Clementine's time to shine

The three-month-old, bucket-reared heifer donated by the Scott family's Gundagai Dairy, Elgin, is the Black Dog Ride's newest member.

Dressed as a unicorn it will hit the road in coming months visiting schools and community groups in the South West to raise awareness of suicide and depression, particularly in young people.

Following the continuing success of the Black Dog Ride's Winston trade steers at the Perth Royal Show since 2010, program co-ordinator Peter Milton, Dardanup, said Clementine was an extension of the Winston project with a focus on mental health issues associated with bullying and other life pressures on younger people.

He said they were working closely with South West youth support services groups LAMP and Headspace on the project and continue to receive strong support and sponsorship from Iluka Resources.

"Paula Farley of LAMP in Busselton said other programs at schools showed primary school children bond closely with unicorns but she was having trouble finding a unicorn so the Clementine unicorn/heifer concept was born," he said.

"When we have made appearances with the Winston steers in the past, some people can be taken back when they learn of the steer's fate after being sold at the Royal Show's trade cattle sale.

"But with a life of breeding to look forward to, Clementine is a good news story."

Clementine, named after Winston Churchill's wife, already has several bookings at schools but Mr Milton said they weren't limited to the South West.

"We are open to invites and appointments and if it's possible, I'm happy to do it," he said.

"I expect Clementine will do a large number of public appearances with LAMP and Headspace in Bunbury.

"Paula can address the children on mental health issues affecting young people and I will bring Clementine along to raise awareness further.

"We have to stop people killing themselves."

In addition to school visits, Clementine the 1st will head to the WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp in April and other shows and events before being mated in March to May next year to calve as a two-year-old.

Mr Milton said that if the program was successful, while Clementine the 1st was out of the spotlight in the paddock on breeding duties, Clementine the 2nd would be introduced to the Black Dog Ride team.

"Thanks go to Wade Scott and his family at Gundagai Dairy for donating the lovely Angus-Friesian heifer for such a worthy cause and I continue to receive a great deal of support from the management and staff of Iluka Resources who sponsored last year's Black Dog Ride charity steer."

Black Dog Ride Charity steer Winston the 9th is set for this year's IGA Perth Royal Show in September with an announcement expected soon.

WINTER BULL SALES

WITH the summer bull sales in the south drawing to a close a month ago the focus now switches to a run of yearling and winter bull sales.

The first of these is the Lawsons Angus Albany Helmsman sale next Friday, April 7.

The sale will be held on-property at Youngs Siding and will feature 80 yearling bulls

For more information contact Bevan Ravenhill on 0428 532 447.

Next up will be the Mordallup Angus yearling bull sale on Friday, May 5, at the Boyanup saleyards.

The Muir family will offer 60 of the best of their 2016-drop bulls.

For further details contact Mark Muir on 0427 691 001.

The Monterey Murray Grey and Angus winter bull sale at Brunswick on Wednesday, May 17, will be next and will feature 60 bulls.

The sales will finish on Monday, May 22, with the Liberty

EXPO EXCITEMENT

The Make Smoking History Williams Gateway Expo sheep show has been known as a relaxed and casual show attracting sheep breeders from across the State and this year will be no different.

Two Honda two-wheel Agricultural Motorbikes will again be up for grabs, courtesy of Farm Weekly, for a breeders group of two rams and two ewes in the judging.

One motorbike will be won in the Merino section of the shed and the other will be in the British and Australasian section of the Saturday, April 8, show.

Nominations for both sections are open so for more information or to enter contact Ann Rintoul (Merinos and Poll Merinos) on 9885 1031 and Grant Bingham (British and Australasian breeds) on 9885 1028.