Nell "Billie" Maundrell Left Her Mark

Queensland horsewoman, Nell Maundrell, will be remembered as one of the icons of Australia’s horse industry and its horse sports scene.

The Albany Creek resident, known as “Billie”, passed away on 17 October. She was 80.

The former dairy farmer devoted her life to horses, as a champion rider, instructor, breeder and judge.

She was one of the pioneering competitors of western performance horse events and one of the top ten cutting riders in Australia.

The award-winning horse breeder was also a Life Member of the Pine Rivers Western Performance Club and founding member of Northern Suburbs Pony Club.

A foundation member of the Australian Stock Horse Society and one of Australia’s first accredited coaches, Mrs Maundrell travelled widely throughout the country judging Quarter Horse, Paints, Appaloosas, Arabians and Australian Stock Horses at royal shows.

Source: www.thewesterner.com.au

Horsezone's Jo Johnson remembers her first meeting with Billie, "She was judging the first class that I'd ever shown my first Appaloosa, a weanling gelding, at Gatton Show. He was quite naughty, as he was terrified by the trotters, but he was a beautifully conformed and coloured boy. We won the class. Then went on to win Champion Gelding and to my delight Supreme Appaloosa, beating a very illustrious older mare and stallion, who happened to be solid coloured. I was in awe and I'll never forget Billie saying to the mare and stallion owners, 'where's the spots?' as she sashed my cheeky little boy with the tri-colour."

Quick Link

• Read the full report at www.thewesterner.com.au

Photo: Narelle Wockner Photography