Centre riding high with cash injection
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 $5000 to buy maintenance items for its facility, including mowing equipment, latches and chains for the new arena, portable panels and kitchen items.
The centre also received $8933 from the Stronger Community Program for earthworks, materials and surface sanding for its allpurpose arena, which means all types of events can now be held safely including dressage, jumping, western performance, cutting, team penning and camp drafting.
President Geoff Smith
said the Tully Horse Performance Centre was grateful for the grants.
“We are very thankful to (Kennedy MP) Bob Katter’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 and a cut-out pen, 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 1000 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 had many exciting possibilities.
“The Ingham rodeo pulled in (up to) 3000 people on the weekend, and while 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 10 cane farmers has a cattle operation as well.