13 JANUARY 1979 F79/ q
PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS AT CASTERTON RODEO
Mr. Chairman, my colleague Digby Crazier and Mrs. Crozier,
Shire President and Ladies and Gentlemen:
It certainly is a wonderful day to be having the State
Rodeo Championships in Casterton. I think it is a great
attraction for Casterton and surrounding districts.
A great deal of credit must go to APEX and all those who
have worked for APEX over the last five or six years
when they originally began the Casterton Rodeo, now ending
up as being the State Championships here.
It will put Casterton on the map as a rodeo centre and
I think that is a good thing.
There is quite obviously a very great effort gone into
organising the Championships and again all credit to
APEX and everyone who is involved in doing that.
I would like to congratulate the Casterton APEX Club.
I t%-hink those of us who live in country areas know very
well that the local service organisations of many
different kinds, of which APEX is one of the leaders,
adds greatly to the quality of life in their own community.
So again, our thanks to APEX on this occasion.
Today is a rare opportunity for politicians, because
Digby and I are going to be able to sit comfortably, or
at least I hope we are, while we can look all about and
watch other people losing their seats.
I would like to welcome riders from all States and from
New Zealand. Many of them will be at the World Rodeo
Championships in Sydney later this year. I think that is
fitting at a time when Australia's great rural industries
are starting to look forward to the future with more
confidence they have had for many years.
Spectators are going to be able to enjoy skilled
horsemanship today and this afternoon. These skills have
been developed because of Australia's great founding rural
industries. What happens here today is very much part of
Australia and it is going to endure for a long while.
Apart from recognising the skills of riders, I think it
would be a mistake not to make a mention of their mounts.
From horses such as these, that people see here today,
Australia's own horse the Australian Stock Horse, has
developed. This is a natural evolution I believe. It is
a horse bred often to meet the harsh climates of
Australia and of outback Australia. Originally called
the Whalers the first came from New South Wales and they
served Australia in peace and in war but there are now
40,000 registered stock horses in Australia and it is
under plan to publish the first Australian stock horse stud
book in about October, 1980. I think all of those who / 2
2
are involved in that particular movement in championing
the Australian stock horse also deserve a great deal of
credit. I think want we all want to see are some good events.
So again, I would like to thank all of those who have
been organising this afternoon and I have very great
pleasure in declaring these State Championships officially
open and I wish all the riders the best of good fortune.