and dressing her vintage dolls.  She went on to become a pavilion volunteer, taking the week prior to the show to help set up the various sections. Then went onto become the Steward of the handicraft section, here she was in her element and really enjoyed the task. In the 2018 following her passing the family sponsored a Memorial Aggregate Trophy for the handicraft section in her name.

Joan Little (ne Smuksta) was born in Chicago in 1943, later moving to California. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Long Beach City College, then travelled extensively, meeting and falling in love with John Little in Europe and later marrying him. She taught in Townsville for a few years, before settling at Lanifer, Winton in 1970.

Always trying different arts and crafts (her daughter Tina remembers wood burning, enamel jewellery, pottery, watercolour painting, sewing and embroidery), she had a love of photography and donated her time to teach classes each week at StPatricks School in Winton. Joan was always a keen supporter of the Show, with entries in a multitude of sections (chooks in the Poultry Pavilion and cooking, gardening, art and photography in the Main Pavilion). Joan passed away in 1987 after battling breast cancer and is remembered as a beautiful person with a cheerful outlook on life.

Nat loved preparing for the Winton Show; she would take the week off work to go and organise her sections. Nat’s love was the Art Section and she would take great pride in writing the cards up in her beautiful calligraphy handwriting. Nat started helping in the School section of the Pavilion in the early 1970s.