Summary
Ian Winks, a long-time member of the Australian Bushman's Camp Draft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA), reflects on his extensive involvement in the rodeo and camp drafting community during a recent podcast interview. Winks, who served on the board for 30 years, discusses his early experiences with horses and the significant role they played in his life, including his fond memories of a horse named Tommy that taught him valuable lessons from a young age.
Winks shares insights into the evolution of the ABCRA, highlighting the introduction of the rectangular rodeo ring in Bollon, Queensland, which was well-received by the community. He emphasizes the importance of sponsorship and community support in sustaining local health services, particularly the Bollon Community Health Centre, which has been vital in saving lives over the years. His commitment to the community is evident as he recounts the collaborative efforts to raise funds for health services through rodeo events.
Throughout the conversation, Winks expresses pride in the friendships he has formed and the people he has met through the ABCRA. He notes the improvement in horse quality over the years, making camp drafting more accessible to a broader range of participants, including those outside traditional farming backgrounds. Winks concludes by reflecting on the significance of being a life member of the ABCRA, acknowledging the contributions of his predecessors and the lasting impact of the community on his life.
Show Notes
From riding horses as a young boy in Bollon, Queensland, to dedicating approximately 30 years to the ABCRA Board, Ian “Winksy” Winks has spent a lifetime contributing to campdrafting, rodeo and rural communities. In this episode, we sit down with ABCRA Life Member Ian Winks to reflect on his remarkable journey through the sport, the horses that shaped his life and the people who made it all worthwhile. Ian shares stories of growing up in western Queensland, competing on memorable horses including Clancy and Doc’s Legacy, and the dedication required to represent South West Queensland on the ABCRA Board for three decades. He also reflects on the important role rodeo and campdraft committees play beyond the arena, including how fundraising efforts in Bollon helped support essential healthcare services for the local community. From the evolution of Australian performance horses and the growth of the ABCRA to the friendships formed along the way, Ian offers a fascinating insight into the history of the sport and the people who have helped shape it. For Ian, the greatest rewards have never been the trophies or recognition, but the friendships, community connections and opportunities to give back. Join us for a conversation celebrating a lifetime of horses, service and the enduring spirit of rural Australia.
More from ABCRA Down The Road
At 95 years of age, John Stanton has a lifetime of stories to tell. Born into a family of horsemen, John’s connection to horses, campdrafting, rodeo and the Australian bush stretches back almost a century. His involvement with the ABCRA reaches back to its formative years, giving him a remarkable firsthand perspective on the people, horses and decisions that helped shape the Association. In this episode of Down The Road, host and country music artist Jake Whittaker sits down with ABCRA Life Member John Stanton to reflect on a life spent in the saddle. From learning alongside generations of respected horsemen and helping shape early competition rules, to establishing the Riders Register, winning more than 15 ABCRA Horse and Rider titles and representing Australian campdrafting in the United States, John has witnessed extraordinary change across the sport. But some of his greatest lessons are much simpler – understanding your horse, learning from your mistakes and knowing the importance of confidence, balance, rhythm and timing. As the ABCRA celebrates 80 years, John offers something increasingly rare: a living connection to the Association’s earliest history and a generation of Australian horsemanship that helped build the sport we know today.
More than half a century of campdrafting, countless memories and a contribution to the ABCRA that has helped shape the Association we know today. In this episode of Down The Road, host and country music artist Jake Whittaker sits down with ABCRA Life Member Fred Paterson. Fred has been a competitor, judge, administrator, President, mentor and Life Member, but his story has never been about titles or trophies. It’s about the horses, the people, the volunteers and the generations coming through behind him. From riding his first campdraft at just nine years old, to championing the creation of the ABCRA Junior Finals more than 40 years ago, Fred shares the stories and memories from a lifetime in the saddle.As the ABCRA celebrates 80 years, this is a conversation with one of the people who helped build its history. 🎧 Down The Road with Jake Whittaker – listen now.