While I was looking for sheep to put in my ingenious ewe display at the Stanthorpe Show I opened a cupboard to discover two boxes of long forgotten photos.
Of course once I glanced at the first one I had to sit down and take a trip down memory lane. I find these trips quite emotional, as well as time consuming. Also in the cupboard I came across my late mother’s collection of mostly full miniature bottles, circa 1970-1990.
A full hour and a full bottle later I decided I had better get moving and load up these sheep for the show. There was just one thing – I needed a paddock or a set of yards for my sheep. In desperation, still having to yard the real sheep and cook dinner, I looked around and the first thing I saw was the green plastic washing basket! It could work. I needed to take my clothes and things to the show and for work the next day, so it could double up as a sheep paddock! Ingenious me.
I was truly organised for the show. The sheep were yarded by Thursday evening and the Land Cruiser backed up to the ramp ready to be loaded at 6am for a 6.30 departure. Up before the sparrows, and with the animals fed, Richie and I took a walk down to the yards as we had plenty of time, or so we thought. The first problem was a flat battery, so dear Richie ran back to the shed for the ute and some jumper leads.
That issue sorted, we proceeded to put the sheep in the crush in order for them to go up the ramp – easy enough. The next problem emerged when we discovered that the sheep absolutely refused to go up the small portable ramp, made for a trailer and not the high back of a Land Cruiser. We had to come up with Plan B. We decided to move a few panels and use the cattle loading ramp, and luckily this worked a treat although it was 7.15am by the time I hit the road!
At the Stanthorpe Show it was wonderful to catch up with Ange and Mark Davey from Springdale Aussie White Stud who are supporters of the show as well as trophy donors. The Champion Carcass at the show, just one from an impressive line on display, was from an animal sired by a ram they sold last year. The Springdale Annual Ram Sale is to be held in October this year and, judging by the quality of the sixteen-week-old lambs the Daveys brought in for their stud display at the show, there will be some cracker rams up for grabs.
Another Stud with some beautiful sheep on display was Graham Greenup’s Maryland Poll Dorset Stud. Big robust ewes had a mountain of milk and were doing an impressive job on their lambs at foot. The ability to lamb out of season must have been passed on through the Dorset Horn blood as Dorset Horn is the only British breed of sheep that can lamb anytime in the year – the other breeds all lamb in spring.
I also saw some Charolais cross lambs entered in the prime lamb competition – these were handy looking lambs too. They are quite rare in Queensland.
My own display for the Rare Breeds Trust consisted of Louis and Zig Zag, the very popular Damaras. I felt they were the most looked at and talked about sheep in the display.
I got a shock when I heard myself scream as I am just not a screamer. I was going out to the verandah last night as I had left my book there when I felt something latch onto the back of my leg – the scream was involuntary! It took me only a few seconds to realise it must have been a frog as it was a sort of a wet feel. I didn’t actually see it but it must have got as much of a fright as me!
I have been saying for a while that I didn’t think Dora would be long for this world. She loves putting her nose down holes and pouncing on things in the long grass so I didn’t think she had any snake sense at all. Two events this week made me realise that I am not as smart as I like to think I am, but Dora is!
I was alerted to her barking out near the clothesline and she hardly ever barks. As I went out to investigate something moved in the grass and I could only assume it was a snake, so she knows the difference between lizards or snakes and mice. I also had never heard Dora bark when anyone arrived at the house but last night she barked as a car pulled up outside. Zorro would have been proud of her!
The next thing, though, is what Richie observed when he was on the way up to the house. I had let Dora off when I got home from work and I was inside making dinner. Normally, Dora would make her way into the house via the back door or verandah doors, however, I had both of these shut. Richie saw her circle back from the verandah and scratch the door but when it wouldn’t open she reached up and pawed the handle!
I am starting to get organised to attend the Heavy Horse Festival in Allora on 18 and 19 March with a Rare Breeds Trust display. I believe it is going to be a huge event so I am taking about eight breeds of sheep plus a couple of pigs. My good friend Mari from Warwick has offered to help, as well as Linda, a new RBTA member from Toowoomba.
The very popular Zig Zag will be attending, along with his sidekick, Loui. I have been tossing up the idea of having a “guess the tail size” competition. Zig Zag draws crowds of people that can’t believe the size of his tail. Damaras are not thought of as big sheep but comparing our big Texel wether Chickie with Zig Zag they are much the same size. In their prime I would estimate their weight at around 80kg though they are both old now and starting to become a little bit gaunt.
That’s about it for this week. I hope everyone is coping with the hot weather – I am looking forward to autumn!
