2015 Cattle Station Trip – Week 5

Posted by Kent Saddlery

On April 29, 2015

Comments Off

Thorntonia, Camooweal, Barkly Downs, Soudan, Avon Downs and Lake Nash

Week 5 of Lyle and Helen’s journey in the Kent Saddlery truck saw them at Thorntonia Station, Camooweal (where they sorted mail and repacked the truck and attended ANZAC Day Service), Barkly Downs, Soudan Station, Avon Downs and Lake Nash Station.

Thorntonia

Thursday 23 April 2015

In 2014, Lyle and Helen Kent sat down with Lloyd and Wendy Hick and they shared a yarn. Read “Looking at the Horizon” here.

Thorntonia Station homestead – Thorntonia Station, Camooweal, North Qld

A smorgasboard for the horses near the Thorntonia yards Thorntonia Station, Camooweal, North Qld

Shayla and Riley McDonald, whose Dad is employed at Thorntonia Station, were keen to spend some of their pocket and gift money at the Kent Saddlery truck shop. Here they are equipped with fly veil and bull straps they’d purchased the night before.Thorntonia Station, Camooweal, North Qld

Cattle in yards – Thorntonia Station, Camooweal, North Qld

ANZAC Day – Dawn Service at Camooweal

Saturday 25 April 2015

Lyle and Helen were grateful to be able to attend the Anzac Day dawn service at Camooweal on the Qld/NT border. For a town that has a small population there was an encouraging attendance of 120 to 150 people at the service. In the pre dawn firelight, the event was made more meaningful with Brolga and Jacki Bishop from Gallipoli Station (most appropriate) brining a horse with a restored Lighthorse saddle to take part in the proceedings.

Lachlan Bishop holding the horse with restored lighthorse saddle.

“Brolga” – Wade Bishop (Manager of Gallipoli Station) and daughter Georgie Bishop
holding the horse with restored lighthorse saddle.

Tribule with Camooweal Town Hall in the background.

Barkly Downs

Sunday 26 April 2015

An afternoon rest for Barkly Downs cattle, North Qld

Stately trees at sunrise – Barkly Downs Station, North Qld

Sign for Barkly Downs Station, North Qld.

This “characterful” (!) old store store at Barkly Downs now serves as the workers Rec Room. Barkly Downs Station, North Qld

The Kent Saddlery travelling shop at Barkly Downs Station, North Qld

Soudan

Monday 27 April 2015

Sign on the gateway to the station complex at Soudan Station, North Qld

Soudan Station is literally right on the highway, West of Camooweal, North Qld, and the distinctive Steam Engine is an interesting landmark.

One of the satisfying and sometimes challenging tasks Lyle and Helen commit to at each cattle station visit is to take a group photo of everyone working at the station. We began taking these photos in 2001 and its become something of a ‘tradition’ during most station visits. It’s great to find a collection of these photos displayed in a rec room or kitchen/dining room. At Soudan the kitchen/dining room “Gallery” reveals a picture story of the many workers who have made Soudan Station their home, for a season, or longer. Soudan Station, North Qld.

Avon Downs

Tuesday 28 April 2015

See also 2014 article, “A Bit of Everything”, about Matthew and Tina Barrett, managers of Avon Downs, by clicking here.

Avon Downs sign at entrance to the station – Avon Downs Station, North Qld

It’s imperative that you ‘duck your head’ to get into the historic meat house at Avon Downs, North Qld

Rec Room at Avon Downs, North Qld

Lake Nash

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Sign to Lake Nash Station at the Station entrance – Lake Nash, NT

Stone lined driveway and office – Lake Nash Station, NT

The Station Photo Albums containing current and the two previous years’ station group photos are invariably a point of interest at each station visit – Lake Nash Station, NT