Paul Allkins

4 October 1964- 5 June 2007

Paul was born in England and moved to Australia when he was only 1.  He lived in Sydney and moved to Queensland for a better life.  He met Sue at work, and they married 1 year later.  Paul was never a horsey person, but that soon changed and he became an important part of the show team, being the strapper. 

In 2004 Paul decided that he had enough of the sidelines, and the hunt began for his “Quarter Horse.”.

We hunted high and low for his special horse, and we found her in “Garden Vale Heart of Diamonds.” Unfortunately Paul did not get to show her, but he did get to see her at her first show in 2007, where she placed 2^nd in the Buckskin filly class, and 2^nd in the Quarter Horse filly class.

Paul was diagnosed with Sarcoma cancer in May 2006.  Whilst Paul began the fight for his life, and had many treatments of radiation and Chemotherapy, Sue showed his horse for him in 2007 so Paul could still see his dream.  Paul lost his battle to cancer on 5 June 2007.  Sue continues to live Pauls dream, and has thoroughly enjoyed the change in the showing scenery of Quarter horses and Buckskins. “Heart of Diamonds” has been a very successful mare in the show ring to date.  See Show Team page for more information about this special mare.

Sue purchased her full sister in April 2008 for Del to have an interest.  This little palomino filly is as pretty as a picture.  “Sparkling Diamonds” will make her showing debut late 2009.

Paul passed away on 5 June 2007 at Princess Alexandra hospital with Sue, Del, Joanne and members of Pauls family at his side.

 

 

Harry Brittain

 7 April 1933- 20 August 2008

Harry was born in NSW and was in the Airforce when he met Del.  They moved to Queensland in 1972 for a better life.

Harry was the founder of Garden Vale Stud.  He bought Del her first horse in 1975.  He’s to blame for the horse itch that never stopped!

Dad was our truck driver and resident water boy, come strapper.  And not to mention he was always there to make the horses prick the ears for the camera!

Harry loved it when the foals were born, he would always awake when the mares were foaling, and always making sure that we had something to eat when we returned to the house.

He loved the horses, and loved us coming home from the shows with our ribbons in tow.  Just 1 day before Harry’s Cardiac arrest, he visited the Brisbane EKKA on the nursing home bus, and commented “my daughter will be here on Saturday”. 

Dad never did get to see Heart of Diamonds win her blue ribbon at the Ekka, but we know he would be extremely proud, as he always was.

Harry passed away on 20 August 2008 at Logan Hospital with Del and Sue at his side.