Cattlemen in Pearls launched in fine Ekka style...

Hayley Webster, Monto with her mother Louise Joyce, Gyranda, Theodore. Louise Staines, Southbrook with Sonya Greenup, Rosevale, Jandowae. Leigh Schmidhauser, Sian MacPherson and Jo Howard, all from Brisbane. Auctioneer Sarah Packer, TopX, Roma, gets the charity auction bidding underway. Ruth McMullin, Melbourne, Julie Farinazzo, Brisbane, Megan Croese, Brisbane, Diana von Vivenot, Brisbane. Louie Wyatt, Brisbane with Sarah Hughes, Tumbar Station, Jericho. Tracey Hartmann, Boonah was one of the authors and project manager of Cattlemen in Pearls, and is with Paula Heelan, Geham, another one of the authors, and Robin McConchie. Amanda Salisbury, Eidsvold was another of the authors involved in Cattlemen and Pearls, and Mary Lewis, Inverrio, Duaringa, was one of the subjects, and Annabelle Brayley, another of the authors involved. Victorian, Joyce McConnel was a subject in Cattlemen in Pearls and is with Anne Galloway, Cootharaba Beef Genetics, Roma, who along with her husband Ian published Cattlemen in Pearls. They are with the original painting painted by Sandra Allen that was used for the cover of Cattlemen in Pearls. Mrs McConnel bought the painting in a charity auction for $2600.Ann Britton, Goodwood, Boulia, with her daughter Claire Brittton of Mudgeacca, Boulia. Claire is also a subject of the book. A group shot of all involved with Cattlemen in Pearls. Carolyn Hood and Tracy Henderson, both of Brisbane.Two more ladies with interesting stories told in Cattlemen in Pearls, Annabelle Wilson, Samari Plians, Surat, with Margaretta Morgan, Auribal, Condamine. The creative team that bought the Cattlemen in Pearls project together, (back row) Elspeth Barker, Roma, Paula Heelan, Geham, Annabelle Brayley, Morven, Claire Mactaggart, Duaringa, (front row) Tracey Hartmann, Boonah, Jane Thomas, RNA, Anne Galloway, Roma, and Bev Ryan, Brisbane. Alison Atkinson, Rockhampton is also a subject in Cattlemen and Pearls, and is with her proud daughters, Sherri Philp, Gayle Shann and Kylie Graham.

Cattlemen the world over, be they men or women, recognise and embrace the stock management and marketing skills of others. 

And the book, Cattlemen in Pearls, started out as just an idea by Ian and Anne Galloway of Cootharaba Beef Genetics,  to give public recognition to some of the unsung heroes of the bush – our women.

“We had a wonderful team of five authors, Annabelle Brayley, Tracey Hartmann, Paula Heelan, Claire Mactaggart, and Amanda Salisbury, all of whom are country women and took on their role with such enthusiasm,” Anne said. 

Anne said they made a list of 28 cattle women, last November.

“We wanted to launch this book at the Ekka, and we didn’t want to give our authors a big work load,” she said.

“A lot of these women were people that Ian had grown up with, plus there are a lot of younger women coming through the ranks and we thought they needed to be acknowledge. 

“All Ian and I really wanted, was for these stories to be documented, as they all are different and have vitally and we didn’t want these ladies lost in history.” 

“Our niece Tracy Hartmann was one of the authors, and she did a brilliant job a the project manager, while Bev Ryan was the editor, and Elspeth Barker the graphic designer.”

“We wanted an abstract front cover, and it was painted by  Roma artist Sandra Allen.” 

Anne said the project has been a dream to work on, and the finished product is far more than they imagined.

“It is a beautiful book, and Ian an I have got so much satisfaction in knowing we have made some families very happy,” she said.

The book was launched by ABC Landline presenter Pip Courtney at the Ekka High Tea Charity Fundraiser. The fundraiser focuses on helping and educating rural youth, by raising funds to support the teaching and learning program of three western Queensland Schools of Distant Education; otherwise known as the Western Alliance. 

The event also showcased an Ekka Fashion Parade, as well as traditional High Tea, Silent Auction and Raffle. 

The book is available through the Cattlemen in Pearls Facebook page and retails at $40/copy.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cattlemeninpearls