An American in Sydney (and the bush)

Sky Battles visits Australia as 2008 US Lowline Youth Ambassador

Some thoughts from Lee Labrie

In the tradition of the song ”An Englishman in New York”, I am sure that Sky Battles, our youth ambassador from Colorado, at times felt like an alien in Australia. But however strange she must have found some things, she was a perfect ambassador for her country, full of life and inquisitive about everything she saw and experienced. Our family was privileged to host her stay. We learnt as much from her as she did from us.

I did think that staying at our place, out in the styx, with “oldies” may have been a bit daunting, so I planned her itinerary to cover as many experiences with as much variety as I could cram into three weeks. Her first stay was with Denis and Clare Hickey, Donovan’s Knob Lowlines at Maleny. When we picked her up two days later to take her to our farm, she couldn’t stop talking about swimming in the ocean (a first for her), eating calamari and fresh fish (a first too), feeding the wallabies at the back door (of course a first!) and visiting Dakabin High School to see their facilities and Lowlines.

I wondered how I could compete with all this, but needn’t have worried. Sky seemed at home from the minute she arrived. She helped with the animals and that kept her busy. Grinding up the barley for the feed, washing the cows for clipping and falling in love with the baby calves. We named one of our latest embryo calves Sky and it has a character just like our new American friend.

By the time Sky had been to a local rodeo, visited the large cattle sales at Dalby and watched large mobs of kangaroos on our place she wanted to stay, but it was time to pack up and get on the road to the Sydney Royal Show. Travelling in the big yellow and blue truck we covered a lot of country between Jandowae and Sydney and of course had the obligatory photo shoot beside the giant guitar at Tamworth.

Sydney Show – Well that was a whole new ball game. Busy, busy every day. Sky met up with her old mate from Denver, Lana Kuipers and as Kobblevale was stalled next to Elle Kay Stud (Lucy and Lana Kuipers), of course there was much hilarity with all the young ones enjoying a great time together. Sky mucked out the stalls, helped with feeding and preparing the animals and led a number of our animals in the ring. She also took part in the Heifer show which included components that were entirely new to her. It was a sharp learning curve, but she took it in her stride.

From Sydney, Sky flew to Melbourne to stay for a couple of days with Jeanette and Peter Stebbins, Ardrossan Lowlines, to see the sights in Victoria. The weather was particularly unhelpful, but Sky was in good hands and saw a whole different side to Lowline production in Australia. From Melbourne, back to Sydney to stay with the Kuipers family for a couple of days before flying out to Colorado. Shopping and sightseeing were the order of the day and I can only imagine the happy noise those girls generated.

It was a wonderful three weeks for all concerned. Thank you to all the people who helped us host this Ambassador exchange. I can recommend it to all Lowline owners. When Council asks at the end of the year for volunteer host families – put up your hand. You’ll be a winner in ways you can’t imagine until you do it.

Waiting for the heifer contest at the Sydney Royal Show. Left to right: Tom...., Lana Kuipers, Lucy Kuipers, Kim Johnston, Sky Battles, Julie Fairlie, Thomas Ritchie, (standing, behind Thomas) Phil Labrie, Judy Sainsbury, Lee Labrie.