|
G’Day and Welcome to Kent Saddlery's Website 2012
Each year, as the different components of the Kent Saddlery
Catalogue finally come together, the excitement and anticipation grows,
giving way to sighs of relief when the bundles of shiny new copies
arrive from the printers, ready for distribution.
It’s rewarding and sobering to recall events of the past year, and
living relatively close to Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley, we were
impacted by the devastation, and tragic loss of life caused by the flood
events earlier in the year. We also witnessed the way in which
communities rallied to provide care and support for those who were so
adversely affected.
Fires also destroyed huge tracts of country in the far South West
and Central QLD; the favourable conditions caused by a large body of
grass; a result of the exceptional rains….. and so it goes….. that’s
Australia for you.
Lyle and Helen’s 2011 trip to the Outback was accompanied by clear
blue skies all the way, compared to our 2010 experience of rain and
frequent bogging ‘adventures’. It was an enjoyable and beneficial
nineteen weeks, and we ventured into some different places, namely the
Pilbara WA, and along the Plenty Highway, NT. It was good to put faces to the names of some of our valued customers, to stay at some new
places, and drive through country we’ve never seen before….. so
interesting and unique…. that’s also Australia for you. Consistently,
the people we meet on “The Trip”, and elsewhere, are a source of
inspiration and precious memories, and we feel privileged to share some
of their yarns in the pages of the catalogue.
The team at home ran the business efficiently and independently
during our absence, sending gear to replenish stock levels on the Supa
Float, as well as dealing with all aspects of the business back at the
Saddlery. They’re a great bunch, and we appreciate them. 2011 continued
to be a year of expansion at Kent Saddlery, and we are grateful for the
support of all our customers.
In 2011 Kent Saddlery continued their involvement with Beyond
Billabong, a prevocational Indigenous training program conducted at
Longreach Pastoral College. Ben and Daniel and now Tom have been
supervising the leather work component of the courses, spending a total
of 18 weeks at the college during 2011.
In October 2011, Lyle drove the Supa Float to Central East QLD to
spend two weeks participating in the Bi-annual Stock Up for Hope Charity
Drove. The 2011 Drove began at Bauhinia, and the mob of donated cattle
were sold at the Emerald Sale Yards. All proceeds went to fund Scripture
Union QLD’s Chaplaincy service in regional schools. To say that Lyle
had “a good time” is an understatement! For the full story see page 57.
The catalogue contains all the features we’ve come to regard as
important, relevant, and interesting, and we hope that you can find good
quality gear relevant to your needs. We’re also satisfied to include
top quality products from other suppliers; often custom made by skilled
workers and craftsmen. It’s great to include testimonials from customers
who have put Kent Saddlery, and other products to the test, and have
taken time to send positive feedback. We look forward to providing the
best possible products and service in 2012. We continue to hope that you
enjoy the catalogue, and that it is a real and lasting benefit to you.
Lyle & Helen Kent
Lyle & Helen at the Stock Up for Hope Charity Drove "Gala Dinner Under the Stars."
|
