Mooove over – Spotlight shines on Palen Creek’s prized beasts at Beaudesert Show

Palen Creek Correctional Centre is back on the show circuit for the first time in three years scooping a win at the 125th Beaudesert Show.

This year, the centre showcased six of its Charolais cross steers in the Prime Beef Cattle entry. Palen Creek entered three of its steers in the ‘Pen of 3 Category’ and took out a win in their class on Friday 2 September. The remaining cattle were shown individually.

Palen Creek is a 360-hectare working farm, which runs a 145 strong commercial herd and is no stranger to winning awards – taking out the Grand Champion award at the Beaudesert Show about seven years ago.

Custodial Correctional Officer Paul, who heads the prison work program at the centre, said he was excited to get back into the show circuit to support local events in the region.

“The Beaudesert Show is a great event, which supports the local community – helping to drive business and we are thrilled we can do our bit to support it with our show cattle,” Paul said.

Paul also said the Palen Creek low custody farm work provided prisoners an opportunity to attain their Certificate Three in Agriculture.

“Another great aspect about the show is that it offers prisoners an opportunity to build life skills through farm work and understand about the breeding process of the cattle.

“The prisoners learn about patience and safety working with the animals and by the end of the breeding process they get a good sense about the cattle. They enjoy working with the animals as well as the upkeep of the farm.”

Paul said to support the show society, the prisoners also helped to set up and clean up through a wide range of tasks from painting to building cattle yards. Before the pandemic the prisoners completed 400 hours of service at the showgrounds.

Beaudesert Show Society Prime Beef Cattle Chief Steward Dale Farmers said Palen Creek Correctional Centre was a good support for the show.

“They (the centre) help us every year, which is great. The prisoners do very well with the show cattle. They do a bloody good job.”