On 11 and 12 April, Helen Kent’s Stories of Australian Country People was officially unveiled in Broome during the two-day Beef Up forum presented by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Kimberley and Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association.
The Beef Up forum, a two day conference featuring innovation workshops for pastoralists in the Kimberley, attracted approximately 100 pastoralists and associated businesses to attend, so it was an ideal opportunity to launch “Stories of Australian Country People” in the Kimberley region. Media covering the launch included ABC Kimberley Radio, The Broome Advertiser, and The North West Star Newspaper (Pilbara/Karratha region).
Special guest at the Beef Up forum, Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said, “It’s great to see the launch of the book. It profiles true country people and outback Western Australia and these are people who have historically done it very tough, but there’s huge opportunities there as well, and they’re the first ones to embrace opportunities.”
Kent Saddlery representative Sally Courtney made a speech about Lyle and Helen Kent and how “Stories of Australian Country People” had evolved, and donated a copy of the book to be drawn and given away. Kevin Bell from the Department of Agriculture won, and was thrilled with his prize. Lynette (“Jim”) Craig of Sophie Downs Station, East Kimberley, WA, who is one of the people featured in the book, drew the winner.
Sally Courtney commented, “The book was very well received…. many made comments about the quality and presentation of the book, and the photography included in it. People were impressed by the range of people featured in the book, as it includes all kinds of people working in the bush.”
Approximately eight families from the Kimberley and Pilbara regions are featured in “Stories of Australian Country People”.
Pictured above: Sally Courtney presenting the book to winner Kevin Bell, alongside Lynette (“Jim”) Craig who drew the prize.