ABOVE: Colleen and Murray McQueen at their farm in Old Bonalbo.
Susanna Freymark
On a sprawling 20 hectares in Old Bonalbo, with stunning views of Mt Billy, Colleen and Murray McQueen watch two new foals frolic in the green paddocks.
Murray was born in Bonalbo.
They have lived at the Old Bonalbo farm for seven years.
When their daughter Kirby was 14 years old, she told her parents she wanted to ride.
Colleen had been into horses when she was younger and bought her first quarter horse when she was 15.
“I was brought up on horses,” Colleen said.
She hadn’t ridden for 25 years.
Once back in the saddle with Kirby, she changed the focus of the farm.
The McQueens started to get more horses. They showed them and bred them.
Glenarthon Stock Horses now has buyers from Northern Territory, North Queensland and local buyers who pay $4000–$6000 for a weanling.
For four years Colleen has run the Glenarthon Stockman’s Challenges and for the first time it will be held at the Mallanganee Showground in October.
The auction for the event was held online this year and raised $8000 for two causes.
Some of the money will go to four year old Tommy Johnston who has Niemann-Pick Disease. His family and grandmother live in Bonalbo.
“We were so worried when we found out he had been flown to Brisbane in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter on Monday after a reaction to getting a fever,” Colleen said.
The other cause is Riding for Abbie. Abbie had a horse accident when she was 10 and needs financial support for her medical needs.
“We’ve known Abbie since she was a baby,” Colleen said.
At the Stockman’s Challenges on Sunday, October 2, there will be another mini auction including bidding for a full day of work from two carpenters.
“I just love doing the challenge,” Colleen said.
Her aim is to raise $10,000.
“We’re almost there,” she said.
The challenge is open to anyone who can ride. All skill levels are welcome.
Check out the Facebook page – go to Colleen McQueen or Glenarthon Stock Horses for more information.
Glenarthon Stockman’s Challenges is at Mallanganee on October 2–3.
Registrations close Friday, September 23. Call Colleen on 0429 334 041 or email glenarthonstockhorses@hotmail.com
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