ABOVE: Meet the Beef Week Queen entrants, Jesse Noll, Mackenzi Chadburn, Sarah Jones, Tayla Dawson and Tara Coles. Photos: Susanna Freymark
Susanna Freymark
There are five entrants vying for the Beef Week Queen crown this year. The winner will be announced at the Beef Week Gala Ball at the Casino RSM on May 21. Find out more about the Beef Week program and book a ticket for the ball.
Makenzi Chadburn, 19, from Casino
Makenzi works as a sales admin at First National in Casino.
She said, one day she’d love to be a real estate agent. She loves travelling – “everywhere” and recently returned from a two-week holiday in Tasmania.
She decided to enter the Beef Week Queen competition to be more involved in the community.
“My boss encouraged me.”
Makenzi is into having a body positive image.
“I’m a gym junkie, and I get up early every day to go to the gym.”
Her focus was on strength, not on being skinny.
Exercise gives her mental clarity.
Her favourite Beef Week event is the Beef Week Races.
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Tayla Dawson, 19, from Yorklea
Tayla is studying education at Southern Cross University where she hopes to graduate as a primary school teacher.
She works at Casino RSM club and is also a disability worker.
“I ride horses and show cattle.”
Tayla likes being in the outdoors and enjoys camping and 4WD driving.
She has been going to Beef Week since she was born.
“I like the involvement in the community and I want to share what I am passionate about.”
She is vice president of the Australian Gelbvieh Association. Gelbvieh cattle originate from Germany and are well known for their quiet and inquisitive temperament.
Tayla’s favourite Beef Week event is the jillaroo and jackaroo competition.
Tara Coles, 23, from Wyrallah
Tara is a mortgage broker and she entered the comp because it was such a good event.
“I want to show people what is in Casino and the paddock-to-plate (element).”
Tara has always been a part of the local shows and that includes Beef Week.
She plays soccer for Goonellabah Soccer Club. Tara also has an interest in politics and worked for two years at Parliament House for the Minister for Education and then spent another two years working in an electorate office. It is no surprise she’d like to be a politician one day.
She dreams of owning her own beef cattle farm with about 50 head of cattle. Her favourite Beef Week event is the Rural Ladies High tea.
Sarah Jones, 23, from Fairy Hill
Sarah said she has always loved Beef Week.
Entering the Queen comp is a way to be more involved.
Sarah is a supervisor at Woollies in Casino.
Her dream is to have her own place – either in this area or out west where she once worked on a sheep station.
“I like anything to do with animals – cows, horses, dogs.”
Sarah has six cats, three dogs and a horse.
Her favourite Beef Week event is the cattle showing.
Jesse Noll, 20, from Shannonbrook
Jesse was lured to the Queen comptition because she knows last year’s queen Brooklyn Handford.
“I watched her and saw her grow as Beef Week Queen.”
Jesse is a bartender at the Charcoal Inn in Casino. Her passion though is music.
“I’d love to follow in my family’s footsteps and have a career in music.”
Being the niece of Shannon Noll gives her a headstart.
“I follow him everywhere and get up on stage with him.”
Her greatest musical influence is her Dad who toured with Shannon Noll.
Jesse likes the country rock ‘n’ roll direction Uncle Shannon is taking.
Her favourite Beef Week event is the races.
The Beef Week Queen event is sponsored by Summerland Credit Union.
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