Tully Horse Performance Centre galloping forward
The Tully Horse Performance Centre have been successful this year with two grants worth nearly$15,000.
THE Tully Horse Performance Centre is well on its way to becoming a one-stop-shop for all horse and cattle events in the district after undergoing major improvements thanks in part to two grants from the Federal Government.
The equestrian centre received a volunteer grant of $5-thousand to buy maintenance items for its facility including mowing and weed spraying equipment; latches and chains for the new arena; portable panels, kitchen items and other items that are usually paid for out of volunteers’ pockets.
The Centre also received $8,933 from the Stronger Community Program for earthworks, materials and surface sanding for their all-purpose equestrian arena, which means all types of events can now be held safely including dressage, jumping, western performance, challenges, cutting, team penning and camp drafting.
President Geoff Smith said the Tully Horse Performance Centre worked with Kennedy MP, Bob Katter and his office, to apply for the grants.
“We are very thankful to Bob’s office for facilitating the grants process and assisting us,” he said.
“Our vision is to develop our equestrian centre to be able to hold all horse and cattle events in the district.
“We formed the group six years ago, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are three quarters of the way to achieving our vision. If we can get our new toilet block built and a cut-out pen constructed, then we will be very close.
“We are trying to be able to hold any sort of event there that the community may need. Even though the Centre is primarily designed for horse and cattle events, we will be able to do markets, car rallies and camping etc. We are more than happy to host those sorts of events.”
The club has more than 100 members and has hosted events with more than one-thousand participants with people travelling from as far as Bundaberg, Clermont, Mackay and the Cape. Other community groups such as the North Queensland Western Performance Horse Club, use the venue regularly.
Kennedy MP, Bob Katter, recently toured the Tully Horse Performance Centre and he said it has many exciting possibilities.
“The Ingham rodeo pulled in over two or 3,000 people on the weekend, and whilst equestrian events may not be quite as big, they have great potential. I can see thousands of people enjoying the Tully Centre,” he said.
“When people think of coastal North Queensland, they think of the sugar cane industry, but I would estimate that one in every ten cane farmers has a cattle operation as well. When I think of a North Queenslander, I think of a man with a cane knife or axe in his hand, or a man on a horse.
“This facility epitomises and preserves our unique North Queensland culture. I congratulate all involved.”
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