Gold coins combined with blue shirts to raise money and awareness of bullying at Jundah on Saturday for the second-last event in the Outback Barrel Horse Circuit before the finals.
Now in its third year of operation, the group dedicated the proceeds of nominations for a bending race and a feature men’s barrel race, as well as a pass the hat around to the Dolly’s Dream Foundation.
According to organiser, Jolene Seeds, the topic of bullying really hit home among the fraternity because Amy “Dolly” Everett was a bush kid and a young horsewoman like themselves or someone they know.
“Bush kids are known for their resilience, confidence and purity and what a painful reminder this has been that we need to encourage and foster a supportive and kinder place in which we live as even they can feel the blow from a torrent of bullying,” she said.
“Please have that conversation with your loved ones, and please always strive to build up each other young or old cowgirl or cowboy in and out of the arena.”
The group, which began in November 2014, is going from strength to strength according to Jolene, with lots of new members joining the ranks.
Some 32 nominations were received at Jundah, lower than usual but put down to being the weekend before school started for the year.
Jolene said the divisional concept, whereby competitors are placed into divisions based on time splits in their initial run, paid out 16 times every weekend and meant everyone was in line for a decent prize.
So far this season, competition has been held at Isisford, Blackall, Augathella, Longreach, Stonehenge, and Tambo, with an event at Aramac to come on February 17 before the finals at Barcaldine on March 3.
“The kids have been improving so much,” Jolene said. “They are giving us a run for our money.”
There will be $13,000 in prizemoney for the finals.