Teamsters follow their passion in an effort to educate on our pioneering history

In a first for southern Australia, leading teamsters from around the nation outlined how they handle their horse, bullock, camel, donkey and mule teams in a Q&A session at the Good Old Days Festival.

The Teamsters Q & A was a new initiative this year for the festival – the biggest gathering of teamsters in the world – at Barellan on October 5-6.

The teamsters on the stage were Aleks Berzins and Steve Johnson – horses, Phil Thomson and Ron McKinnon – bullocks, Chris Hill and Rodney Sansom – camels, Emily Parrott – donkeys and Jason Clinkenbeard, Montana, USA, and Noel Wiltshire – mules.

Jason has spent 20 years’ operating 120 riding and pack mules in the Idaho wilderness, and was taught by his father who as the largest mule dealer in the world, traded, promoted, and raced mules in endurance and flat track races.

“I have witnessed teams here that I would have never dreamt of in my life,” he said.

“The longer it can be hung on to and encouraging more younger people to be involved would be a big boon to keeping the heritage tradition alive.”

Jason was joined by Noel Wiltshire, Nathalia, Vic, on a trip with 10 horses and mules to the Arctic circle for a month.

Noel began repairing harness in 1968 and in the 1970s worked as a harness maker in a saddlery in the US. He now operates Wiltshire Horse Works selling his own collars, winkers and harness all over Australia.

Chris Hill operates Uluru Camel Tours at Uluru, NT, giving camel rides to around 50,000 tourists a year and employing up to 20 staff all year round. The business also specialises in exporting camel meat from feral camels caught in central Australia.

“We make our own saddles and harness on site apart from the collars,” he said.

“Within a couple of weeks, we can get the young camels between the chains. I believe it takes a good season to make a draught animal.”

From the age of 14 Chris took on a camel trek in the desert with a family relative, and received a camel for his 15th birthday. The following year he tackled the Birdsville Track with camels and by age 21 he had walked every desert in Australia with his camel team.

“It was a passionate, obsession and hobby – today camels have taken me all over the world and my whole life is consumed with camels,” he said.

Donkey and mule teamster Emily Parrott is mentored by her father Rodney Sansom and started as a child training donkeys for nativity scenes at Christmas time.

She has graduated to training animals for TV commercials and movies.

“We are here because we are passionate and to show people there is more to it than meets the eye. We want to see the festival go on and educate people,” she said.

Alex Berzins spoke on selecting horses to suit the big composite Barellan team of 35.

“When setting up the team, we select the horses for the right role and sometimes that takes a bit of chopping and changing. Not all horses can handle being out the front,” he said.

“It is better to have stronger horses at the back to get the heavy load going.

“It’s not the highest paying gig being a teamster, but we do what we do because we love it.”

Phil Thomson said the format of teams, from dogs to horses, camels and bullocks, focuses on having good leaders.

“We cannot say one species of animal is better than the other – the only reason bullocks outlasted horse teams was due to the timber industry on the east coast of Australia and the simple yoke and ironwork required,” Mr Thomson said.

“When driving bullocks, you need a good pair of leaders and offside polers (for steering) you can trust. The old teams were traditionally voice driven.

“Bullocks are more articulated and can get through tight spots and around corners. It comes down to the right animal and vehicle for the job.

“We have come out of an era where the animals worked for us and now it is the people working for the animals. I thank the past and previous teamsters who made this great country.

“The number of mixed breed species here at Barellan won’t be seen anywhere else – it is the teamster’s capital of Australia and the world.

“The rest of the world used camels as pack animals and not a lot of countries used them in big teams of draught formation like in Australia. The bullock, horse, camel, donkey and mule teams made a big contribution to our early history.”

Ron McKinnon, Tomerong, NSW, has a family history in the timber industry, growing up with his father as a professional bullock driver.

“Right into the 1990s there was still bullocks being used to snig logs out of the bush in Tasmania. The bullocks are a tough animal and can move through the bush driven in the traditional way by voice,” he said.

“I’m still using them on my property in the forestry activity I do.”

Rodney Sansom spoke about the logistics of getting his team of camels, donkeys, mules and goats to the festival.

“We have three trucks and two four-wheel drives with trailers to cart the gear. Phil has a truck and dog trailer for his bullocks – a lot of work goes into this, but it is the passionate people behind this which makes it happen,” he said.

Steve and Jan Johnson drove their eight-horse team, ranging in age from two to five years, the 150km from Lake Cargelligo to the event.

“I’m a great believer in starting my horses young – I don’t wait until they are five. It’s all about trust,” Steve said.

The couple open their farm to tourists, demonstrating all farming activities using horsepower, leather work, and a collection of horse drawn vehicles and memorabilia.

Ends

Caption: The nation’s leading teamsters in the Teamsters Q & A – Aleks Berzins, Steve Johnson, Phil Thomson, Ron McKinnon, Rodney Sansom, Emily Parrott, Chris Hill, Jason Clinkenbeard and Noel Wiltshire.

NFP: For media comment contact Fiona Kibble on 0409 363 682

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