Margaret Barton doing what she did best! In 1975, Marg was our very own female pioneer, taking a leading role at Cannon Hill Saleyards for Fitzsimmons. (Mactaggarts & Primac). As Marg said in a recent facebook post “From memory & at this time the only other females at Cannon Hill were the ladies working in the canteen. Soon after Jan from Dalgety’s started to book up at the cattle sale and there were a couple of ladies who worked on horse back taking cattle to & off the scales. There was also a lady truck driver, Barbara (can’t remember her last name)”.
Photo: Margaret Barton “booking up” for legendary Fitzsimmons auctioneer Vic Barwick Courtesy of Jerry O’Sullivan 27/2/21
Graham Daly is a self proclaimed yarn spinner, and as mentioned in one of the attached articles, he has his poem, “Legends of the Hill” on display at the Stockmans Hall of Fame. He was a regular contributor to rural newspapers, including the Queensland Country Life. Graham also did his time at Cannon Hill Saleyards, and describes his time there as “the best time of his life”.
In the attached articles, Graham describes his memories of the Cannon Hill Saleyards, but particularly focuses on the role of women, and how their roles became accepted in a predominately male environment. In every aspect of the saleyard operation, women were given the chance, and proved they were more than capable, and could match it with the blokes.
Primac Guru, Margaret Barton was no exception. Graham describes Marg as a “razor sharp mathematician” and “getting it right the first time”. Many a young Cannon Hill trainee, me included way back in 1975, could easily vouch for her ability to balance the books, post sale.
QCL articles kindly contributed by Primac Guru, Margaret Barton
