Horse owner makes it big in Brisbane

When Boona Boy, the racehorse, scored his first win on a Brisbane course, it fulfilled the dream of his owner George Gordon.

The Bell Show and Rodeo began in 1959 with George Gordon as president until 1972. It is still going strong. Picture: Contributed

WHEN Boona Boy, the racehorse, scored his first win on a Brisbane course, it fulfilled the dream of his owner George Gordon.

However the owner wasn't there to celebrate as he had passed away four days previously.

George Gordon lived in Bell, where he was a businessman and an icon of the town.

He moved around a lot when he was young. He was born at Peak Crossing in 1910.

The family moved to Perseverance and later to Yarraman, where he left school and started work in a cordial factory.

Then he seemed to find his niche and started work as a slaughterman.

He could fully dress a beast in 20minutes, making him a valuable staff member of Percy Douglas' butchery in Yarraman.

He purchased his own business in Maidenwell and lived there until he moved to a grazing property at Wandoan which his family had purchased.

After being there five years he branched out again and bought the Bell butcher shop from Sullivans.

He remained there for the rest of his life.

His confidence in the town encouraged him to build a new abattoir in his later years.

In his youth he participated keenly in sport. He played representative football with the South Burnett League teams and was a wicketkeeper for the local cricket team.

He became deeply involved in all clubs and organisations of Bell.

In fact he was affectionately known at the mayor of the town.

The area was moving ahead and began staging agricultural shows and rodeos. George was the president from its inception, as he had been for the Back to Bell activities in 1956 when the town turned out for its golden jubilee celebrations.

George Gordon's interest in the town was outstanding. He was a member of the golf and the bowls clubs, part of the Memorial Hall Committee and the local P&C Association.

Though he was patron of the Art Group and involved in several movements, it was the Bell Race Club that was high among his interests.

Horse racing was one of his recreations and he raced as many as five horses at some meetings. His goal was to win a Brisbane race with one of his horses. His passing prevented that.

During his years in the butcher shop, his cheerful, friendly nature won him many friends as he weighed out the meat on the scales. He also put the scales to another use.

He reckoned he had weighed over the years many babies and finally even their babies also.

In 1958, he married Margaret Berghofer and they raised three daughters.

In 1975, George Gordon passed away in the Royal Brisbane Hospital at the age of 65.

One of his daughters, Jean Sorley, still lives in Bell and like her father has a keen interest in the town.